James V. “Jim” Bates
86, of Petal
James V. “Jim” Bates, 86, of Petal; born to James V. Bates Sr. and Mary Vaughn Lee Bates; died May 15, 2020, at Merit Health Wesley in Hattiesburg; U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force veteran and member of New Zion Missionary Baptist Church; burial in Biloxi National Cemetery.
Beverly H. Brannon
75, of Hattiesburg
Beverly H. Brannon, 75, of Hattiesburg; born to Tommy and Vermell Hawkins; died May 12, 2020, at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg; retired Sacred Heart Catholic School teacher; wife of James W. Brannon; mother of Bethanie Carrubba of Saltillo; burial in Highland Cemetery in Hattiesburg.
Pam Grantham
69, of Lumberton
Pam Grantham, 69, of Lumberton; born to Mack Sr. and Rose Ella Cooper; died May 14, 2020, at her residence; member of Purvis Church of God; wife of Bobby Grantham; mother of Douglas “Bayne” Anderson Grantham of Sulphur Springs, Texas, Melissa Henley of Purvis, Angela McCormick of Picayune and Adriann Dossett of Nacogdoches, Texas; burial in Fillingane Cemetery.
Bess Ann Greene
91, of Rawls Springs
Bess Ann Greene, 91, of Rawls Springs; born to Ray and Etoile Smith; died May 16, 2020, at her residence; retired public school teacher; mother of Richard, Margaret and Martha Greene of Hattiesburg, John Greene of Morristown, Tennessee, and Mary Magyar of Dallas, Texas; burial in Rawls Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Hattiesburg.
Marilyn P. Lightsey
97, of Hattiesburg
Marilyn P. Lightsey, 97, of Hattiesburg; died May 12, 2020; member of Hardy Street Baptist Church; mother of Stan Lightsey of Hattiesburg and Beth McMichael of The Woodlands, Texas; burial in Roseland Park Mausoleum.
Dolories Lumpkin
89, of Purvis
Dolories Lumpkin, 89, of Purvis; born to Marvin and Myrtle Lord; died May 14, 2020, at her residence; member of Bethlehem Landmark Missionary Baptist Church; mother of Nancy Lumpkin of Purvis.
Jack Dempsey Madden
77, of Purvis
Jack Dempsey Madden, 77, of Purvis; born to James and Lurenie Madden; died May 12, 2020, at his residence; U.S. Navy veteran and member of Central Missionary Baptist Church; father of Evelyn Sue Stuart and Jack Doyle Madden of Purvis and Eric Walter Madden of Soso; burial in Chambliss Cemetery in Purvis.
James Lee Martin
76, of Petal
James Lee Martin, 76, of Petal; died May 18, 2020, at the State Veterans Home in Collins; U.S. Army veteran who was retired from Akzo-Nobel; husband to Pam Martin; father of Lawanda Page of Bassett, Virginia and Shannon Young and Stacy Corden of Camden, South Carolina; stepfather of Joey Scott, Tina Scott and Teri Lynn Bullock, all of Petal; burial in Hillcrest Cemetery.
Betty Jo Anderson Pittman
87, of Hattiesburg
Betty Jo Anderson Pittman, 87, of Hattiesburg; died May 12, 2020; member of Main Street Baptist Church; mother of Thomas L. Pittman of Wilmer, Alabama, and John Pittman and Sherry Lucille Pittman, both of Sumrall; burial in Highland Cemetery.
John Rolland Strickland Jr.
61, of Hattiesburg
John Rolland Strickland Jr., 61, of Hattiesburg; died May 14, 2020, at Forrest General Hospital; roofer for more than 40 years; father of John Cody Strickland of Brandon and Tiffany Strickland of Petal.
Bertha Mae Taylor
69, of Purvis
Bertha Mae Taylor, 69, of Purvis; born to Ruby and Fletcher Busha; died May 16, 2020, at Hattiesburg Health and Rehab; member of Corinth Baptist Church; mother of David Daniel Busha of Poplarville; burial in Corinth Baptist Church Cemetery.
Ruby Mae Clark Wade
90, of Petal
Ruby Mae Clark Wade, 90, of Petal; born to William Riley and Ruthie Clark; died May 13, 2020, at her residence; retired from real estate and rental property management; mother of Farris Wade of Sand Hill and Robert Wade of Petal; burial in Sand Hill Cemetery.
Clarice Holifield Yelverton
92, of Hattiesburg
Clarice Holifield Yelverton, born in Laurel on June 14, 1927, to Floyd and Cora King Holifield; died May 17, 2020, at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg; member of Hardy Street Baptist Church; mother of Diane Y. Lee of Petal, Clay Yelverton of Ty Ty, Georgia, and Mitzi Y. Noblin of Meridian; burial in Highland Cemetery.
Freddy Mills Sr.
70, of Bassfield
Freddy Mills Sr., 70, of Bassfield, born on Dec. 19, 1949, in Laurel to Lawrence Ray Mills and Edith Mae Holifield Mills, died May 9, 2020, at Marion General Hospital in Columbia.
Services were held on May 16 at Faithway Baptist Church in Bassfield. Burial was in the Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery. Saulters Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mills attended Pearl River Community College and owned Mills Body Shop.
He was a faithful preacher since 1985, and his church affiliations included Faithway Baptist, Shiloh Baptist in Kosciusko, French Road Baptist in Indianola, Southgate Baptist in Monticello, Grace Baptist in Columbia and Cooley Springs Baptist in Mount Olive.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Emma Moree Mills of Bassfield; his sons, Freddy L. Mills Jr. and wife Angie of Ocean Springs and John Mills and wife Michelle of Lucedale; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
