Obituaries 01-09-25

SARAH PEARL HIGGINBOTHAM HALFORD

Feb. 11, 1932-Dec. 21, 2024

Funeral services for Sarah Pearl Higgingbotham Halford, 92, will be at 
11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025 from Meadville Methodist Church. 
Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. at the church.

Following the service, interment will take place at Midway Cemetery.

Born on Feb. 11, 1932 in Walnut Grove, she was the daughter of Rev. Cole 
Younger Higginbotham and Sarah Fannie Whittington Alexander 
Higginbotham. She went by many names. Her family called her Pearl, her 
newer friends called her Sarah and her long-time friends called her 
Sarah Pearl. Her nieces and nephews called her Aunt Pearl.

After graduating from Roxie High School, she went on to study at 
Copiah-Lincoln Junior College, earning an Associate's Degree. Much 
later, she attended Tyler Junior College and the University of 
Texas-Tyler, taking all the accounting courses.

She started taking piano lessons in fifth grade and could read music 
easily. Soon, she was teaching herself to play hymns and popular music. 
She often accompanied her father to small churches on Sunday afternoons 
to play the piano in the absence of a local pianist.

While at Co-Lin, she was in numerous clubs, being secretary of Senior 
Class and Glee Club. She played the piano for two semesters for the 
Wesley Foundation. She was elected Homecoming Queen and Miss 
Copiah-Lincoln. She said it was "Unbelievable!" After graduating 
from Co-Lin, she went to work with Jackson Public Schools Cafeteria as 
Bookkeeper.

She met her future husband, Wayne Halford, in 1949 at Oak Grove 
Methodist Church while visiting her local cousins. They married on June 
3, 1952 while he was in the Army. Once Wayne returned from the Army --- 
and before heading to Mississippi State College --- Sarah worked as the 
Bookkeeper for Fayette and Harriston Lumber Companies. Then, during 
their time at State, she worked as a Secretary for the Department of 
Industrial and Institutional Management in the Business School.

She continued to be active in various clubs and organizations, such as 
the Women's Society of Christian Service and the Home Demonstration 
Club as well as Methodist Churches in the many places she lived, 
including Jackson, Fayette, Starkville, Brookhaven and Meadville in 
Mississippi, New Orleans, Metarie, Slidell, Gonzales and Lafayette in 
Louisiana as well as in Tyler, Texas.

In 1987, they retired for the first time and relocated to Franklin 
County, where Wayne grew up. She said it was a good move and that she 
was happy here with many friends and family in the area.

She died on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 at her residence outside of 
Meadville.

She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Kirby and Pam Halford 
and Sandra and James Amburg; her grandchildren and their respective 
spouses, Carmen Halford and Ritwick Rane, Mandy Halford and Evin Baird, 
Brandon Amburg and Kirby Amburg; her great-grandson, Vimb Halford-Rane; 
her sisters-in-law, Evelyn Burnham Higginbotham, Clara Parker 
Hibbingbotham, Kay Heck Higginbotham, Elsie Halford Quinn and Erma 
Halford Luckett; numerous nieces and nephews and long-time caregiver and 
friend, Bonnie Oglesby.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Wayne; her 
sister, Wilena Stark; her brother-in-law, Mike Stark; her brothers, 
John, CY, Jr. and Ralph; and her sister-in-law, Norabeth Halford.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Meadville 
Methodist Church of Oak Grove Methodist Church.

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

Franklin Funeral Home of Meadville is in charge of arrangements.

GEORGIA FAYE JONES

Aug. 22, 1942-Dec. 29, 2024

Funeral services for Georgia Faye Jones, 82, were conducted on Thursday, 
Jan. 2, 2025 from the chapel of Franklin Funeral Home in Meadville, with 
Rev. Mike Morris officiating.

Interment followed at Eddiceton Cemetery.

Born on Aug. 22, 1942 to Calvin Eugene Walters and Anna Belle Parker 
Walters, she enjoyed flowers and birds. She loved to listen to country 
and gospel music. She loved going to church at Eddiceton Baptist Church 
when she was able. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and 
friend.

She died on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024 at King's Daughters Medical Center 
in Brookhaven.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Chuck and Teresa 
McDaniel; her daughter, Tammy McDaniel; her grandchildren and their 
respective spouses, Tristan and Kylie McDaneil, Matthew Hux, Jake and 
Stephani Wiese and Abby and Joel Pulliam; her great-grandchildren, 
Paisleigh McDaniel, Lynlie McDaniel, Cassidy Wise and Evelyn Pulliam; 
very close friends, Kyle and Lisa Wiese and Doris Buckles; and a host of 
family and friends.

Preceding her in death where her parents; her husband, Billy Jack Jones; 
her brothers, Erskin Walters, John Walters, George Walters, Thurman 
Walters, Wallace Walters and Billy Walters; her sisters, Helen Harper 
and Betty Dillon; and her great-granddaughter, Wrenley Anne McDaniel.

Pallbearers were Chuck McDaniel, Tristan McDaniel, Matthew Hux, Jake 
Wiese, Gabe Scott and Curtis Smith. Honorary pallbearers were Sam 
Arnold, Jay Netherland, Woody Walters, David Walters, Travis Walters and 
James Harper.

The family would like to give special thanks to her angels, Denise 
Netherland, Haley Netherland and Cricket Scott and to Sam and Brittany 
Arnold for sharing their babies with Mama.

The family requests that memorials be made in her name to the Eddiceton 
Cemetery Fund or the charity of your choice.

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

Franklin Funeral Home of Meadville was in charge of arrangements.

JOE LANNIE TEMPLE

Jan. 25, 1960-Oct. 13, 2024

Joe Lannie Temple, 64, of Brookhaven, died on Oct. 13, 2024 at his 
residence.

Born on Jan. 25, 1960 in Meadville, he was the son of James Temple and 
Wessie Mae Brister Temple. He was a beloved husband, father, paw paw and 
friend. Spending time with his family was especially important to him.

He was a Truck Driver by trade but found great pleasure mowing the lawn 
or just taking the time to go fishing.

He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 13 years, Mary Porter Temple; his mother, 
Wessie Temple; his children, Amy Jacobs and Nicholas Mueller; his 
brothers and sisters-in-law, David and PollyAnna Temple and Bobby and 
Jeannie Temple; four grandchildren, Charleigh Jacobs, Remley Jacobs, 
Maelynn Jacobs and Odin Jacobs; friends Billy and Pam Jacobs, Connie 
Meuller, Kurt Meuller and Jimmy Burns and a host of nieces, nephews and 
other loving family members and friends.

The family would like to extend a thank you to Arden Hospice for their 
compassion while Joe was in their care.

He was preceded in death by his father, James Temple; his brother, 
Nathan Temple; his sister-in-law, Mary Sterling Temple; and his first 
wife, Mickey Temple.