Christmas Program
Eric Ross celebrated his birthday last Sunday with a meal at Applebee’s with: his two brothers, Marty Shepard of St. Cloud, Minnesota, and Ryan Shepard of Forest, Mississippi; his nephew, Khaleb Shepard, a dear friend “Shay”; and his mother. We had a wonderful time.
Midway M. B. Church Christmas Program will be Sunday, December 21, 2025 during service. Tam Banks is in charge of the program.
Sympathy to the Jefferson Family in the passing of Mrs. Lois Jefferson. Her service was last Saturday at St. John M. B. Church in Newton. Final arrangements were entrusted to Holifield Funeral Home.
Sympathy to the Thomas and Harper Families in the passing of Mrs. Phyllis Harper (August 17, 1950-December 8, 2025). There was no public service just a private family viewing. Final arrangements were entrusted to Wolf Funeral Home in Morton.
Phyllis was a JSU Alumni, a Special Education Teacher at Hawkins Middle School. After retiring she began teaching on the Reservation. She and Carolyn Knowles traveled from Forest together until they retired from the Reservation. One of her old students, Chris Gatewood called me up to tell me she had passed. He is a truck driver that goes across country and he wanted me to sign her book, but I am expressing his wish to the family in my column in the newspaper. One of the things I have learned with my retirement is that students remember who taught them and expected them to learn from those who taught them for the pay check.
Her survivors are: her high school sweetheart whom she married, Willie Harper; they had one son, Willie Sterling Harper; two much loved grandsons, Jace Malik Harper and Willie Sterling Harper Jr.; and one brother, Charles Lester Thomas. Her parents, Lester Thomas and Annie Thomas preceded her in death.
Sympathy to the Ward Family in the passing of Lafayette Ward Jr. (83 years old). His Memorial Visitation (No Funeral) will be Wednesday, December 17, 2025 from 11:00 am-12:00 Noon at Mapp Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow the service at the Veterans Cemetery in Newton. Please note: Potted Plants Only, as flowers are not permitted at the VA Cemetery
Lafayette leaves to cherish his memories: two sisters, Patty Ward Odom of Forest and Laura Ward Claiborne of Detroit, Michigan and one brother, Willie Ward of Forest. His parents Lafayette Ward Sr. and Estella Moore Ward preceded him in death.
The Care Facilities: Milton Jerome Banks – Laurel;
Remember with your prayers, all our sick and shut-ins: Sarah Harper, Walter “Ben” Smith, Sollie White Smith, Janie White McClendon, Glenda Strong McKee, Bill Bradford, Sarah Janitha White Johnson, Willie Letha Stowers Peavy, Marshall Beamon, Dwight Beamon, Versherica Ficklin, Mattie Bobbitt Holifield, Billy Strong, Wesley Lewis, Lafayette Ward, Chasten Banks, and David Parrott.
Please call or text me those who are sick, deceased with planned arrangements, and anything remarkable you want publicized about your family. You may reach Delie Shepard by phone/text at 601-507-0992 and email: dshep10399@gmail.com.
