Luther Edward Craven

Luther Edward Craven, 61, of Ellisville, died Sunday, March 23, 2008, at his residence.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at Ellisville Funeral Home, with burial in Ellisville Cemetery. The Rev. Frankie Clark will officiate.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Earline Craven.

He was a member of the National Sporting Clay Association and the National Skeet Shooting Association. A member of the Ellisville Masonic Lodge, he was employed with G. B. Boots Smith.

He is survived by his wife, Fredna Nicholson Craven of Ellisville; one daughter, Tina Craven Sanford and her husband Jeff of Grenada; one son, Jamie Edward Craven and his wife Keri of Ovett; two brothers, David Craven and his wife Lynda of Laurel, Jackie Craven of Laurel; three sisters, Mary Rustin of Laurel, Patricia Byrd of Laurel, Pam Braddock and husband Ronnie of Laurel; grandchildren, Michala Dye and Halle Craven of Ovett and Claire Sanford of Grenada.

Pallbearers will be Scott Rustin, Brent Rustin, Ryan Williford, Matthew Craven, Zachery Williford and Chris Long. Honorary pallbearer will be Bill Deavours.

Ellisville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.



Leona B. Curry

Leona B. Curry, 90, of Laurel, died Tuesday, March 18, 2008, at Care Center of Laurel.

A memorial service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 25, at New Hope Baptist Church. Rev. Jamor Jackson will officiate.

She was a retired laborer at Helicopter Factory and member of New Hope Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Johnny Curry, and parents, Elisha and Nancy Andrews Crosby.

She is survived by two sisters, Ruby Williams of Bridgeport, Conn., and Ethel Currie of Ellisville.

Chapel of Angels Funeral Home in Laurel is in charge of arrangements.



Stanley W. Sanford

Stanley W. Sanford, 85, of Seminary, died Saturday, March 22, 2008, at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at Wade-Nowell Funeral Home in Collins, with burial in Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery in Covington County. The Revs. Glen Maughon and Hulon Sanford will officiate.

A retired vendor, he was a member of Calvary United Pentecostal Church in Pearl. He was a United States Army Veteran of World War II.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dewey and Creasie Foles Sanford; and several siblings.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 65 years, Velma Dearman Sanford; one son and daughter-in-law, Roger and Nita Sanford of Jackson; three daughters and sons-in-law, Janis Sanford of New Orleans, Helen and Herman Sanford of Seminary, Vivian and Don Adams of Seminary; three brothers, Dewey Royce Sanford of Petal, Rual M. Sanford of Seminary and Austin L. Sanford of Pearl; three sisters, Rubie Joyce Craft of Petal, Vonceil Butler of Petal and Annie Lois Moss of Hattiesburg; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren..

Pallbearers will be Tyler Blanks, Jonathan Sanford, Fred Sanford, Darrell “Mike” Sanford, Randy Wade, Phil Bowles, Greg Bowles and Wayne Sanford.

Friends desiring to do so are asked to make memorial donations to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Mississippi Chapter, 1640 Lelia Drive, Suite 130, Jackson, MS 39216.

Wade-Nowell Funeral Home in Collins is in charge of arrangements.



Jeff Speed

Jeff Speed, 72, of Collins, died Saturday, March 22, 2008, at his residence.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at Wade-Nowell Funeral Home in Collins, with burial in Salem Baptist Church Cemetery. The Rev. James Smith will officiate and Rev. Phillip Duncan will provide the musical service.

He was the owner of a logging and timber business. He served in the United States Army National Guard and was a member of First Baptist Church of Collins. He was an avid Tennessee Walking Horseman having won numerous awards and show titles.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Linda Blackwell Speed; his son, Jeffery Speed; his parents, Ben and Lillie Mae Speed; two sisters, Evangeline Speed Pickering and Becky Speed Rutland.

He is survived by two daughters, Lisa Speed of Collins and Lana Speed Keith and her husband Scott of Colorado Springs, Co.; two sisters, Dot Speed Sims and her husband Rudolph of Collins and Jo Robinson and her husband Norman of Birmingham, Ala.; two grandchildren, Barrett Keith of Colorado Springs, Co. and Katelyn Speed of Collins; a daughter-in-law, Kristi Speed Wade of Collins; two sisters-in-law, Carolyn Wiggins of Seminary and Willie Newton of Brandon; nieces and nephews, Leslie Rutland, Nancy Rutland, David Pickering, Dori Crapps, Matt Robinson and Julie Kiel; and a host of relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. today at Wade-Nowell Funeral Home in Collins.

Friends desiring to do so are asked to make memorial donations to The American Cancer Society.



Terry Milton Waltman

Terry Milton Waltman, 58, of Richmond, Va. formerly of Laurel, died Thursday 20, 2008 at McGuire Veterans Hospital in Richmond, Va.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel, with burial in the Oak Hill Section of Hickory Grove Cemetery. Larry Waltman will officiate.

A Baptist, he was a retired engineer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Milton and Emma Verna Waltman; a brother, John Milton Waltman, Jr.

He is survived by his lifetime companion, Rita McKnight of Richmond, Va.; two brothers, Larry Steven Waltman of Poulan, Ga. And William Ray (Bill) Waltman of Sylvester, Ga.; three sisters, Bobbye Kizzar and Joyce Waltman both of Laurel, and Lesa Waltman of Bay Springs and a host of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Bubba Kizzar, Jason Waltman, Bruce Waltman, Tony Wright, Steve Waltman, Chad Waltman, and Jake Waltman.

Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel is in charge of arrangements.