Dr. Benjamin “Ben” Macklin Carmichael (83) passed away on April 15, 2023. A visitation will be held from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 22 at Trinity Episcopal Church, with a service to follow.
Donna Sherrill Callahan (56) passed away on April 20, 2023. Burial is in Caney Baptist Church, and Trinity Funeral Service handled arrangements.
Malcom Douglas Courtney (85), of Lumberton, passed away on April 21, 2023. Burial is in Corinth Baptist Church Cemetery, and Trinity Funeral Service handled arrangements.
Sharon McCoy Crockett (70), of Hattiesburg, passed away on April 18, 2023. Burial is in Green’s Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, and Moore Funeral Service handled arrangements.
Barbara Anderson Green (88), of Purvis, passed away on April 19, 2023. Burial is in Coaltown Cemetery, and Moore Funeral Service handled arrangements.
Martha Jo Hayes (91) passed away on April 20, 2023. Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Kathleen Lucas Hutchison (84), of Hattiesburg, passed away on April 21, 2023. Burial is in Highland Cemetery, and Hulett-Winstead Funeral Service handled arrangements.
Betty McSwain (98) passed away on April 22, 2023. Burial is in Roseland Park Cemetery and Mausoleum, and Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Gerda Eleonora Mitchell (87), of Hattiesburg, passed away on April 20, 2023. Burial is in Steele Cemetery in Meadville, and Forrest Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Denver “Brother” Montague (75), of Sumrall, passed away on April 21, 2023. Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 27 from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. at Moore Petal Chapel. A graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, April 28 in Runnels Cemetery.
Claude W. Pittman (78), of Hattiesburg, passed away on April 17, 2023. Moore Funeral Service handled arrangements.
Edward Brent Swindoll Jr. (30), of Hattiesburg, passed away on April 19, 2023. Moore Funeral Service handled arrangements.
Ella Mae Booker Kling (100), of Hattiesburg, MS, passed away on April 22, 2023 at Asbury Hospice House in Hattiesburg, MS. Visitation will be Friday, April 28, 2023 from 5 – 7 p.m. at Moore Funeral Home in Hattiesburg. A second visitation will be Saturday, April 29, 2023 from 9:30 – 10:15 a.m. at Hardy Street Baptist Church with a celebration of life immediately following at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in Roseland Park Cemetery.
Ella Mae was born March 15, 1923 to George B. and Hattie Mae (Burkhalter) Booker on Poplarville, MS. She graduated from Hattiesburg High School on Main St. in 1941.
She was married to Benedict J. (Ben) Kling for 37 years and he preceded her in death in 1983. In 1948, they moved and opened Ben Kling Florist on Hardy Street. His father opened the first florist in Hattiesburg in 1906 on St. Paul Street, where Southland Florist is presently located. She continued to work with her son and daughter-in-law, Bobby and Pat Kling, until she retired in 1998.
She was preceded in death by her stepson, William Joseph (Billy) Kling; her sons-in-law, Dex Johnson and Ray DuBose, Sr.; her sister, Vera Burkhalter Anderson; and her brother, George Melvin Booker.
She is survived by her daughters, Gail Kling DuBose, Lumberton; Rosi Kling Johnson, Hattiesburg; her son, Bobby Kling (Pat Phillips), Bay St. Louis; and close friends who have helped care for her the last 2 years, Melinda Roberts, Lumberton, and Becky Richardson (Jimmy Lynn), Purvis. Also, six grandchildren: Ray DuBose, Jr., Lumberton; Kirk DuBose (Britton West), Columbia; Chris DuBose (Chandra), Cleveland, TN; Ashley Johnson Corey (Bubba), Hattiesburg; Ben Kling (Laci Burris), Ponchatoula, LA; Phillips Kling (Lauren Steele), Huntsville, AL; and 10 great grandchildren along with many nieces, nephews, and other extended family. She was the last living member of her generation of the Booker family.
Also in 1948, Ella Mae joined 5th Avenue Baptist Church which became Temple Baptist Church and now is Hardy Street Baptist. She was a very active and devoted member for 72 years, until the Covid Pandemic, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, and a member of the JOY Club where she held every office as well as social and decorating chairman. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Social Sorority, played bridge, enjoyed traveling, entertaining and made a hobby of trying to do something for someone every day until she was 97.
She was a true Southern lady, was loved by many and will be missed. The family wants to thank Kim Parker, Dan Johnston and the staff at Bellevue Assisted Living that cared for her for the last two years of her 100-year journey; and the doctors, nurses, aides and staff at Asbury Hospice Home for their loving care for the last week of her life.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her name to Hardy Street Baptist Church, 1508 Hardy Street, Hattiesburg, MS 39401 or a favorite charity of your choice.
