Kay Anderson
64, of Purvis
Kay Anderson, 64, of Purvis; born to O.L. and Frances Carroll; died April 20, 2020, at Lamar Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Lumberton; hairdresser and jeweler; mother of Lacey Anderson of Purvis; burial in Tallowah Cemetery.
Eddie Joe Bond
63, of Lumberton
Eddie Joe Bond, 63, of Lumberton; born to Edmond and Desree Bond; died April 24, 2020; retired truck driver; husband to Jane Bond; father of Eric Joel Bond of Orlando, Florida, and Chad Scott Bond of Lumberton; stepfather of Charles Robert Green of Purvis and Pamela Renee Gower of Gulfport.
Mary S. Draughn
89, of Hattiesburg
Mary S. Draughn, 89, of Hattiesburg; born in Sumrall on Aug. 14, 1930, to Hilburn and Virgie Lee Aultman; died April 25, 2020, at Bedford Care Center of Hattiesburg; retired teacher; wife of William Ray Draughn; mother to Danon Smith, Diana Gray, Melesa Caddick and Marsha Zeiders; stepmother to Cindy Benzel, Ricky Draughn and Michael Draughn; burial in Oakdale Church Cemetery in Seminary.
Juanita Grantham
87, of Hattiesburg
Juanita Grantham, 87, of Hattiesburg; died April 23, 2020, at Brookdale Senior Living in Hattiesburg; retired nurse; mother of Pam Norris of Lumberton, Kim Griffith of Livingston, Alabama, and Danya Hogue of Hattiesburg.
J.L. Jenkins
83, of Petal
J.L. Jenkins, 83, of Petal; born to John and Lillie Jenkins; died April 20, 2020, at his residence; U.S. Navy veteran; father of Greg Jenkins of New Orleans and Kathy Forte of Petal; burial in Runnels Cemetery.
Frances E. Joseph
95, of Hattiesburg
Frances E. Joseph, 95, of Hattiesburg; born to Kalil and Anise Joseph; died April 21, 2020; retired bookkeeper and member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Kathleen S. “Kitty” McAulay
93, of Petal
Kathleen S. “Kitty” McAulay, 93, of Petal; born to Carl Stewart and Ina Stewart Taylor; died on April 28, 2020, at her residence; retired from Forrest General Hospital as a switchboard operator; mother to Mark McAulay, Kathy Ryan and Evelyn Kramer, all of Petal, and Linda Foil of Kokomo; burial in Hillcrest Cemetery in Hattiesburg.
Helen Thompson McWhorter
104, of Gainesville, Georgia
Helen Thompson McWhorter, 104, of Gainesville, Georgia, and formerly of Hattiesburg; born in Dallas, Texas, on Jan. 26, 1916, to Joseph Irving and Mabel Avery Thompson; died April 24, 2020; retired William Carey College music teacher; mother of Larry McWhorter of Isle of Palms, South Carolina, and Ann Wilson of Hoschton, Georgia.
William C. “Bill” Mooney
70, of Petal
William C. “Bill” Mooney, 70, of Petal; died April 19, 2020, at his residence; retired from the Mississippi Department of Transportation; husband to Theresa Dianne Mooney; father of William Mooney of Crestview, Florida; burial in Fairchild Cemetery in Moselle.
Bobby Ray Parker
83, of Purvis
Bobby Ray Parker, 83, of Purvis; born to Robert Parker and Edna Fairley; died April 27, 2020, at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg; U.S. Air Force veteran; husband to Barbara Sue Parker; father of Mike Parker of Madison, Ken Parker and Faron Kiser, both of Purvis, Karen Blodgett of California, and Sandra Lynn Warren, Kelly Thrasher, Renee Lungrin, all of Yazoo; burial in Cherished Acres Cemetery.
Ethel Lafaye Patterson
93, of Hattiesburg
Ethel Lafaye Patterson, 93, of Hattiesburg; died April 24, 2020, at her residence; member of Glendale Baptist Church; mother of Stacy Connolly, Cindy Wilson and Buddy Patterson, all of Hattiesburg, Kimberly Knight of Huntsville, Alabama, Sherry Lambert of Picayune, Brenda McDonald of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Kathy Ward of Gulfport, Bobbie Deter of Iowa, Mike Patterson of Peachtree City, Georgia, and David Patterson of Atlanta; burial in Ladner Mucklerath Cemetery.
Edith Pierce
78, of Petal
Edith Pierce, 78, of Petal; born to Ernst and Auguste Schaefer; died April 22, 2020, at her residence; member of St. John Lutheran Church; mother of Werner Pierce, John Pierce, Dean Pierce, Stanley Pierce and Bryan Pierce.
Donald Ballard Ramsey
78, of Hattiesburg
Donald Ballard Ramsey, 78, of Hattiesburg; born to Clifton and Hazel Ramsey; died April 24, 2020, at the State Veterans Home in Collins; U.S. Navy veteran and graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi; husband to Donna Speights Ramsey; father of Jan Ramsey Farr and Marilyn Ramsey Berthonnaud, both of Knoxville, Tennessee; stepfather of Chris Holcomb of Purvis.
Mary Elaine Graham Read
70, of Sumrall
Mary Elaine Graham Read, 70, of Sumrall; born to Buel and Ruenella Graham; died April 24, 2020, at her residence; retired Laurel City Schools principal; mother to Mary Read Viney of the United Kingdom.
Peggy Lorraine Trussell
94, of Aledo, Texas
Peggy Lorraine Trussell, 94, of Aledo, Texas, and formerly of Hattiesburg; born in Magee to Emmett and Edna O’Neal; died April 19, 2020, at her residence; grew up in Lumberton; mother of Emmett Dewey Trussell; burial in Highland Cemetery in Hattiesburg.
Bonnie Roberts Turpin
74, of Hattiesburg
Bonnie Roberts Turpin, 74, of Hattiesburg; born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on April 16, 1946, to William Willard Roberts and Edna Amanda Huffmyer Roberts; died April 24, 2020; graduate of Jacksonville State University; wife to William Turpin; mother of John Turpin of Brandon and Donna Rouse of Hattiesburg; burial in Highland Cemetery in Hattiesburg.
Edward McKinley Wheat II
76, of Sumrall
Edward McKinley Wheat II, 76, of Sumrall; born June 18, 1943, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Edward M. Wheat and Ruth Parry Wheat; died April 19, 2020, at his residence; U.S. Army veteran and retired college professor; husband to Stella Hubbard Wheat; father of Walter Whitman Wheat.
William “Ray” Lee
58, of Purvis
Staff Sgt. William “Ray” Lee, ARNG, retired, 58, of Purvis, passed away on Thursday, April 2, 2020, at his residence.
Lee was a faithful member of Okahola Baptist Church. He had a great love for the Lord and his church, where he was very active. He would talk about his Savior to anyone that would listen, even if they didn’t care to hear.
He graduated from Forrest County Agricultural High School, Class of 1979. He served several years as an active volunteer with the Lamar County 4-H Horse Club. Since 2013, he became a very involved rodeo dad where he enjoyed great times with his daughter, Maloree.
Lee honorably served his country for 27 years, and he loved to share his adventurous and funny stories about his time during years of service. He loved to make people laugh to brighten up their day. He was a very loving and involved papaw to his grandkids and great-grandkids.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Cathy Lee, and his grandparents, Clyde and Hazel Lee, and Edward and Laurie Archer.
He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Deborah Lee of Purvis; his two daughters, Megan (Adam) Brewer of Brookhaven and Maloree Lee of Purvis; two stepdaughters, Maranda (Joseph) Zaydel of Washington, D.C., and Malinda Covey of Florence; his son, Cody Lee of New Orleans; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; his father, Willie Ray Lee of Carnes; his sister, Abby (Bill) Morris of Carnes; his brother, Joel (Tammy) Lee of Gum Pond; and many nieces and nephews.
Due to COVID-19 limitations, the family will have a private graveside service. There will be a memorial service at Okahola Baptist Church at a later date.
In lieu of flowers or monetary gifts to the family, they request donations be made to Okahola Baptist Church, 3889 Old Highway 11, Purvis, MS 39475.
