Jearlyn Hudson Akers
84, of Sumrall
Jearlyn Hudson Akers, 84, of Sumrall; daughter of the late Mavis and Porter Hudson Sr.; died Feb. 24, 2020; co-owners of several Napa Auto Parts stores; wife of Mickey Akers of Sumrall; mother of two sons (Jim Akers of Sumrall and Greg Akers of Hattiesburg); burial in Hickory Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
Libby Amacker
54, of Petal
Libby Amacker, 54, of Petal; died Feb. 19, 2020, at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg; wife of the late William; mother of three sons (Chris of Petal, the late Joshua, and the late Jason) and one daughter (Jessica Amaker of Petal); burial in the Magee City Cemetery.
Rita Hailey-Burks
68, of Petal
Rita Hailey-Burks, 68, of Oak Grove; born to Scott and Ois Hailey; died Feb. 22, 2020, at her home in Oak Grove; retired after 37 years as a project manager for the University of Southern Mississippi Physical Plant; longtime member of Oak Grove United Methodist Church; wife of 35 years to Tommy; mother of one son (Wyler of Marble Falls, Texas); burial in Ladner-Muckelrath Cemetery.
L. Keith Butler
77, of Petal
L. Keith Butler, 77, of Petal; born to Lawrence and Margaret Butler; died Feb. 19, 2020, at his home; retired restaurant owner in Green Valley, Arizona; husband of 35 years to Donna; father to Stuart, Bill and Barbara.
Dr. Betty Sue Drake
95, of Hattiesburg
Dr. Betty Sue Drake, 95, of Hattiesburg; born to Russell and Queenie Sue Drake; died Feb. 23, 2020, in Hattiesburg; earned a Ph.D. in Library Science from North Texas State University; served as a U.S. Marine; was the periodicals librarian at the University of Southern Mississippi until her retirement and then was curator of the Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby; mother of three sons (Mark and Eric of Vicksburg and Seth of Hattiesburg); burial with military honors at Biloxi National Cemetery in Biloxi.
Susan Ethredge
60, of Petal
Susan Ethredge, 60, of Petal; born to James and Viola Norwood; died Feb. 22, 2020, at Asbury Hospice House in Hattiesburg; doting mother and nana who excelled in the kitchen; wife of James “Jim” Ethredge; mother of one son (Joseph “Joey” of Petal) and two daughters (Codi Tanner and Lacey Harrison of Petal).
Robert Wayne Gibson
73, of Hattiesburg
Robert Wayne Gibson, 73, of Hattiesburg; born to R.T. and Doris Gibson; died on Feb. 21, 2020, at the State Veterans Home in Collins.
Tommy Lyles Gore
89, of Hattiesburg
Tommie Lyles Gore, 89, of Hattiesburg; died on Feb. 24, 2020, at Asbury Hospice House in Hattiesburg; homemaker and member of Westover Baptist Church; wife to Bill Gore of Hattiesburg; mother of four children (Dr. Jean Young of Petal, Charles Ray of the Dixie community, Vicki L. Malone of Natchez and Mark Lyles of Petal); burial in Hillcrest Cemetery in Hattiesburg.
Gary Philip Hollimon
67, of Petal
Gary Philip Hollimon, 67, of Petal; born to Thomas and Jenny Hollimon; died on Feb. 20, 2020, in Hattiesburg; procurement forester who incorporated Timberline Forest Products in Ellisville; charter member of Asbury United Methodist Church; husband of 42 years to Nan; father of one son (Philip Nicklaus Hollimon of Madison), and one daughter (Holly Hollimon Hanna of Chattanooga, Tennessee); burial in Mt. Olive United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Carolyn Lee
74, of Dixie
Carolyn Lee, 74, of the Dixie community; born to Eldridge and Virgie Martin; died on Feb. 22, 2020, at Asbury Hospice House in Hattiesburg; member of Dixie United Methodist Church; wife of 53 years to Bennie Lee; mother of two sons (Jayson of Picayune and Kirk of the Dixie community); burial in the Dixie United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Sybil O. Lowery
83, of Petal
Sybil O. Lowery, 83, of Petal; died Feb. 21, 2020; member of Greens Creek Baptist Church; wife to Joe Lowery; mother of two sons (Jerry of New Albany and Ron of Concan, Texas); burial in Greens Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
Linda Faye Dixon Prescott
76, of Petal
Linda Faye Dixon Prescott, 76, of Petal; born to Alton and Ara Dixon; died Feb. 23, 2020, at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg; member of Macedonia Baptist Church and retiree from BellSouth; mother of one son (Scott of Petal); burial in Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery in Petal.
Thomas J. ‘Tommy’ Thompson
73, of Petal
Thomas J. “Tommy” Thompson, 73, of Petal; born to Theron and Martha Thompson; died Feb. 19, 2020, at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg; U.S. Army veteran; father of Jennifer Vallentine of Branchville, South Carolina; burial in Hillcrest Cemetery in Hattiesburg.
Eugene Williams
87, of Hattiesburg
Eugene Williams, 87, of Hattiesburg; born in McGehee, Arkansas, to Madison Eugene Williams Sr. and Grace Warrington Williams; died Feb. 18, 2020, at his home in Hattiesburg; longtime employee of Mississippi Power Company; husband of 67 years to Billie Jean; father of two sons (Robert Williams and John David Williams of Hattiesburg) and one daughter (Julie Miller Williams of Hattiesburg).
Lula Wilson
76, of Petal
Lula Wilson, 76, of Petal, born to Turley and Lena Parker; died Feb. 19, 2020, at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg; member of Rivers of Life Church; burial in Highland Cemetery in Hattiesburg.
