Obituaries 06-06-24

RANDALL HODGES

June 20, 1954-May 30, 2024

A memorial service for Randal Hodges, 69, of Bogue Chitto, were

conducted on Monday, June 10, 2024 from Siloam Baptist Church in

Meadville, with Rev. Leon Wallace officiating.

Born on Sunday, June 20, 1954 in McComb to James Monroe Hodges and

Bonnie Mae Hodges, he worked at Delphi Packard in Brookhaven.

He enjoyed camping, fishing and coaching sports. His greatest joy was

spending time with his three grandchildren. He was a loving husband,

father and grandfather who will forever be remembers as "Pop."

He died on Thursday, May 30, 2024 at his residence.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Kathy Hodges; his brother and

sister-in-law, Jim and Becky Hodges; his son and daughter-in-law, Dane

Christopher and Jana Hodges; and his grandchildren, Eli Dane Hodges,

Emma Marie Hodges and Ella Kate Hodges.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Amy Lynn Hodges; his father,

James Monroe Hodges; and his mother, Bonnie Mae Hodges.

Memorials may be made to the Siloam Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 8031

Hwy. 98 East, Meadville, MS 39653.

To share condolences, please visit www.franklinfh.com.

Franklin Funeral Home of Meadville was in charge of arrangements.

HOWARD LEE JONES, JR.

Dec. 14,1938-May 28, 2024

Funeral services for Howard Lee Jones, Jr., 85, were conducted on

Saturday, June 1, 2024 from First Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Dr.

Joan W. Gandy officiating.

Interment followed at Natchez City Cemetery.

Born in Natchez on Dec. 14, 1938 to Howard and Mildred Jones, he

graduated from Louisiana State University in 1960 and became a third

generation employee of J.M. Jones Lumber Company. He brought new life

and energy to the company. Noting that the Natchez area had many

absentee landowners, he drove and flew to reach out to these landowners

in person. He gained their trust and entered into timber contracts, many

of which are active today. These contracts gave J.M. Jones a solid base

for the future.

In the 1970s, Lee traveled to Costa Rica and Nicaragua to harvest timber

which was shipped to the Port of New Orleans and trucked to Natchez to

sell. This was the beginning of his love for the tropics. In 1992, J.M.

Jones entered the European market and Lee later served two terms as

Chairman of the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC). In 1998, he was

the first Chairman to host an AHEC convention in China.

In 2001, he became the sole owner of J.M. Jones. Under his leadership,

J.M. Jones was the first American lumber company to go into the Vietnam

market, which led to the China market. These were exciting years and

hard work for both Lee and his wife, Sherry. Until his recent illness,

he personally dealt with his agents in Europe, China and Vietnam.

Lee was a hardworking and fair employer, and he regarded his 100-plus

employees as family. In 2011, J.M. Jones Lumber Company battled the

Great Mississippi River Flood and raised their 30-foot levee to 65 feet.

This was accomplished by the employees, family and friends, with no

government assistance. It was a heroic effort covered by newspapers and

television broadcasts across the country.

One of Lee's great joys in his later years at J.M. Jones was working

at the lumber mill alongside his son, Howard, and his grandson, Lee, and

he was devoted to members of both his and Sherry's families. He was

also devoted to the boys he grew up with in Natchez and his Delta Kappa

Epsilon (DKE) fraternity brothers from his years at LSU. In his spare

time, he enjoyed tennis, running and coaching middle school basketball.

The passion that Lee developed for the tropics in the 1970s soon

expanded and extended to Mayan ruins, an interest that he began to share

with Sherry in 1976. Merida had the only airport in the Yucatan at the

time, and from Merida they launched their treks across the Yucatan ---

treks that continued all their married lives. Lee began his exploration

of Mayan ruins with his mentor, Ian Graham of the Peabody Museum of

Harvard University, and Lee himself later became a recognized Mayan

scholar.

In addition to Spanish, Lee could speak and read the Mayan language. He

visited, discovered and mapped more than 300 ruins --- with Sherry along

for more than 150 of the expeditions --- and his work was published in

major periodicals. Through these archaeological digs, Lee became a

member of the Explorers Club, an international organization devoted to

those with a passion to explore the unknown. Lee often commented the he

was glad that drones had not yet come into use. According to Lee,

"Drones make it easier to explore but make exploration not nearly so

thrilling."

Lee's deep religious faith and his love of the First Presbyterian

Church sustained him throughout his life. He taught 3rd and 4th grade

Sunday School for 30 years and then taught the Adult Westminster Sunday

School Class for 20 years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he began to

email his Sunday School lesson to members of the class, as well as to

others, and continued to do so until his death. Lee periodically

delivered sermons in the illness or absence of the minister, and he was

locally famous for his funeral eulogies.

Lee Jones was a renaissance man who loved everyone, and everyone loved

him.

He died on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

He is survived by his wife, Sherry Scarbrough Jones; his sons and

daughters-in-law, Howard and Sally, Davis and Carol and Charles and

Jennie Jones; his daughter, Liza Cook Kelso; his grandchildren and their

respective spouses, Lee and Britton Jones, Eliza Jones and Alex Swisher,

Marina Jones, Harper Jones, Lincoln Jones, Macon Kelso and Beau Kelson;

and his great-grandchildren, Kennedy and Holt Jones and Sally and Thane

Swisher.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his only sibling, Kay Jones

Cole.

The family suggests that donations in Lee's memory be made to First

Presbtyerian Church (400 State St.), Historic Natchez Foundation (108 S.

Commerce St.), Hoofbeats and Pawprints Rescue (17341 River Rd.) and

Natchez Adams County Human Society (475 Liberty Rd.), all in Natchez, MS

39120.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.lairdfh.com.

Laird Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

HILDA RAY THORNTON

June 5, 1929-May 29, 2024

Funeral services for Hilda Ray Thornton, 94, were conducted on Saturday,

June 1, 2024 from Siloam Baptist Church in Meadville, with Rev. Leon

Wallace officiating.

Born on June 5, 1929 in Meadville to Julius Everett Jackson and Lilly

Whittington Jackson, she loved Siloam Baptist Church, where she

faithfully attended for many years. She loved all of her church family

and loved to worship the Lord. Everyone at church loved her chicken and

dumplings.

She loved her vegetable garden and shared the abundance with all her

friends. She was passionate about fishing. She was a loving mother,

grandmother and great-grandmother who will be deeply missed.

She died on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at Meadville Convalescent Home in

Meadville.

She is survived by her daughter, Donnie Carnett of Liberty; her son and

daughter-in-law, Byron and Gwen Carnett of Natchez; her grandchildren

and their respective spouses, Elizabeth and Steve Jasper and Stacey and

Don Weed; and her great-grandchildren, Allison Jasper, Daniel Jasper and

Ashley Weed.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Julius Everett and Lilly

Jackson; her sisters, Edith Walker, Althea Jackson, Essie Whittington,

Betty Delvisco, Alberta Thompson, Mildred Gill, Helen Huff and Annie

Laura "Polly" Jackson; her brothers, Grover Jackson and Milford

Jackson; and her great-grandchild, Paul Jasper.

Pallbearers were Walton Speed, Roger Causey, Paul Malone, Randy Dillon,

Chris Jordon and Dalton Emfinger. Honorary pallbearer was Archie

Campbell.

The family wishes to express their deepest thanks to Dr. Kimberly Estes,

Dr. Caleb Zumbro, the Franklin County Hospital staff and the Meadville

Convalescent Home staff for their kind and compassionate care.

The family requests that memorials be made in her name to Siloam Baptist

Church, 8031 Hwy. 98 East, Meadville, MS 39653.

To share condolences, please visit www.franklinfh.com.

Franklin Funeral Home of Meadville was in charge of arrangements.

JAMES CLINTON NIX, SR.

Nov. 19, 1934-May 26, 2024

Celebration of Life services for James Clinton Nix, Sr., 89, were

conducted on Saturday, June 1, 2024 from Meadville Baptist Church,

Interment followed at Midway Cemetery.

Born on Nov. 19, 1934 in Bruce to Guy Harris, Sr., and Pearl Smallwood

Nix, he was the youngest of three siblings with brother Guy, Jr., and

sister, Mildred. He graduated from Brookhaven High School in 1953 and

went on to attend Copiah-Lincoln Community College and the University of

Mississippi. He was retired from the banking industry.

Committed to service and humanitarian endeavors of the community he

resided in, he was a retired Board Member and Officer of the

Lincoln-Lawrence-Franklin Regional Library. He gave more than 47 years

of service to the Lions Clubs throughout Alabama and Mississippi and, in

2018, he was inducted into the Mississippi Lions Hall of Fame.

He was a member of Medaville Baptist Church and was a lifetime Deacon.

James will be remembered for always saying, "Thank You for being the

great God you are." He encouraged gratitude in prayer and sharing acts

of kindness to all.

He died on Sunday, May 26, 2024 at Encompass Lakeshore Rehabilitation

Hospital in Birmingham, Ala. He left this word surrounded by his wife of

69 years, Rebecca "Becky" Nix, and his loving family.

He is survived by his wife, Becky; his daughter, Judith Ann Nix Cline of

Plano, Texas; his son, James Clinton Nix, Jr., of Birmingham; his

grandchildren, Rebecca Morgan Dean, Stephen Michael Dean, Andrew James

Dean, Jeremy Allan Cline, Sarah Katherine Tipler, Alice Ann Nix Dereix,

and Virginia Ruth Nix; and his great-grandchildren, Dahila Dereix,

Lilianne James Daphne Dereix and Sylvie Eliana Mullins Tipler.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Rebecca Kay Nix

Dean.

Serving as pallbearers were Stephen Dean, Andrew Drean, Roger Cline, Jim

Nix, Jr., Guy Nix III and Gary Nix.

The family requests memorial donations be made in memory of James

Clinton Nix, Sr., to The Baptist Church's Village, P.O. Box 27,

Clinton, MS 39060 or to Meadville Baptist church Building Fund, 80

Edison St., Meadville, MS 39653.

To share condolences, please visit www.franklinfh.com.

Franklin Funeral Home of Meadville was in charge of arrangements.