Sunday's Obituary: Warner T. Ramshur

COLUMBIA- Services are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Mount Gilead Baptist Church in Columbia for Warner T. Ramshur, 80, of Columbia, who died Sept. 19, 1991, at Methodist Hospital in Hattiesburg.  The Revs. Buddy Cameron and Arthur Shaw will officiate.  Interment will be in Mount Gilead Cemetery.  Survivors include one son, Thomas Andrew Ramshur of Lucedale; three brothers, Joe Ramshur and Thomas Ramshur, both of Columbia, and Clarence Ramshur of Foxworth; one sister, Lillian Robinson of Columbia; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.  Visitation will be from 4 to 10 p.m. today at Community Funeral Home in Columbia, which is in charge of the arrangements, and from 1:30 p.m. until service time Saturday at the church.

Warner Tisdale Ramshur was married to my maternal grandmother, Susie Johnson Simmons.  Though he was by law considered my "step" grandfather, he was "PawPaw T." in my eyes and was a huge part of my earlier childhood memories.  

Sunday's Obituary: Susie (Johnson) Simmons Ramshur

Funeral services for Mrs. Susie Simmons Ramshur, 57, were held at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at Pleasant Hill Pentecostal Church, Foxworth.  Rev. E.J. Hudson of Sheraton, La., and Rev. Marvin Terrell officiated.  Interment was in Pineburr Holiness Cemetery.  Mrs. Ramshur died Tuesday, June 18, at Forrest Gernal Hospital, Hattiesburg, following an illness of six weeks duration.  She was the daughter of Robert and Sarah Herrin Johnson, born July 1, 1916 in Lamar County.  She was a former employee of Reliance Manufacturing Company where she worked for 16 years.  Survivors are her husband, Warner T. Ramshur; two sons, Alton Simmons of Foxworth and Elton Simmons of San Antonio, Texas; and two daughters, Mrs. Lula Sue Powell of New Orleans and Mrs. Gertrude Wiginton of Waynesboro; one step-son, T.A. Ramshur of Lucedale; one sister, Mrs. Bertie Johnson of Columbia; one brother, Alex Johnson of Pineburr; 17 grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.  Pallbearers were Shelby Tippit, Larry Terrell, Jerome Terrell, Jimmy McSwain, Richard Graham and Edgar Phelps.

(Susie Johnson was my maternal grandmother.  She passed away from this life on 18 June 1974.)

Sunday's Obituary: Velma Stogner Smith

Funeral services were held May 23, 2007, at 11 a.m. at North Columbia Church of God for Velma Smith, age 78, of Columbia, who died May 21 at her residence.  Interment was in the Foxworth Cemetery.  Visitation was held May 22 from 5-9 p.m. at North Columbia Church of God.

She was born February 4, 1928 to Lewis and Ivy Peak Stogner.  She was a homemaker and a member of North Columbia Church of God.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Carley Smith; her parents; one sister, Annie May Bryant; and one brother, Hollis Stogner.

Survivors include one son, Elvis Smith and wife Loretta of Foxworth; four daughters, Rita Smith of Columbia, Anita Kay Stringer and husband Wayne of Columbia, Kathy Ratcliff and husband Joe of Brookhaven, and Vickie Smith of Columbia; three brothers, Shelby, Jewell and Charles Stogner, all of Columbia; 7 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.  Riverwood Family Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.

Obituary: Audrey Elizabeth Seal Stogner

Audrey Elizabeth Stogner, 88, a resident of the Myrtles Nursing Home in Columbia, died there March 29, 2008.  Visitation will be from 4 to 9 tonight at Carson Springs Baptist Church.  Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church with the Rev. Carl Dickens officiating.  Burial will be in Carson Springs Cemetery.  Hartman-Hughes Funeral Home in Tylertown is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Stogner was born Aug. 28, 1919, in Washington Parish, La.  She was the daughter of Dolphus and Laura Alice Fortenberry Seal.  She was a homemaker and a nurses' aide.

Mrs. Stogner was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Floyd Stogner; two grandchildren, Bruce Stogner and Stacey Eric Stogner; one great-grandchild Leina Elizabeth Malendres; one brother, William Talmadge Seal; and four sisters, Adrine Calendar, Rosalie Daigre, Charlotte McDaniel and Mecia Knight.

Survivors include four sons and three daughters-in-law, Floyd and Rose Stogner, and Paul and Sharon Stogner, all of Columbia, Charlie Stogner of Sandy Hook, and Milton and Coleen Stogner of Poplarville; four brothers, Charles Seal of Bogalusa, La., Daniel Seal of Varnado, La., Edwin Seal of Norfolk, Va., and Pat Seal of Florida; 16 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren.

Serving as pallbearers will be Kyle Stogner, Wendell Stogner, Jake Keith, Ritchie Stogner, Mike Keith and Thomas Malendres.  Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Danny Stogner, Roger Crain, Jesse Crain and Chason Stogner.

Obituary contributed by Bill Reagan

Sunday's Obituary: Preston Jefferson Stogner

Contributed by Bill Reagan

Funeral services for Preston J Stogner, 87, were Monday at Carson Springs Baptist Church with Revs. James McCraney, Bob Lowery, Donald Allen and Enos Branch officiating.  He died Nov. 2 at his residence. Stogner was born Nov. 1, 1899 (correction inked in) in Walthall County, son of Thomas Edward and Cordilla McCain Stogner.  He was a farmer.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Vella Duncan Stogner, Sandy Hook; five sons, J.P. Stogner, Prentiss; Felder Stogner, Angie; James Stogner, Sandy Hook; Alton Stogner, Tylertown; Clyde Stogner, Middlesboro, Ky; one daughter Mrs. Eddie Ree Reagan, Tylertown; one brother, Lewis Stogner, Columbia; three sisters, Stella Haley, Tylertown; Delia Sorrell, Sandy Hook; Evie Schillings, Bogalusa; 22 grandchildren; 37 great-granchildren.

Pallbearers were David Stogner, Kenny Stogner, Jimmy Stogner, Jeffie Stogner, William Reagan and Wallace Reagan.  Honorary pallbearers were Roy Thomas, Lawrence Moore, Charles Duncan, Thad Thomas, Billy F. Kennedy and Homer Crain.  

Burial was in Carson Springs Cemetery with Hartman-Hughes in charge.

Obituary- Alton Simmons

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004, at the chapel of Colonial Funeral Home for Alton Simmons, 66, of Columbia, who died Saturday, Jan. 17, at Wesley Medical Center.  Interment was in the Woodlawn Cemetery.  Mike Grenn officiated, assisted by George Anthony.  A native of Marion County, he was a forester and a member of the Apostolic faith.  Survivors include two sons, Joey Simmons of Columbia and Tim Simmons of Foxworth; two sisters Gertrude Wiginton of Laurel and Lula Sue Powell of Columbia; a brother, Elton Simmons of Livingston, Texas; eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.  Colonial Funeral Home in Columbia was in charge of arrangements.

Click here to view the Memorial page for Alton Simmons at Find A Grave.

Sunday's Obituary: Susan Cordelia McCain Stogner

Mrs. Susan Stogner of Improve Buried Sunday

Funeral services were held Sunday, November 19, for Mrs. Susan Cordelia Stogner at the Carson Springs Baptist Church with the Reverend Jimmy Stewart officiating.  Mrs. Stogner died November 17 after an illness that extended over several months.  

Born March 25, 1878, Mrs. Stogner was the daughter of Ned and Ann Turnage McCain and a lifetime resident of the Improve community.  Her husband, T.E. Stogner, preceded her in death seven years ago.  

Interment was in the Carson Springs Cemetery with Denver McKenzie, Leonard Sorrell, James Stogner, Alton Stogner, Clyde Stogner and Felder Stogner acting as pallbearers.

Mrs. Stogner is survived by three daughters, Mrs Delhie Sorrell, Sandy Hook, Mrs. Stella Sorrell, Tylertown, and Mrs. Elva Schillings, Rio, La.  Four sons, Preston, Floyd and Levi Stogner, all of Sandy Hook, and Lewis Stogner, Foxworth; three brothers, two sisters, 28 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren also survive.  

Ginn Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Copy of article courtesy of Bill Reagan.  I'm not sure which newspaper or the date this was published, but she died November 17, 1950.  Susan Cordelia McCain was my great grandmother.  I was thrilled to receive a copy of her obituary and even more happy to realize that her first name was Susan ;)  She was called "Cordelia" by her family, so her first name was rarely used.  

A photo of her tombstone may be viewed here.  Her tombstone is also listed on Find A Grave, here.