James Edward “Eddie” Parker, 76, of Myrick, MS., was welcomed home by his Lord on Monday, October 28, 2024. Born on August 13.,1948, in Laurel, MS., Eddie was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, pastor, and friend.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2024, from 12:30-2:30, at Pineview Baptist Church, located at 308 Magnolia Rd, Laurel, MS. 39443. The celebration of life service will follow at 2:30, at Pineview BC, with burial at Myrick Cemetery in Myrick, MS. Bro. Danny Stringer, along with Eddie’s son Brent will officiate
Following his graduation from Northeast Jones High School in 1966, Eddie enlisted in the Army where he served with a Special Forces unit. After his time in the Army, Eddie committed his life to ministry, serving eight different churches during his 30 plus years of pastoral ministry. Eddie loved the Lord Jesus, his word, and his church. Eddie was known for having a strong work ethic, along with a commitment to do everything with excellence.
Eddie was also an avid outdoorsman, enjoying many different types of hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed gardening, although he had a tendency to plant much more than was needed, and to conveniently go missing when it came time to pick it.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Mac Bonner Parker and Norma Lee (Davis) Parker, and his sisters, Kathy Williams, and Norma Jean Scruggs.
Eddie is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Edna Faye (Allred) Parker, and their sons, Nathan Parker (Kathy), and Brent Parker (Jennifer). Eddie was a proud grandfather to Sarah Parker, Joshua Parker, Anna Parker, William Parker, and Jessica Parker. He is also survived by his sister, Linda Hearn, and his brother-in-law, Arthur Ray Allred, along with a host of nieces and nephews.
Jimmy Andrew Russell, Sr., 82, of Ecru, Mississippi, completed his earthly race on October 27, 2024, at 8:55am after a battle with cancer. Jimmy was born on December 23, 1941, to Charles Aubrey “Jim” and Vera Lucille Russell in Mynott, Alabama in a little house in a holler. After he graduated from Hurricane School in Pontotoc, Mississippi, he attended Blue Mountain College for Biblical Studies. He pastored 8 churches in 51 years of ministry and shepherded hundreds of souls to the Lord.
After meeting through mutual friends, Jimmy married Janice Gray on August 4, 1962, at her mother’s home. They went on to have 3 children, Andy, Alan, and Matthew. Bro. Jimmy attempted to retire multiple times but was always drawn back to what he did best, serving the Lord and preaching. He lived his last couple of years enjoying his family, playing with his grandchildren, and studying God’s word.
Jimmy was predeceased by his parents, and his older sisters, Charlene Stepp, Fleeta Sneed, Evie Jean Mask, and Willa Dean Priddy.
He is survived by his wife Janice Russell and their children: Andy Russell and his wife Susan, Alan Russell and his wife Allison, and Matt Russell and his wife Marley; Jimmy’s grandchildren: Anna Caldwell and her husband Matt, Emily Stout and her husband Kensey, Hannah Smith and her husband Dusty, Mallory Gibson and her husband Gentry, Cason Russell, Caylen Russell, and Cambree Russell; Jimmy’s great-grandchildren: Maxey Stout, AJ Caldwell, Carver Stout, Lydia Stout, Wiley Caldwell, Bo Miles Smith, Rorey Caldwell, and Hutton Smith.
Rev. John F. Sumner, Jr., age 95, of Moselle passed away on October 25, 2024, at his residence. Bro. Jerry East and Dr. Ronnie Bishop will officiate with the burial to follow in the Fairfield Baptist Church Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Wayne Douglas, Paul Gregg, Charles Odom, Max Robertson, Larry Robinson and Kevin Kyzar. Honorary pallbearers will be Ryan Richardson and Rodney Mooney.
John was born on March 24, 1929, in Tarpon Springs, FL to John Floyd and Lily (Evers) Sumner. He is the second child in a family of seven children: two boys and five girls. His parents moved back to their native state of Georgia when he was three years old, where he and his siblings grew up.
On October 3, 1952, he married Bobbie Jennette Cowart of Adel, GA whom he had met in church. To this union were born John Floyd Sumner, III and Jennifer Candace (Sumner) Weaver.
John attended/graduated from Abraham Baldwin in Agricultural College, Norman Park College, (A.A.), Mercer University, William Carey College (B.A.), University of Tel-Aviv, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (THM) and completed partial requirements for his doctorate.
He was saved in 1950 in Tampa, FL, and after returning to GA in 1953, he was ordained as a deacon at Brushy Creek Baptist Church, Sparks, GA. He pastored the following churches: Buck Creek Baptist Church, Ellenton, GA 1956-1958; Cecil Baptist Church (interim), Cecil, GA, 1959; Warwick Baptist Church, Warwick, GA, 1959-1962; Arabi Baptist Church, Arabi, GA, 1962-1966 and Fairfield Baptist Church, Moselle, MS, 1966-1976.
John became the Baptist Student Director at Jones County Junior College in 1976 and remained there until his retirement in 1991. He had a passion for mission work and was able to take many students on mission trips during his life of service to God. Through church youth choir trips, BSU student mission and choir trips and his own personal mission trips, John was able to serve God on more than ??? trips. Over ??? students were part of these trips.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Jennette; parents, John and Lily Sumner; sisters, Betty Maddox and Peggy North and brother, Winston.
He is survived by his children, John (Janice) Sumner, III of Moselle and Candy (Gates) Weaver of Moselle; grandchildren, Ashley (Ryan) Richardson, Amber (Rodney) Mooney and Morgan Sumner; great grandchildren, Race Robertson, Aria Mooney, Caroline Mooney, Ruth Richardson, Rose Richardson, Beau Richardson, Caplan Sumner, Quinn Sumner and Conan Sumner and sisters, Carleen Smith, Carolyn Phillips and Barbara Hall.
Dr. Elmer “Ladell” Blanton, 85, of Kosciusko, Miss., went home to be with the Lord on October 3, 2024.
A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Sunday, October 6, 2024, and from 9:00 a.m. until 12: 30 p.m., Monday, October 7, 2024, both at Jordan Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 1:00 p.m., Monday, October 7, 2024, at Kosciusko First Baptist Church, with burial to follow at Parkway Cemetery. Dr. Luke Gardner, Rev. Gene Richardson, and Rev. James Young will be officiating the services.
Preceded in death by his loving parents, Elmer and Netta Faye Blanton of Kosciusko, Miss., his sister, Betty Joyce Blanton Longmire, and his beloved wife, Claudette Burnside Blanton (d. 2004).
He is survived by his wife Maryella Blanton; children from his first marriage Jean Ann B. Warrington of Silverhill, Ala., Michael (Elizabeth) Blanton of Louisville, Miss., and Jimmy Dell (Janice) Blanton of Yazoo City, Miss.; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and stepdaughter Beth (Frankie) Cummins; two step-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren.
Born in Kosciusko, Miss., on December 12, 1938, Ladell graduated from Kosciusko High School in 1956 and married his high school sweetheart, Claudette Burnside Blanton, in 1958. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss., in 1961. Between February and May 1961, he worked for Baxter Laboratories in Cleveland, Miss.
He was a research chemist and manager for the Mississippi Chemical Corporation in Yazoo City, Miss., from 1961-1985. At Mississippi Chemical Corporation, he often worked abroad in England, Ireland, France, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Canada. During this time, he felt called to serve the Lord in ministry.
Ladell worked as a consultant for Mississippi Chemical Corporation from 1986-1990. In 1986, he began studying at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary where he graduated with a Master of Divinity in 1987. Ladell was ordained in July 1987 at First Baptist Church in Yazoo City, Miss. He served as Student Pastor of Myette Point Baptist Mission in Franklin, La., from March 1987 to April 1988.
Ladell served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Tchula, Miss., from April 1988 to December 1991.
From December 1991 to March 1999, he was pastor of First Baptist Church in Foxworth, Miss. During this time, he received his Doctor of Ministry from Luther Rice Seminary in Lithonia, Ga., in 1994.
From March 1999 to 2003, Ladell served as Director of Missions for Bethlehem Association and Pine Barren Association in Alabama, before returning home to Kosciusko, Miss., to serve as pastor for Springdale Baptist Church in West, Miss.
Ladell married Maryella in 2005. He later served as interim pastor for McCool Baptist Church in 2007 and eventually retired from North Union Baptist Church.
He is remembered by his dedication to the Lord, his brilliant mind, and his joyful sense of humor.
Reverend John Wayne Edwards, 75, of Meridian, MS, passed away on October 3, 2024, at his residence.
Wayne was born September 21, 1949, and grew up in Indianola, MS. Wayne accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior during high school and was called to be a pastor during his freshman year in college. He was ordained to the gospel ministry at the Second Baptist Church, Indianola, on April 27, 1969. He graduated from Mississippi College in 1973 and graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree in 1976. Wayne pastored Mississippi churches in the towns of McCool, Little Rock, Eudora, Meridian, and Collinsville for a total of 24 years; he served as Minister of Education at First Baptist Church Clinton for 5 years; and he served as the Associational Missions Director for Lauderdale County Baptist Association for 17 years.
Beyond the local church, Wayne had a servant’s heart. He worked with the Mississippi Baptist Convention’s Baptist Children’s Village for 42 years and served as Trustee for 24 years. He was an adjunct professor at Meridian Community College for 24 years where he taught biblical studies classes. Wayne was the associational coordinator for World Changers in Meridian for 12 years. He was also a leader with the youth and adult Leadership Lauderdale Programs for 18 years, where he was well known for teaching the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Over the years, Wayne also served organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America, Meridian High School Band Boosters, Pine Lake Fellowship Camp, and numerous other organizations.
Wayne was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to bass fish almost as much as he enjoyed eating fried fish! He enjoyed hunting deer, dove, quail, squirrel, and turkey. Wayne also loved shooting sporting clays at the Boy Scout’s Camp Bianchi.
Wayne was a wonderful husband and father who loved spending time with his family and friends. He was truly unselfish and will be remembered for his extensive mentoring of ministers and fellow believers.
Bro. Wayne is survived by his wife of 50 years, Patti Pierce Edwards; his children Scott (Lydia) Edwards and Elizabeth (Justin) McDonald; grandchildren Reed, Jake, Levi, Ella Kate, Emerson, and Kinsley.
He is preceded in death by his infant son, Kim, and parents Robert John and Lois Edwards.
Rev. Harvey Gowan Ellis went to meet his Lord and Savior in the early morning hours of September 17, at his home in Clinton.
He was born December 19, 1935, in West, MS, to Richard Bryant Ellis and Frances Adcock Ellis. He graduated from West High School in 1953 and knew what would become his life’s work, surrendering to preach at an early age at Mt Pleasant Baptist Church, Holmes County.
Bro Ellis continued his education at Holmes Community College, 1955; Mississippi College, 1957; and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1959. He pastored small Baptist churches throughout his college and seminary years.
Gowan met the love of his life, Kay Hannaford Davis Ellis, and they were married June 19, 1960, spending 64 years together. A graduate of Blue Mountain College, Mrs. Ellis subsequently taught elementary school and kindergarten in various locations where they lived. She served faithfully alongside her husband and aiding in his ministry as a pastor’s wife.
Mississippi churches where Gowan pastored include Shiloh Baptist, Gore Springs; Calvary Baptist, Sontag; Pleasant Ridge, Chickasaw County; Sherman Baptist, Pontotoc County; Noxapater Baptist, Winston County; and First Baptist Church, Terry. He retired from the full-time pastorate in 1997 at Terry.
However, he continued to serve part time or on an interim basis for fifteen additional years at Calvary; Melrose; and Hebron Baptist churches, all in Yazoo County. Because preaching was his passion, he went wherever he was invited.
He took immense pleasure in planting and tending a garden, sharing generously the fruits of his labor. He also enjoyed quail hunting and collecting old tools, refurbishing any shovel or rake he came across with a new handle. As a life-long learner, he also spent many enjoyable hours reading.
Gowan was pre-deceased by his brother, Richard Bryant Ellis. He is survived by his loving wife Kay and the three children for whom he always modeled a father’s love: Frances Ellis Mitchell (Cliff), Ridgeland; Harvey Gowan Ellis (Sonji), Madison; and Timothy Selwyn Ellis (Holly), Bossier City, LA.
He was a proud grandfather to Lauren Mitchell Wert (Charlie); Owen Timothy Ellis (Danielle); Davis Glen Ellis; Andrew Neal Ellis; Dailee Elise Ellis; Walker Harvey Ellis and bonus grandchildren Shane Mitchell, Catherine Clayton, and Caroline Clayton Stroo. He was also an exuberant great-grandfather to Webb Sansing; Julianne Sansing; and Mitchell Wert.
Charley Lee Cook went home to be with his Lord on Monday, September 2, 2024, at the age of 91. He married the love of his life, Peggy Ainsworth Cook, on May 21, 1952. They celebrated their 70th anniversary in 2022 before her death in 2023.
He enlisted in the United States Navy on December 27, 1950, and served his country for three years as Quartermaster 3rd class as a signalman on the USS Piedmont during the Korean War. This enabled him to secure a job after service as a railroad clerk with the Illinois Central Railroad at Magee and Mendenhall, using his skills on the teletype and Morse code.
He surrendered to the ministry at the age of fifty-three and was licensed to the ministry in 1986 at Kennedy Springs Baptist Church. He and Peggy served churches in Simpson, Smith, Jefferson Davis, and Covington Counties. He and Peggy loved their church ministry and sharing their love for the Lord through teaching and service.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy Ainsworth Cook; daughter, Angela Gay Cook; parents, Claude and Earma (Patterson) Cook; brother, Colon Cook and sister, Jessie Warren.
He is survived by his children, Geneva Lee Cooper (Garland), Deborah Cook Cockrell, and Randy Lee Cook; grandchildren Lance Cooper (Whitney), Daniel Cooper (Mary), Amanda Tutor Blakeney (Jacob), Matthew Cockrell, Morgan Cook-Harvin (Scott), Aubrey Cook (Jami); great-grandchildren Henry, Rose, Walt, Mae and Elliot Cooper, Annmarie and Noah Blakeney, Aspen Majors and Wheatley Cook; sister, Claudia Bishop; brother-in-law, Wesley East and many loving nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Forrest General Hospital’s 8th-floor staff for the loving care shown for our father and our family.
