Obituaries Gracie May Hopper
May 8, 1921 – February 27, 2013 Gracie May Hopper, 91, of Brighton, died on February 27, 2013 at Covington Care. She danced through life until God called her home to dance with Him. She is survived by her daughter, Darlene Spaulding, and son-in-law, Don Spaulding. She was preceded in death by her husband, William P. Hopper, and a son, William David Hopper. Ms. Hopper was buried at Forest Hill East on March 1. The family requests memorials be sent to Holly Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The Leader (Covington, Tenn.) March 14, 2013
Mary Sue Blalack
February 1, 1912 – March 4, 2013 Mary Sue Blalack, 101, of Brighton, died on Monday, March 4, 2013. She was the widow of Cecil E. Blalack Sr. Mrs. Blalack is survived by her daughters, Mary Jo Swaim (Joe) of Covington, Beverly McKee (Jim) of Lexington and Gwen Farmer (Phillip) of Brighton; sister Ella Mae Tanner of Brighton; brothers Henry Thomas James of Coldwater, Miss., Billy James of Red Banks, Miss. and Nicky James of Brighton; grandchildren, Annette Fitzgerald (Jeff), Alicia Wytrwal (John), Jeff Blalack (Chris), Leslie Sprenkel (Greg), Jason Swaim (Joanna), Delaine Bowman (Chris), Kim Spillers, Josette Nelson (Mark); great-grandchildren Brian (Anna) Jones, Brad Jones, Zack Fitzgerald, Nick & Trevor Wytrwal, Carter Blalack, Evyn & Audree Sprenkel, John Ross & Caroline Swaim and Steven, Sarah, Jonathan & David Bowman and Michaela & Hannah Spillers; and caregivers Barbara Smith, Debbie Jones, Jane Thompson, Kim Baker, Jade Black and Susan Elam. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Cecil E. Blalack Jr. Services were held on Wednesday, March 6 at the Brighton Baptist Church. Visitation was held Tuesday night. Interment was at RH Munford Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the Brighton Baptist Church, P.O. Box 29, Brighton, TN 38011. The Leader (Covington, Tenn.) March 14, 2013
James Roland Kenneth Cothran Date of Death – March 5, 2013
James Roland Kenneth Cothran, 78, of Brighton, a retired drywall hanger, died on March 5, 2013 at his residence. Funeral services took place on March 9 at Munford Funeral Home. He was buried at Helen Crigger Cemetery. He is survived by his girlfriend, Patricia Strickland; daughters Sharon Welch and Vanessa Hurst; sons Kenny Cothran and Jimmy Cothran; sister Judy Cothran Robinson; brothers Bill Cothran and Chris Cothran; grandchildren Michelle Howard, Skyler Welch, Jolie Hite, Kenny Cothran, Jamie Cothran, Brett Cothran, J.R. Eledge, Bonnie Coltrane, Emily Shelley, Casey Cothran, Sarah Hurst and Jhase Hurst; and 10 greatgrandchildren. Mr. Cothran was preceded in death by a daughter, Toni Cothran, and a brother, Michael Cothran. Memorials may be sent to Dyersburg Church of the Nazarene. The Leader (Covington, Tenn.) March 14, 2013
Emma Brown
Date of Death – March 5, 2013 Mother Emma Brown, daughter of the late Thomas and Vernita Perkins, expired Tuesday, March 5, 2013. Visitation was Friday, March 8, 2013, from 3-7, with wake 6-7, Palmer Funeral Home, Mason, Service was Saturday, March 9 at 1 p.m., Greater St. John Baptist Church, with burial in Townsend Cemetery, both in Covington. She leaves to celebrate her life six children: Charles (Dianna) Brown of Tupelo, Thomas (Shelia) Brown, Danny (Mary) Brown, both of Atlanta, James (Twilla) Brown, Lear Taylor, both of Covington, and Kathey (Rev. Charles) Dye, of Brighton; 16 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, a host of other relative and friends. Preceding her in transition were husband Herbert Brown, son Herbert Brown, Jr. and sister, Silverene Bonds. The Leader (Covington, Tenn.) March 14, 2013
Marnita Geiger
August 6, 1927 – March 5, 2013 Marnita Geiger, 85, of Covington, passed away on Tuesday, March 5. Funeral services were held Saturday, March 9 at the Covington Funeral Home chapel with interment in Memory Hill Gardens in Memphis. She is survived by one daughter, Peggy (Jim) Kerr; one son, Steve (Renita) Myers; four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren and two cousins. Friends may sign an online guestbook at www.covingtonfuneralhome.com. The Leader (Covington, Tenn.) March 14, 2013
Sue Evans Roberson
July 27, 1937 – March 8, 2013 Sue Evans Roberson, 75, of Covington, Tenn., died at King’s Daughters and Sons Home in Bartlett, Tenn., on Friday, March 8, 2013. Sue was born July 27, 1937, in Vicksburg, Miss. She was the daughter of the late Odea and Sadie Stanley Evans, who had four children, two of whom are still living:
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Hal Evans of Moss, Miss., and Ann Evans Collins of Saucier, Miss. Sue is survived by her four children and their spouses: Cristi and Ken Mansfield (Winter Park, Fla.), Jerri and Wendell Thompson (Olive Branch, Miss.), James (Robby) and Kelly Roberson (Bartlett, Tenn.), Kelly Roberson Dobbins (Germantown, Tenn.), and eight grandchildren. And she is survived by her ex-husband and life-long friend Richard Roberson of Clinton, Miss. Sue attended Mississippi State University (1955-56), and graduated in 1970 from The University of Memphis with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She dedicated her life to serving others through teaching art, and by ministering to others in the church. She taught art and Bible at Grace St. Luke’s Episcopal Day School in Memphis; art, Bible and religion at St. Peter and Paul Catholic School in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. from 1982-1990; and taught art at Ripley High School in Lauderdale County, Tenn. She also taught adult education through the Teacher Support Network (Families First welfare reform) for the state of Tennessee and at Lighthouse Christian Academy in Millington, Tenn. A member of Covington Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church since 1996, she served the church in a variety of ways—as an ordained deacon, church treasurer, Pastoral Search Committee Chairman, Spiritual Chairperson for the Women of the Church, President of the Mississippi Valley Presbytery Women’s Ministry, and President of the ARP Synod Women’s Ministry, which carried with it a seat on the Erskine College and Seminary Board of Trustees. When she was a member of Grace St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, she served in numerous ways including as a youth worker and a member of the choir. And before that, she was a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Memphis. The memorial service was at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 10, 2013, at Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church, 5444 Stage Road, Memphis, TN 38134. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to King’s Daughters and Sons Home, 3568 Appling Road, Bartlett, TN 38133 or to Wings Cancer Foundation, 100 N. Humphreys Blvd., Memphis, TN 38120 or online. The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staffs of King’s Daughters and Sons Home, Crossroads Hospice, Methodist Hospital and Dr. Joseph Santoso for their compassionate care of Sue in her final days on earth. The Leader (Covington, Tenn.) March 14, 2013
Gladys Irene Evins
Date of Death – March 9, 2013 Gladys Irene Evins, 98, of Quito, passed away on March 9, 2013. Graveside services took place on Wednesday, March 13 at Quito Memorial Cemetery. The widow of Ross Evins, she is survived by her children, Bonnie Williams, Lois A. Baker, Donna S. (Mike) Billings and Ronnie (Judy) Evins; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Quito Memorial Cemetery Fund in care of Fellowship Baptist Church. Munford Funeral Home had charge of arrangements. The Leader (Covington, Tenn.) March 14, 2013
www.covingtonleader.com memorial service to follow at 3 p.m. Thursday, March 14, at Covington Funeral Home. His ashes will be scattered on the farm he loved at a private ceremony. The family requests that in lieu of flowers a memorial be given to New Salem Methodist Church or a charity of the donor’s choice. Friends may sign an online guestbook at www.covingtonfuneralhome.com. The Leader (Covington, Tenn.) March 14, 2013
George Mashburn
April 12, 1944 – March 9, 2013 George Mashburn, 68, of Atoka, passed away on Saturday, March 9. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 16 at the River of Life Church in Munford where he was a member. The family will receive friends two hours prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow the service in the Rogers Family Cemetery in Atoka. Mr. Mashburn was a 1962 graduate of Munford High School, a veteran of the U. S. Air Force and was retired from the General Services Administration in the Federal Building where he was a Maintenance Systems Analyst. He is survived by his wife, Linda Mashburn; two sons, Chad (Jamie) Mashburn of Waukesha, Wisc. and Todd (Genni) Mashburn of Lakeland; one sister, Sarah (Reese) Smith of Rosemark; one brother, Gene (Regina) Mashburn, Sr., of Munford, and five grandchildren, Nichole Mashburn, Blake Dorsey, Jaiden Locker, Molly Mashburn and MaKayla Mashburn. The family requests that any memorials be given to either the W. A. Rogers Family Cemetery, C/O Brenda Myles, P. O. Box 441, Munford, TN 38058 or The River of Life Church, Belize Ministry, P. O. Box 806, Munford ,TN 38058. Friends may sign an online guestbook at www.covingtonfuneralhome.com. The Leader (Covington, Tenn.) March 14, 2013
Mary Sam Dawson
October 25, 1922 – March 10, 2013 Mary Sam Dawson, 90, passed away on March 10, 2013. Mrs. Dawson was the widow of Hugh Leslie Dawson, Jr. and was the bookkeeper for Dawsons Food Market. Mrs. Dawson is survived by her son, Robert Hugh Dawson (Vicky) of Denver, NC; daughter, Mary Leslie Dawson Ramsey (Lee) of Memphis; 4 grandchildren, Brad Dawson, Sarah Dawson, Shelley Dawson Ramsey, and Luke Dawson Ramsey. Mrs. Dawson was preceded in death by her brother, John William Shelley and her sister, Helen Shelley Bishop. The family requests that memorials be sent to the Dawson Scholarship Fund at the First United Methodist Church in Covington at 145 W. Church St. Covington, TN 38019. The services were held on Wednesday March 13 at the First United Methodist Church in Covington. Visitation was held for an hour prior to the service. Interment was at R.H. Munford Cemetery. The Leader (Covington, Tenn.) March 14, 2013
Walter Fletcher Jr.
May 7, 1931 – March 9, 2013 Walter Fletcher, Jr., age 81, of Gilt Edge, passed away Saturday, March 9, 2013. He was an Air Force veteran. Walter was a farmer, an educator and retired as director of the Tennessee Technology Center in Covington. Walter loved his family, friends, and coworkers and encouraged many of them spiritually, financially, and emotionally. He loved to work on his farm and was obsessed with growing tomatoes and sweet corn. He was the son of the late Walter Fletcher, Sr. and Mary Gwinn Fletcher. Survivors include his wife of 57 years Janice Jones Fletcher, three sons Steve Fletcher (Gail), Colonel James Paul Fletcher, USA, Retired (Tammy) and Travis Fletcher; one sister, Beverly Smith (Jimmy); one brother, Farris Fletcher (Donna); one grandson, Brandon Fletcher; one great-granddaughter, Zoe Mizzell; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Caroline Fletcher and Evelyn Baddour. The family will receive friends from 1-3 p.m. with a
Helen Baskin Wilson
Date of Death – March 11, 2013 Helen Baskin Wilson, 83, of Coldwater, Miss., formerly of Munford, died at home on March 11, 2013. She was a homemaker and a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Coldwater. Funeral services will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 14 at Munford Funeral home. The family will receive friends two hours prior to service. She will be buried at Helen Crigger Cemetery. The widow of Leroy Wilson, she is survived by daughter Debra Wilson; sons Roy Wilson and Barry Wilson (Cindy); sisters Annette Miles and Glenda Thatcher; brother Verdell Baskin; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. A daughter, Dorothy Cates, and parents Ernest and Irene Griggs Baskin also preceded her in death. Memorial contributions may be made to Bethel Baptist Church in Coldwater, Miss. or Salvation Army in Memphis. The Leader
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