Booker T. Johnson, Sr.

Booker T. Johnson, Sr., 81, of Laurel, died Friday, March 21, 2008, at South Central Regional Medical Center.

Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, March 27, at East Laurel Church of Christ in Laurel, with burial in Nora Davis Cemetery. Bro. Jerry Graham will officiate.

He served in the U.S. Army and was retired from Masonite Corporation.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Leona Johnson; son, Thomas Edward Johnson; three brothers, Charlie Johnson, Ezell Johnson, and Jack Johnson; four sisters, Mary Johnson Thompson, Eula Johnson Burton, Nancy Johnson Turner, and Hattie Johnson McClellan; grandson, Aaron Wendell Watson, IV.

He is survived by his wife, Ora Catherine Johnson of Laurel; two sons, Sgt. Major Booker T. (Annie) Johnson, Jr., of Wichita, Kan., and Terry (Kathleen) Johnson of Marion, Ind.; six daughters, Hattie (Dr. William) Kirk of Fairfield, Ala., Kathy C. Watson of Mapleton, Ga., Faye (Dr. Charles) Gaskin of Marshall, Texas, Linda (Michael) O’Kelley of Mapleton, Ga., Demetra (Maj. Craig) Thompson of Jackson, and Olivia (Master Sgt. Frederick) Fowler of Huntsville, Ala.; two sisters, Doris Johnson Anderson, and Lillie Johnson Crosby, both of Laurel; 26 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Visitation is 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at East Laurel Church of Christ. Brown Mortuary, Inc., is in charge of arrangements.



Walter Eugene Spencer

Walter Eugene Spencer, 77, of Laurel, died on Monday, March 24, 2008, at South Central Regional Medical Center in Laurel.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 28, at Kingston Assembly of God Church in Jones County with burial in Hickory Grove Cemetery in Laurel. The Revs. Scott Davis, N. E. Hartshorn, and Keith Yelverton will officiate.

Mr. Spencer worked for Hartwell Brothers Handle Company for 20 years retired from West Quality Foods in the Maintenance Department. He was a member of the Kingston Assembly of God Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Syble Roney Spencer; parents, Chester and Nannie Spencer; four brothers, Arlie Spencer, Nick Spencer, Johnny Spencer, and Bill Spencer; and sisters, Patsy Barlow and Frances Jordan.

Survivors include a special son, John Chester (Jake) Spencer and wife Rebecca of Laurel; granddaughter, Melissa Thrash and husband Josh of Laurel; two great-grandchildren, Abbie Thrash and Aubrey Thrash, both of Laurel; two special nieces, Judy Armour and Mildred Smith, both of Laurel; three sisters, Hazel Scott, Ruth Rose and Mandy Smith and husband, M. J. Smith; and a host of other nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Orland Jones, Robbin Jones, Howard Smith, Ernie Roney, Josh Thrash and Scooter Thornhill.

The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Friday.

Visitation will be from 5 until 8 p.m. Thursday at Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel, which is in charge of the arrangements.



James D. Taylor Jr.

James D. Taylor Jr., 54, of Ellisville, died Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at his residence.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel with burial in Our Home Cemetery in Jones County.

Visitation will be from 5 until 8 p.m. Thursday at Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel, which is in charge of the arrangements.



Terry Milton Waltman

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

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. this morning at Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel with burial in the Oak Hill Section of Hickory Grove Cemetery. The Rev. Larry Waltman will officiate.

Mr. Waltman was a retired engineer and a Baptist. He served in U. S. Army and was a Vietnam veteran.

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

Survivors include 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 the arrangements.