Bro. Carl Morris, age 84, passed away at Baptist Memorial-Oxford on December 8, 2024. Carl was born Carl Leon Morris on August 23, 1940, to the late Hosea Bailey Morris and Jenny Lee Hill Morris in Chickasaw County.
Carl was a beloved pastor throughout his life, ministering to many churches in the areas of Pheba, Clarkson, Sparta, Calhoun County, Arkansas and retired while serving as pastor at Hoinlinden Baptist Church. He was loved at every church he pastored throughout his time of ministry.
A Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at 2 PM at Houston Funeral Home in Houston, MS with Bro. Parish Hartley officiating. Visitation will be from 1 PM until the time of service at the funeral home. The burial will be at Woodland Cemetery in Woodland, MS. Houston Funeral Home is honored to serve the Morris Family.
Serving as pallbearers are James Morris, Lee Morris, Paul Morris, Jimmy Weaver, Rocky McGee, and Scott Gann.
He is survived by his children, Kathy (Travis) Kent of Mantee, MS, Donna (Mark) Chard of Little Rock, AR, Leon (Amanda) Morris of Woodland, MS, Randy (Judith) Morris of Woodland, MS; grandchildren, Nikkie Morris, Marty Black, Tony Black, Kari Gann, Roger Morris, and Rocky McGee; 19 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Nell Faye Levitt of Virginia.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Bettie Ann Morris; parents, Hosea Bailey and Jenny Lee Morris; daughter in law, Pam Morris; brothers, Roy Morris, Don Morris, HB Morris, and Harold Morris; and a grandson, TJ Bryant.
James A. Sadler, Jr., 87, of Liberty, MS, passed from his earthly shell very peacefully at home on December 11, 2024 surrounded by his family. He began preaching when he was 17 years old. He graduated Anding High School in Bentonia, MS; Received his undergraduate from Mississippi College in Clinton, MS; And earned his Masters degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. While pursuing his education, he served several churches throughout the Mississippi Delta. After completing his education, he served in numerous churches in Mississippi and Alabama. He also served as Chaplain at Feliciana Forensic Facility in Jackson, LA for 19 years. He preached the word of his Lord and Savior faithfully for 68 years. His faithfulness and his servant heart was evident in his daily walk.
James was born, as he loved to say, “In the back bedroom” on July 15, l937 to James Arden Sadler, Sr. and Annie Laura Bradshaw Sadler of Bentonia, MS.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years Nadene Huff Sadler along with his siblings, children, grands and dear friends. All of whom he cherished and loved.
Rev. Ronnie “Jiggs” Maxie, age 79, of Richton, passed from this life on November 27, 2024, in Hattiesburg. Rev. Maxie is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Maxie of Richton; sons, Scott (Peggy) Maxie of Lucedale and Jon Mark (Seneca) Maxie of Canyon Lake, TX; 6 grandchildren, Mystica (Nick) Hulsman of Hiram, ME, Alyse Maxie, of Lucedale, Jackson and Easton Maxie, both of Moss Point, Cadence Hamilton and Shepherd Maxie, both of Canyon Lake, TX; sisters, Elaine (Robert) Lassiter of Richton, Beth Bates of Monticello, AR, Lynn (Burnie) Dykes, Laura (Mike) Flowers, of Decatur, AL, and a host of other relatives.
He was preceded by in death by his parents, Hilluard and Frances Edith Maxie; grandson, Matthew Maxie; brothers, George David Maxie, Mike “Jake” Maxie and H. C. “Pistol” Maxie.
Rev. Maxie was a U. S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, where he received the Purple Heart. He was a retired Baptist minister after serving for over 45 years in churches in Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. He was a member of the Mississippi Southern Baptist Church convention and member of the First Baptist Church of Richton.
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.
