Betty Carter Barr (87), of Petal, passed away on July 4, 2024. Burial is in Hillcrest Cemetery, and Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Jimmy Walker Brannon (78), of Hattiesburg, passed away on July 3, 2024. A visitation will be held from 10-11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 11 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, and Moore Funeral Service handled arrangements.
Dorothy Ann Brown (90), of Hattiesburg, passed away on July 7, 2024. Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Sharon Ann Cochran (85), of the Janice Community, passed away on July 8, 2024. A visitation will be held from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 11 at Clear Creek Methodist Protestant Church, with a service to follow. Burial will be in Clear Creek Cemetery, and Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Wanda “Bebe” Cooley (57) passed away on July 1, 2024. Burial is in McLaurin Cemetery, and Moore Funeral Service handled arrangements.
Fred H. Davis (87), of Hattiesburg, passed away on July 5, 2024. Burial is in Biloxi National Cemetery, and Moore Funeral Service handled arrangements.
Delbert W. Dearman (72), of Petal, passed away on July 2, 2024. Burial is in Hillcrest Cemetery, and Moore Funeral Service handled arrangements.
Dolly Dimple Gatwood (93), of Hattiesburg, passed away on July 2, 2024. Burial is in Highland Cemetery, and Moore Funeral Service handled arrangements.
Melinda Ann Johnson (62), of Hattiesburg, passed away on June 27, 2024. Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Paula Reynolds Lawless (80), of Hattiesburg, passed away on July 1, 2024. Hultt-Winstead Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Charles Edward Levy (80), of Petal, passed away on June 28, 2024. Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Michael Christopher McDaniel (33) passed away on June 27, 2024. Pinehaven Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Evelyn “Amy” McMickle (64), of Hattiesburg, passed away on July 1, 2024. Burial is in Booth Cemetery, and Forrest Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Alicia Moore (60) passed away on July 6, 2024. A visitation will be held from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 11 at Moore Petal Chapel, with a service to follow.
Deborah Payne Royals (72), of Hattiesburg, passed away on June 26, 2024. Burial is in Highland Cemetery, and Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Payton Hope Brianna Singletary (25), of Hattiesburg, passed away on July 4, 2024. Memorial services will be held at a later date, and Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home handled arrangements.
William A. Sirmon was born December 25, 1938, in Pensacola, Florida, the youngest child of Arnold H. and Merle Fussell Sirmon. Bill died peacefully on July 7, 2024, at Forrest General Hospital after a lengthy illness. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 9 at Moore Hattiesburg Chapel. Burial is in New Hebron Cemetery in New Hebron, MS.
Bill began elementary school at E.J. Wilson in Pensacola in 1944. He attended Brentwood School from 1948 until 1953, and graduated from J.M. Tate High School in 1956. He attended Pensacola Junior College from 1956-1958 and was a member of the basketball team during his freshman year. He then transferred to Mississippi Southern College, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a minor in accounting in 1960, and his Master of Science degree in Business Administration with a minor in economics in 1961. He began his teaching career at Troy State College in 1961. He met the love of his life, Marilyn Lane at Mississippi Southern College, and they married in New Hebron, Mississippi, on June 17, 1962. In 1969, Bill received his Doctor of Business Administration degree from Mississippi State University. He joined the finance faculty of The University of Southern Mississippi in the fall of 1969, which began a long tenure of teaching, research, and service to the University. He retired from USM in 1995 as the Associate Dean of the College of Business Administration.
He outlived his parents and two brothers, James Richard Sirmon and Charles Edward Sirmon. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marilyn Lane Sirmon, two nieces, Allison Sirmon Nelson, (Montana) and Cathy Sirmon Womack (Florida); caregiver, Debby Hill (Hattiesburg); and numerous cousins and friends who loved and respected him.
After retiring, Bill enjoyed the quiet life with his ‘Tiny’ at their home in New Hebron. He enjoyed traveling the world and conducting genealogy searches and did research in Britain. He was a proud supporter of USM, especially the students who received scholarships to participate in the Studies Abroad programs.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to the Mississippi Baptist Children’s Village in Bill’s memory.
Barbara Nell Franklin Phillips passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, June 14, 2024, in Hattiesburg, MS.
Visitation for Barbara was on Monday, June 24, at Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home in Hattiesburg. There was a private burial at Roseland Park Cemetery following the service.
Barbara was born in Haynesville, Louisiana, on August 11, 1937. When she was eight years old, she relocated with her parents, Dave and Eva Franklin, to Baxterville, Mississippi. She graduated in three years with honors from Mississippi Southern College (University of Southern Mississippi) and earned her degree in English with a minor in Psychology. She was a member of Tri Delta sorority and served as Treasurer. In 1958, Barbara married the late Dr. Tom Rhea Phillips Jr. They enjoyed 53 years of marriage, raised five children, and became “Bobbie” and “Gran Tom” to eight grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Throughout her life, Barbara held numerous leadership positions and participated extensively in organizations in the Hattiesburg community. She was the recipient of the Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi Women of Distinction Award in 2016. She was a Brownie leader and Girl Scout Leader of Troup 151. She was one of the first women to serve as an Executive Board Member of the Boy Scouts of America – Tall Pines District. She was also a Cub Den Leader. Barbara was awarded the District’s Pine Burr Award and the Silver Beaver Award from the Pine Burr Area Council. She was a former member of the Drug Abuse Council, the Hattiesburg Zoning Board, Friends of Kamper Park, Hattiesburg Planning Commission, Friends of the Library, the W.M.U., and the Civic Arts Council. She also served on the Hattiesburg Advisory Board at Unifirst, the Board of Directors at the Hattiesburg Historical Society, and was Secretary of the Hattiesburg Historical Foundation. She was past President of the Forrest County Dental Auxiliary, the East District Dental Auxiliary and the Auxiliary to the Mississippi Dental Association. Barbara was President of the P.T.A. at Camp Elementary, Hawkins Junior High and Blair High School as well as a member of the Hattiesburg P.T.A. City Council.
Barbara enjoyed gardening and was a member of the Garden Guild. She was a member of the Hattiesburg Veleda Club for over 50 years. Barbara cherished her “gold” friends from Lumberton High School and attended class reunions for as many years as possible.
In earlier years, Barbara was an active member of Main Street Baptist Church. Later, she joined Temple Baptist Church and was a member of The Seekers Bible Fellowship Class.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her oldest son, Tom Rhea Phillips III. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Mike and Kim Phillips of Hattiesburg, her daughter and son-in-law Alesia and Brett Valentine of Hattiesburg, her son and daughter-in-law John Allen and Kim Phillips of Chagrin Falls, OH and her daughter and son-in-law Lynn and Jason Helwig of Hattiesburg. She is survived by her grandchildren Shelby Phillips and David Phillips of Hattiesburg; Rhea-Phillips Valentine Witmer (Ryan) of Chickamauga, GA, James Valentine (Sara) of Starkville, MS, and Brett Valentine of Jackson, MS; Robert Phillips and Emily Phillips of Chagrin Falls, OH; and Andrew Helwig of Hattiesburg, MS, and her great- granddaughter Amelia James Valentine of Starkville, MS. She is also survived by her nieces, Jo Ellen Martin (Terry) of Hattiesburg and Jeanie Barrier (Hibbie) of Nashville, TN.
Memorials may be made to The Seekers Bible Fellowship class at Temple Baptist Church, 5220 Old Highway 11, Hattiesburg, MS, 39402, Hattiesburg Area Historical Society, P.O. Box 1573, Hattiesburg, MS 39403, or the Hattiesburg Arts Council, P.O. Box 693, Hattiesburg, MS 39403.
