Rita Dillard Pratt Rita Dillard Pratt, a cher- ished resident of Inverness, passed away peacefully Thurs- day, Jan. 26, 2023, while living with her loving niece in Dallas, Texas. At 91 years of age, Rita lived a full and accomplished life. Born in Brookhaven to Shurley and Josie Mae Dillard, Rita graduated from Green- wood High School. After mov- ing to Inverness and tying the knot with her husband, Robert, Rita established her legacy as the successful owner of the Inverness Insurance Agency.
As an active member of Inverness Baptist Church, Rita's unwavering faith and kindness touched countless lives and made her a beloved figure in the community. Her charisma and infectious spirit left an indelible mark on everyone she met. Whether she was making you laugh or making you cry, you always knew where she stood in life. Rita's culinary talents were legendary. Her delicious cooking was sought after for many prestigious events, but more impor- tantly, she shared her food, time, generosity, and love freely with her family, friends, and the Inverness community, always lend- ing a helping hand when needed.
Rita was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Cole- man Pratt; her son, Robert Coleman Pratt Jr. (Cole), founder of the Cole Pratt Gallery in New Orleans and an accomplished artist; as well as her brothers, Colonel Edward Dillard and Shurley Dillard Jr. She leaves behind her beloved brother, Noble Dillard of Apex, North Carolina; and a large and loving family of nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews. Rita's unwavering faith will always be remembered, and her loved ones take comfort in knowing that they will someday be reunited with her. She will be deeply missed, but the memories she left behind will live on forever.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 1, in the Brookhaven Funeral Home chapel in Brookhaven, with the Rev. Tim Beard officiating. Burial will be held at Dam- ascus Baptist Church Cemetery in Brookhaven. In lieu of flow- ers donations may be made to The Jiselle Lauren (Pratt) Foundation or the Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education.
Tiffany Nicole Smith Tiffany Nicole Smith, 32, of Lyon, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, at University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jack- son. Tiffany was born Dec. 10, 1990, in Birmingham, to Tim- othy Ben Smith and Maxine Cobb Hilderbrand. She worked for FedEx in Memphis.
Tiffany enjoyed painting, arts and crafts, and loved Alabama football. She was funny, full of life, and could make anyone laugh. Tiffany loved her family, especially her son Jaylen, who was her entire world. She was very outspoken and never afraid to speak her mind but she liked everyone and was a very giving person. final gift was through organ do- nation to help save the lives of others.
She was preceded in death by her father, Timothy Ben Smith; paternal grandfather, Nathan Ben Smith; and sister, Ashley Marie Smith Dingler. Tiffany is survived by her beloved son, Jaylen Blake Gard- ner of Lyon; her mother, Maxine Cobb Hilderbrand (Ernie) of Lyon; maternal grandparents, Sam and Evelyn Cobb of Leland; paternal grandmother, Carolyn Smith of Athens, two sis- ters, Crystal Lynn Swann of Birmingham, and twin sister, Brittany Angle (Ben) of Blountsville, 11 nieces and nephews; and a host of aunts and uncles. Visitation was held from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, at Burton Funeral Home in Indianola.
Graveside services followed at Indianola City Cemetery with the Rev. Sam Cobb officiating. Burton Funeral Home of Indianola was entrusted with arrangements. Antonio Howze Services for Antonio Howze of Boyle will be at 2:30 p.m. Sat- urday at Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Cleveland.
In- terment will follow at Delta Heights Memorial Gardens, Cleveland. Mr. Howze, 46, died Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at his home. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
today at Byas Funeral Home, Cleveland, which is in charge of arrangements. The Rev. Frederick Ford will officiate at the services. Mr. Howze is survived by: one son, Unterio Howze of Cleve- land; one brother, Herman Howze of Memphis; four sisters, Brenda Burnett and Sharon Howze, both of Memphis, and Glo- ria Howze and Shaunta Washington, both of Cleveland; eight grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Dennis Earl McGraw Funeral services for Dennis Earl McGraw, 75, of Tutwiler were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, at Boone Funeral Home, Indianola, with a visitation from 1 p.m. until service time. Burial followed at Linn Cemetery. Mr.
McGraw died Monday, March 6, 2023. Esaw Price Sr. Services for Esaw Price Sr. of Indianola will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Redmon Funeral Home, Indianola.
Interment will follow at Indianola Memorial Gardens. Mr. Price, 72, died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in Starkville. Visitation will be from 2 p.m.
to 4 p.m. today at the funeral Home. Jessica Marie Kelly Services for Jessica Marie Kelly of Jackson, formerly of Bel- zoni, will be at 12 p.m. Saturday at Green Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Belzoni. Mrs.
Kelly, 40, died Monday, March 6, 2023. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. today at Byas Funeral Home, Belzoni. The Rev.
Adrian Williams will officiate at the services. Mrs. Kelly is survived by: her husband, Lloyd Kelly; two sons, Jayden Kelly and Fernando Hawkins; two daughters, Jayla Kelly and Jayda Kelly; her father, J.W. Williams; three brothers, Marvin Hawkins, Cecil Hawkins and Christopher Hawkins; one sister, Jackie Hawkins-Carson; one grandchild; and a host of other relatives and friends. Byas Funeral Home, Belzoni, is in charge of arrangements.
John Howard Bailey Jr. Funeral services for John Howard Bailey 104, of Moor- head, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, at Trinity House of Prayer, Moorhead. Burial will follow at Pine Ridge Cemetery, Moor- head, under the direction of Dillon Funeral Home, Indianola. Pastor Gary Perryman will officiate.
Mr. Bailey died Friday, March 3, 2023, at his home. He is survived by eight sons, John Howard Bailey Jr. of Long Beach Robert (Laverne) Bailey of Memphis, Leon Wright of Pompano, Curtis Bailey of Houston, Texas, Aaron Cooper of St Louis, and Rico Bailey, Demetrie Woodard and Jeremy Jones, all of Moorhead: 14 daughters, Beatrice Bai- ley Williams and Gwendolyn Bailey, both of Chicago, Ruby Bai- ley-Heard of Anaheim, Christine Mayfield of Collierville, Alice (Eugene) Singleton, Betty (Oliver) Matthews, and Deborah Bailey, all of Gulfport, Lillie (Curtis) Nash of Moor- head, Elaine (James) Simpson and Felicia (Charles) Nash, both of Sunflower, Jacqueline Bailey-Hall and Demetria (Charles) Carroll, both of Moorhead, Sherron (Myron) Williams Stanley of Arlington, Texas, and Lexis Miller of Moorhead. Visitation will be from 3:30 p.m.
to 5 p.m. today at the fu- neral home. Josephine Gardner Lugo Services for Josephine Gardner Lugo of Buford, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Byas Funeral Home, Cleveland. The body will lie in state from 10 a.m.
until service time. Ms. Lugo, 70, died Saturday, March 4, 2023, at her home. Interment will be at Delta Heights Memorial Gardens, Cleveland. The Rev.
Charles Hudson will officiate at the services. Ms. Lugo is survived by a host of family and friends. Larry Cooper Services for Larry Cooper of Sunflower will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, In- dianola.
Interment will follow at Indianola Memorial Gardens. Mr. Cooper, 76, died Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at Univer- sity of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday at Redmon Funeral Home, Indianola, which is in charge of arrangements. Pastor A.C. Gilmore will officiate the service. Mr. Cooper is survived by: one daughter, Estella Manuel of Columbus; six sisters, Ella B.
McNeil of Greenville, Evelena Warren of Baird, Mamie Lindsey of East St. Louis, Lucille Warren of Chicago, and Christine Walker and Cynthia Higgins, both of Sunflower; three brothers, S.P. Cooper of Chicago, Roger L. Cooper of Sunflower, and McKinley Cooper Jr. of Memphis; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Robert Lee White Services for Robert Lee White of Maywood, Ill. will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church, Mound Bayou. Inter- ment will follow at Saint Gabriel Memorial Cemetery, Mount Bayou. Mr.
White, 77, died Saturday, February 25, 2023, at Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Ill. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. today at Byas Funeral Home, Shelby, which is in charge of arrangements. The Rev.
Earl Hall will officiate at the services. Mr. White is survived by: three daughters, Brenda White, Catrina White and Rewa Berell; one brother, Calvin White; six sisters, Yvonne Anderson, Blondie White, Barbara White, Car- olyn White, Deloris White and Easter Collins; 11 grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends. Sherwin Tyrone Brown Services for Sherwin Tyrone Brown of Olive Branch will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Persimmon Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Sunflower.
Burial will follow at Willing Workers Ceme- tery, Sunflower. Mr. Brown, 49, died Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday at Byas Fu- neral Home, Indianola, which is in charge of arrangements. The Rev. Terry Cobbs will officiate at the services. Mr. Brown is survived by: his wife, Terruniana Brown; one son, Sherwin Brown three daughters, Tiara Brown, Shaquanta Brown and Fairley; three brothers, Steven Brown, Clifton Glover and Dewayne Glover; one sister, Courtney Glover; nine grandchildren; and a host of other rela- tives and friends.
The Enterprise-TocsinFriday, March 10, 2023 Page 3 OBITUARIES Kayla Love Kord Lyon February 18, 2023 Garraway Anderson Kaleb Lyda February 25, 2023 Brantley Hill Drew Carithers March 4, 2023 Laurel Hayden Bowen Cody Peak March 4, 2023 Meagan Nusz Thomas Moore March 25, 2023 Ashley Giglio Michael Lucas June 3, 2023 Anna Grace Rowland Thomas Putnam June 24, 2023 Hannah Smith Michael Davis July 28, 2023 BRIDAL REGISTRY THE CARRIAGE HOUSE Monday Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or call to make an appointment Downtown Indianola 887-9911 Obit Policy Obituaries should generally be submitted through fu- neral homes, and the deadline is 3 p.m.
on Tuesdays. Cost varies based on the content. They can be submit- ted via email to or faxed to (662) 887-2999. For questions, call 887-2222. Caile Cemetery Assn.
will have its annual meeting on Monday, March 13 at 6:00 P.M. at the Annex in Caile Subscribe 662-887-2222.
