William Cordero (67), of Petal, passed away on July 18, 2024. Burial is in Highland Cemetery, and Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Dr. Frank E. Dement, III (83), of Hattiesburg, passed away on July 20, 2024. A visitation will be held from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 27 at Moore Hattiesburg Chapel, with a service to follow.
Bradford Lee Ford (71) passed away on July 16, 2024. Pinehaven Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Randy Harris (66), of the Dixie Community, passed away on July 20, 2024. Moore Funeral Service handled arrangements.
Evelyn M. Kendall (93), of Brooklyn, passed away on July 20, 2024. A visitation will be held from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 26 at Grace Chapel Baptist Church, with a service to follow. Burial will be in Grace Chapel Cemetery, and Moore Funeral Service handled arrangements.
Charles Dempsey Parker (84), of Hattiesburg, passed away on July 17, 2024. Burial is in Highland Cemetery, and Moore Funeral Service handled arrangements.
Caycie Taegan Arielle Parkman (20) passed away on July 20, 2024. Burial is in Clear Branch Baptist Church Cemetery, and Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Joseph Bennie Strahan (85), of Lumberton, passed away on July 18, 2024. Burial is in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church Cemetery, and Trinity Funeral Services handled arrangements.
Patsy J. Varner (88), of Hattiesburg, passed away on July 16, 2024. Burial is in Highland Cemetery, and Moore Funeral Service handled arrangements.
Rev. Dr. Marshall E. Burnett, Jr. passed away peacefully at his residence in Hattiesburg on July 17 with his family at his side at the age of 98. The last four years of his life were spent with the wonderful family of Brookdale Assisted Living in Hattiesburg. The final weeks of his life were made comfortable by the amazing staff of Gentiva Hospice. The family is eternally grateful for both of these organizations.
Dr. Burnett, a native of Meridian, graduated from Meridian High School in May 1943. Shortly after graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. After training at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg, he was stationed for three years during World War II in Burma, India. Education was always a focus of Dr. Burnett and his family and, upon his return from the war, he entered college and graduated from Millsaps College in Jackson. During his college years, he met his future wife, Lynn Wilson Burnett, of Vaughan, Miss. They were married on Aug. 27, 1950, at Lynn’s home church, Black Jack Baptist Church in Vaughan.
After graduating from college, Dr. Burnett immediately began working in Canton and Yazoo City. It was not long, however, before he realized God’s call on his life as he followed his father’s footsteps and entered the ministry. The couple moved to Durham, N.C., where he received a Bachelor of Divinity Degree in 1956 from Duke University. Upon graduation, the couple moved back to their home state and Dr. Burnett served the United Methodist Conference of Mississippi as a pastor for more than 55 years. While serving full-time in the ministry, he continued his pursuit of education and graduated with his Doctor of Education degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1981.
He served more than 15 congregations in central and south Mississippi and, in retirement, served as a visitation pastor and hospice chaplain. He fully retired from the ministry at the age of 83. The collection of sermons he preached during his 55 years is archived at the library of William Carey University, where they will inspire a future generation of pastors.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. and Mrs. Marshall E. Burnett, Sr., a brother, Rev. James P. Burnett, and his wife of 65 years, Lynn Burnett. He is survived by a brother, Dr. Joe G. Burnett, four children (Walter, Carol, Lillie and Ben), five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.
Strickland-King Funeral Home in Yazoo City is in charge of arrangements. Dr. Burnett’s celebration of a life well-lived was held on Sunday, July 21, at Black Jack Baptist Church. Burial is in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his memory to the Julia Goodwin Burnett scholarship at William Carey University. Questions regarding donations can be directed to (601) 318-6526.
