— Vera Brumfield, 87 — Cathy Jo Cook, 67 — Louise Futch, 85 — Edith Kirkland, 86 — Donald Morgan, 80 — Harry Plotner Jr., 84 — Willa Smith, 95 — Helen Washington, 80 —
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Harry Plotner Jr.
Harry Plotner Jr., 84, of Brookhaven died Dec. 6, 2022, at Diversicare of Tylertown.
Visitation is 9 a.m. Saturday at Hartman-Jones Funeral Home until services at 10. Burial will be in Felder’s Campground Cemetery.
He was born Jan. 12, 1938, to Augusta C. and Harry R. Plotner in Lakewood, Ohio.
Harry grew up in Bay Village, Ohio, and was the youngest of two children. In high school, he played baseball and football. He graduated from Bay Village High School in 1956, then attended Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio.
He met the love of his life, a country girl from Clyde, Ohio, Carolyn S. (Katie) Mesnard, and after dating for a while they were married Oct. 11, 1958. To this marriage four children were born, three sons and a daughter. Harry followed in the footsteps of his father and became a salesman for the Pioneer Company, the same one his father worked for. His first territory was in Florida, and as he advanced up the ranks in the company, he also moved to Pennsylvania and Ohio. Once back in Ohio, he changed companies and became a salesman for the A.B. Dick company. As he climbed the corporate ladder, he would move his family to other states such as Georgia, Mississippi and West Virginia. Once he became regional manager, he spent a lot of his time away from his family traveling either by plane or by car, but he always made sure he was home for the weekend to spend quality time with his wife and children.
Harry’s family was very important to him. As his children grew up, they had many family softball games in the backyard with HP — as he was affectionately called by loved ones — usually the pitcher for both teams. He also played softball for his church league. Another activity that he enjoyed doing with the family was camping. At first it was in a tent, which soon became tiresome to do, and so the family moved up to a popup trailer and finally a travel trailer. Camping was a way to go on vacation to some exciting places like Canada and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on a budget. The family has many memories of enjoying camping and fishing on those adventures.
As a man of faith, going to church with his family was also important to him, and Harry enjoyed learning from God’s Word and talking about his faith with others. In 1977 he and Katie moved the family one more time back to McComb to go into partnership with an old business associate, eventually leading HP and Katie to purchase Magee Printing Company in Brookhaven. During this time, Harry was actively involved in his community by becoming a member of the Lions Club as well as the Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce. He and Katie worked side by side to grow what would be known as Magee Graphics into a prosperous, two-location business. In 2003, Harry, along with his wife, left the business world to become retirees.
During his retirement Harry enjoyed working in the yard, doing woodwork, spending time at his grill, and playing lots of golf. HP shared many rounds of golf with his loved ones and friends, and many life lessons were passed down to his sons and grandsons as they tagged along with him and his golfing buddies on the course. He managed to achieve the honor of shooting a hole-in-one three different times. He and Katie went on various golf trips with friends and enjoyed some traveling, too. Harry was an avid Ohio State fan, and, as he often stated, felt that the Buckeyes were the only team worth watching.
HP also enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He would share in his love of woodworking with them by planing wood and building bird houses with the kids. He always encouraged his grandchildren in their academics and other extracurricular activities and was always ready with a smile or an affectionate nickname. To know HP was to love him.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 64 years, Katie Plotner; parents; in-laws Harold and Nora Mesnard; a sister, Anna Mae Plotner; three sisters-in-law, Jacaueline Bauer, Patricia Gill and Roberta Berie; and a brother-in-law. Harold Mesnard.
Harry is survived by his daughter, Wendy S. O’Hern of McComb; three sons, Harry R. Plotner III (Lori) of Brookhaven, Douglas L. Plotner (Chin-Zen) of La Plata, Md., and Ryan (Kristi) Plotner of Madison; five grandchildren, Jay O’Hern (Crystal), Jason O’Hern (Kayla), Reagan Plotner, Reed Plotner and Lindsey Plotner; and four great-grandchildren, Emily O’Hern, Callie O’Hern, Natalie O’Hern and Riley O’Hern.
The family would like to thank the staff of Diversicare of Tylertown and Hospice Compassus for their loving care of HP.
Share condolences at www.hartmanjonesfuneralhome.com
Willa Smith
Willa Smith, 95, died Dec. 6, 2022, at Diversicare Nursing Home in Tylertown.
Visitation is 1 p.m. Sunday until services at 2:30 at Silver Creek Baptist Church, 8017 Silver Dr., McComb. Burial will follow in Silver Creek Cemetery. The Rev. Pat Bourg and the Rev. Scott Kennedy will officiate.
She was born Oct. 23, 1927, in Walthall County, to the late Newell Booker and Bessie Lee Hall Smith. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by sisters Ellen Delora Higginbotham, Alla Faye Fike and Alda Flo Smith; and brothers John Neil Smith, Newell Booker Smith Jr. and Joe Lindy Smith.
She was an active member of Sliver Creek Baptist Church, where she was baptized as a young girl, and served on the Silver Creek Baptist Church Historical Committee as well as serving on many other committees. She taught Adult Ladies Sunday School for many years. Miss Smith was a graduate of Lexie High School (as class valedictorian), Southwest Mississippi Junior College, and Mississippi Southern College. She was a teacher and retired in 1980 after 31 years of teaching. Her teaching career not only included Carter's Creek and Belzoni high schools in Mississippi; but also Covington, Greenwood and Woodlawn high schools in Louisiana.
She took great pride in serving as advisor for 21 yearbooks that won several All-American and first place awards in national ratings. Miss Smith taught some famous students, including Terry Bradshaw, an NFL Hall of Fame quarterback and Fox TV football analyst, and Lawrence Gordon, a famous Hollywood producer who produced the movie Field of Dreams.
Miss Smith's nieces and nephews remember “Aunt Willa” as a snazzy dresser who was never shy about expressing her opinion, which made for many funny stories. She loved watching Fox News and keeping up with current events. She loved her 13 nieces and nephews and looked forward to their visits. She will be greatly missed by her family.
Survivors include her sister-in-law, Donis Smith; 13 nieces and nephews; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.
Pallbearers will be Joel Higginbotham, Paul Higginbotham, Jay Smith, Wayne Nettles, James Hall and Keith Brock.
Share condolences at www.hartmanhughesfuneralhome.com
Donald Morgan
Donald Ray Morgan, 80, a dedicated husband, father, pawpaw and uncle, passed away surrounded by his family Dec. 6, 2022.
A celebration of life is 6 to 9 p.m. tonight at Hartman-Jones Funeral Home in McComb. Graveside services are noon Saturday in Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery in Pricedale. The Revs. Emon White and Jeff Frank will officiate.
Donald was born to the late Woodard and Annie Morgan Nov. 29, 1942, in McComb.
He graduated from Carter’s Creek School in 1960. He then started his 30-plus years as a mechanic, working for Kellwood Company in McComb. He was an avid cattleman, being a member of the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association, raising cattle his entire adult life. Through the years, Donald enjoyed coon hunting with nephews and friends. Later in life, he found a passion for rabbit hunting and training beagles. He loved sharing his love of the farm with his nieces, nephews, children, and grandchildren. His biggest passion was creating a legacy his family could be proud of, one that honored God. He lived his life walking in the footsteps of Jesus. He was the same at home as he was in public, a man of character, integrity, and faithfulness.
Donald met his wife, Faye Morgan, and nine years later they welcomed their daughter, Rhae Emile Morgan Blake, into the world.
They called the Pricedale area their home for the 46 years of their marriage and were members of Calvary Baptist Church in Pricedale.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Woodard and Annie Morgan; a brother and sister-in-law, Harold and Mary Morgan; a nephew, George Morgan; a niece, Vickie McCullough; and a brother-in-law, Bobbie McCullough.
It was noted about Donald that he had a passion for the simple things in life. He looked for the first flock of robins each year to welcome in winter and listened for the first song of the whippoorwill and turkey gobble to welcome in spring.
His heart was as big as all the outdoors. He loved nature, but most of all, he loved its Creator. He may have had a small frame, but he was a giant of a man.
Donald is survived by his wife, Faye Wicker Morgan; his children, Rhae (Jason) Blake of Jayess, Molly Byrd of Jayess, Jimmy (Karen) Beard of Daphne, Ala., and Danny (Pamela) Beard of Brandon; a sibling, Annie Jo McCullough of Pricedale; grandchildren, Alan (Kristen) Byrd, Ricky (Taylor) Byrd, Laurel (John-Mark) Harris, Kaylie Beard, Alyssa Beard, Maggie Beard, Megan Beard, Carolyn Beard, Ryan Beard, Angala Blake, Mason Blake, Jaydan Blake and Joshua Blake; six great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews, Mary Ann (Greg) Adams, Nancy (Jimmy) Rowell, Mitch (Regina) Morgan, Robbie (Shari) McCullough, and Sheila Morgan; and a host of great-nieces and great-nephews.
Pallbearers will be Everett Thornton, Robbie McCullough, Ross Morgan, Calvin McEwen, David Alexander Jr., Ryan Beard, Mason Blake and John-Mark Harris.
His family wishes to extend a special thanks to the dedicated staff of Enhabit Hospice and Lacey Bennett’s caregiver service for their care and attention during his last days.
In case of rain on Saturday, please call Hartman-Jones Funeral Home at (601) 684-3811 to confirm service time and place.
Share condolences at www.hartmanjonesfuneralhome.com
Cathy Jo Cook
Cathy Jo Cook, 67, of Canton, Ga,, died Nov. 27, 2022, at Cedarhurst of Canton Assisted Living Facility in Canton, Ga.
Visitation is noon Saturday at Terry’s Creek Baptist Church until services at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the Terry’s Creek Baptist Church Children’s Ministry.
Cathy was born Nov. 22, 1955, in Baton Rouge to C. W. and Jo Ann Conerly Cook of Magnolia.
Cathy graduated from South Pike High School, Southwest Mississippi Community College, and the University of Southern Mississippi.
Even though Cathy endured an 18-year battle with ovarian cancer, she lived life to the fullest with great love and passion for everything that matters, and with the kind of courage granted by God himself to face her health challenges.
She had a great smile and a big laughter that brightened up the room. She was a huge LSU Tiger fan.
She was preceded in death by her father; a sister, Nena Kay Cook Crabtree; and her first husband, Douglas Noel McDaniel.
Cathy is survived by two children, a son, Christopher Ryan Davis and Hannah, and a daughter April Nicole Kelly and Chris, all of Canton, Ga.; two granddaughters, Avery Nicole and Logan Grace Kelly; two sisters, Anna Cook Evans and husband Phil Evans Jr. and Amy Cook Caviness of Huntington Beach, Calif.
Sharkey Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Edith Kirkland
Edith Mincy Kirkland, 86, of Liberty passed away peacefully Dec. 7, 2022, at her home surrounded by her family.
Visitation is 7 to 9 p.m. Monday and continues 9 a.m. Tuesday until services at 10 at Brown Funeral Home in Liberty with Bro. Mike Morris officiating. Burial is in Higgins Family Cemetery.
She was born Sept. 28, 1936, in Kossuth to Earl and Maggie Essary Mincy. She was a devoted and doting daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Edith worked for the Kellwood Company in Liberty until her youngest child was born. She then became a fulltime stay-at-home mama to her three little daughters. When her youngest entered high school, Edith re-entered the workforce at Liberty Aerospace and then at Air Cruisers until she retired at age 60. Edith was so multi-talented, she could sew, making most of her children’s clothing. She could re-cover furniture, tend to sick children and was the resident vet, taking care of many sick pets and farm animals.
She loved gardening, canning, flowers, cats, and birds, particularly owls, of which she had a beautiful collection. She was also extremely talented in the kitchen, and her Southern cooking was unparalleled, especially her Christmas and Thanksgiving turkey dressing and her homemade biscuits.
Edith was quick with a smile and loved her friends and co-workers, often lending an empathetic ear. She will be sorely missed by those who knew and loved her.
Edith was saved by the Grace of Jesus Christ at a tent revival in Corinth at the age of 12.
Edith was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 54 years, Warren M. Kirkland; and her two infant brothers.
She is survived by her three daughters, Karen Kirkland, Loren Kirkland and Angela Kirkland Jones; three grandchildren, Adrienne Baham, Zach Jones and Trent Jones; a great-grandson, Reed Thompson; a special friend, Victoria Gabriel; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers are Zach Jones, Trent Jones, Reed Thompson, Randy Jones, Brent Kirkland, Todd Duhon, Rocky Stevenson and Mike Forman.
Helen Washington
Helen Washington, 80, of Magnolia, died Dec. 7, 2022, in Magnolia.
Arrangements are incomplete with Cook’s Enterprise Funeral Home of McComb.
Cook’s Enterprise Funeral Home, (601) 684-7093
Vera Brumfield
Vera Brumfield, 87, of Indiana died Dec. 4, 2022, at Indiana Health West Hospital in Avon, Ind.
Arrangements are incomplete with Craft-Dillon Funeral Home of McComb.
Louise Futch
Louise Futch, 85, died Dec. 8, 2022, at her home in Summit.
Arrangements are incomplete with Young’s Funeral Home of Summit.
