Carmen Collins Cheeks

Carmen Collins Cheeks, 90, of Laurel, died Saturday, Aug. 26, 2006, at South Central Regional Medical Center in Laurel.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, at Ellisville First United Methodist Church, with burial in Mt. Zion Cemetery. The Rev. Jeff Shannon will officiate.

A homemaker, she was a member of Ellisville First United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jimmie Cheeks; a daughter, Shelby Weeks; parents, Andrew and Arizona Collins; a sister, Euree Bush; and three brothers, Darrow Collins, Floyd Collins and George Collins.

She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, JoAnn and Frank McKenzie of Laurel and Diann and Larry M. Walters of Ellisville; a brother, Mack Collins of Atlanta, Texas; a sister, Ida Everett of Ellisville; grandchildren, Tony Weeks of Pass Christian, Tambra and Hank Carter of Mobile, Ala., Elizabeth and Brad Rackley of Pontotoc, Jonathan and Cindy McKenzie of Laurel and Sarah Jo and Jason Giron of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and five great-grandchildren, Josh Carter, Jake Carter, Ben McKenzie, Mollie Rackley and Tucker Giron.

Pallbearers will be Clarence Putnam, Don Winship, Scott Flynt, Ronnie Christian, Webb Lyon and James Holifield. Honorary pallbearers will be Bobby Smith, Brent Shows, Paul Johnson and Jerry Lyon.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. today, at Jones Funeral Home in Ellisville, which is in charge of arrangements.

Willie Mae Strickland

Willie Mae “Sue” Strickland, 80, of Ringgold, La., formerly of Laurel, died Friday, Aug. 25, 2006, at her residence.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. today, at Memorial Gardens Cemetery. The Rev. Mike Thompson will officiate.

A retired insurance agent with Walters Insurance, she was a member of Spring Hill Baptist Church in Ringgold and a former member of Eastview Baptist Church in Jones County. She enjoyed gardening, cooking for her family and caring for animals.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Strickland, in 1987; two brothers, Roscoe Coleman and Noah Coleman; parents, Willie R. and Lenora Coleman; and stepmother, Velma Dollar Coleman.

She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Cece Strickland of Panama City, Fla.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Cindy and Don Holley of Gulfport and Dinah and Ned Walker of Ringgold; six grandchildren, Richard Strickland and his wife Sabrina Strickland of Pickens, S.C., Dan Holly and his wife Sarah Holley of Charleston, S.C., Amy Weaver and her husband Rick Weaver of Gulfport, Heather Hooker and her husband Kevin Hooker of Ringgold, Wesley Walker of Ringgold and Ashley Burns and her husband Robert Burns of Ringgold; seven great-grandchildren; a sister, Rena Martin of Bossier City, La.; and a host of nieces, nephews, friends and other family members.