Online Obituaries

Jack L. Wertz
Sun, December 4th

Jack L. Wertz, 80, died Friday, December 2, 2011 at home surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 5, 2011 at Colonial Heights Baptist Church with burial following in Parkway Memorial Cemetery in Ridgeland. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 4p.m Sunday and 10 a.m. Monday at the church. Jack represented State Farm Insurance Company for 54 years and was one of the pioneer agents with State Farm in Jackson. Jack was instrumental in making State Farm the number one insurance company in Mississippi. He received many awards in his 54 year career including, Convention Qualifier, Legion of Honor, High Topper and the prestigious President Club award. On January 10, 1987, he was selected for Who’s Who in America. Jack gives credit for his success to his policyholders and his wife, Ernestine. Jack was a devoted supporter of the Cooperative program and missions with the Southern Baptist Convention. He served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1984-1998. During the Presidency of Ronald Reagan, he was invited to the White House on two occasions. He was a faithful member of Colonial Heights Baptist Church. Jack’s pride and joy was his wife, Ernestine whom he married in 1950; his three wonderful daughters, Sandra Harvey of Canton; Angela Sund and husband Dan of Canton; Mona Powell and husband Richard of Canton; 6 grandchildren, Brock Sund and wife Olivia of Olive Branch; Bree Powell of Virginia Beach, VA; Brittney Ann LeCun of Orlando, FL; Tiffany Gore and husband Jason of Canton; Jake Sund of Asheville, NC; Ruben Harvey and wife Stacy of Jackson; 4 great grandchildren; sisters, Marilyn Corder of Jackson; Nancy K. Sadlon of Jackson and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Missions of Colonial Heights Baptist Church, 444 Northpark Drive, Ridgeland, MS 39157.

 

Memorial Video

 http://secure.KeepsakeNetwork.com/video.aspx?Film=5196

 

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John Michael Rubenstein
Fri, December 2nd

 

This was 1974, a Sunday night. Then-WLBT television station manager Bill Dilday, a jazz aficionado, was driving back into Jackson from a business trip. As he often did, Dilday turned his radio dial to WJSU-FM, the Jackson State University campus radio station."I heard this new deejay, with this rich, baritone voice, who called himself just Michael," Dilday remembered Thursday afternoon. "He was playing really nice jazz, but it was his voice and his suave delivery that got me. The next day, when I went to the station, I told them to find that guy and then hire him."A day later, Dilday, the nation's first African-American manager of a television station, met Michael Rubenstein at WLBT and found out his new sports anchor was white.Dilday hired Rubenstein, or "Rube" as he became famously known, and TV sports journalism in Mississippi changed forever and much for the better. When his TV days were over, Rubenstein became a driving force behind the creation of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, where he has spent the last 15 years as executive director.Rubenstein died Thursday morning of a blood clot, leaving behind a double legacy in Mississippi sports. He was 60."Rube had such a sharp mind and such a quick wit," said Marino Casem, a former football coach and athletic director at Alcorn State. "You always knew where he stood and that he had no prejudices whatsoever. I cherish his friendship mightily. There's going to be a huge void in Mississippi sports."John Michael Rubenstein, born and raised in Booneville, was a Vanderbilt University honors graduate. The college major of this future TV sports anchor and sports museum director? Why Asian studies, of course.Rubenstein had no TV experience - and no sportscoat, much less suit - when he took the WLBT job, yet he became the most accomplished sports anchor in Mississippi TV. He was a dogged reporter, never afraid to ask the tough questions. As an anchor he was eloquent, as much because of his crisp writing as his rich voice or delivery. The Cowboys didn't just rout the Saints. No, the Cowboys left the Saints "reamed, steamed and dry-cleaned."Ole Miss and New Orleans Saints legend Archie Manning was "shocked and saddened" by Thursday's news."As a sports reporter, Rube was always fair and engaging," Manning said. "That's all you can really ask as a player. I always enjoyed my time with him, especially later on when we were getting the Hall of Fame Museum going."Rubenstein had no business or museum experience when he became the museum's executive director. Yet, at a time when many museums around the nation have closed or reduced operating hours, the Mississippi sports shrine remains open despite, as Rube always would remind you, "having never received a dime of government money for operating funds."Said Jackson attorney Cal Wells, past president of the museum's board of directors: "Rube was the face of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. He was the perfect guy at the perfect time because of all his sports connections and because he was such a great speaker and ambassador for the museum."Besides his contributions to the Mississippi sports scene, Rube leaves behind many grieving friends, including this writer. We shared a passion for Mississippi, Mississippians and for sports.As a TV anchor, Rube had opportunities to leave for bigger markets. He didn't because, as he once told me, "Where else, but Mississippi, are there stories like the ones we have to tell?"One of Rubenstein's closest friends was Malcolm White, director of the Mississippi Arts Commission and perhaps more famously the founder of Mal's St. Paddy's Day Parade.White was 14 when his family moved from Perkinston to Booneville, where his daddy took the job of president of Northeast Mississippi Community College. Hazel Rubenstein, Michael's mother, taught algebra and geometry at Northeast, and she introduced Rube and Malcolm, both about to enter high school."I'll never forget the moment," White said. "Michael was lying in his bed, eyes closed, headphones on, listening to the Rolling Stones. Reluctantly, and at his mother's prodding, he got up and came out and talked to me. "Pretty quickly, we found out we had three things in common: We loved rock and roll, basketball and girls, not necessarily in that order. We spent the rest of the afternoon, playing basketball and listening to music and by the end of the day I knew about every pretty girl in Booneville."White and Rubenstein became inseparable."I had never known anybody like Rube," White said. "He was so literate, so smart, so worldly. You'd eat dinner at his mother's table and the conversation was on a whole different level than anything I had ever been around."Thursday evening, White and I talked of Rubenstein's remarkable life, which ended with a lengthy but brave battle against a series of agonizing illnesses. We talked about his wit, his intellect, his stubbornness and a lot more. Yes, White said, Rube was content with what he had achieved professionally "but he was extraordinarily proud of the Hall of Fame."Rube was with his lovely soulmate, Catherine Dollarhide, a longtime Jackson public schools teacher, when he died. The two already had discussed a weekend filled with TV football: the high school championship games, the Conference USA title game and the SEC title game. About all that, Rube was passionate to the end.
 
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Dana (Cooky) Tillman Lamb
Sat, November 12th

 

Dana (Cooky) Tillman Lamb, 54, of Clinton, a sociology instructor at Hinds Community College-Rankin Campus, died November 11, 2011 at Central Mississippi Medical Center from the complications of a stroke.
 
She was a native of Edwards, born in Hazlehurst in 1957 to Carl Tillman and Polly McHann Tillman, Dana was a graduate of Raymond high School, Hinds Community College, Union University (Jackson, TN), and received her master’s degree with honors from Mississippi College. She also attended post-graduate institutes at the University of Mississippi and the National Writing Project at UMass-Boston.
 
Dana was a poplar and innovative teacher and passionate about social justice and the role education plays in it. Prior to becoming an educator, she was a children’s social worker, a child welfare enforcement officer, and executive director of the Mississippi Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse, where she co-edited and published procedural manuals on child protection for the state. A versatile, talented woman in a number of areas, her passions included reading/writing, travel, music, film and Southeastern Conference football.
 
However, her greatest passion was her family, especially her sons, and the love of her life granddaughter Hannah. She relished her roles as wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, sister and teacher. Dana was an empowering inspiration to every life she touched despite whatever physical pains she was enduring.
 
“She had a wonderful life, her mother said,” a little messy at times, a little overwhelming for all of us who saw dangers that she never acknowledged, but it was a life of light and goodness and caring, tinged with a belief that laughter is God’s work and that caring for others is indeed a noble cause.”
 
She was proud to be “one of those kids from Edwards” and has retained a life-long friendship from her childhood there, while gathering other friends along the way. Especially precious to her were her friends from the Rankin Campus of Hinds Community College, with whom she shared so much, and her long time friend Holy Connell. The best friend status, however, was always saved for her brother Carl.
 
Survivors include her husband Dean Lamb; sons Phillip Gardner (Anika) and Lucas Gardner of Washington, D.C., and Brent Stanley of Clinton; granddaughter, Hannah Gardner and her mother Jenni of Clinton; mother Polly Marshall, stepmother, Debbe Tillman; brother Carl Tillman, Jr. of Vicksburg; nieces Katy Tillman Jones of Flora, Clare Tillman, Vicksburg, and Nephew Joey Tillman, formerly of Vicksburg who now resided in Germany.
 
A Requiem Eucharist will be celebrated on Monday, November 14, 2011 at the Episcopal Church of the Creator in Clinton, at 11 am, with visitation beginning at 9:30. Sebrell funeral Home in Ridgeland is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Stewpot or the Church of the Creator, Clinton, for use in its Outreach programs.
 
 
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Eunice Katherine Whitehead
Sun, November 6th

 

Eunice Katherine Whitehead
June 6, 1951 – November 4, 2011
 
“Kathy” was her name – loved by so many! She was born at Baptist Hospital in Jackson, MS to Lou and Jack Freeny. Born a preemie, she had to be a fighter and was even to the end. Kathy had two sons, Anthony and Johnny; both pre-deceased her but she found new life when she adopted her new son, Dillon. It made her young at heart and Dillon made her proud! They struggled a lot to make ends meet but she always kept positive. She earned the nickname, “Job.” Even though life dealt so many tragedies, Kathy never got mad at God. Kathy was a giver who would give the shirt off her back to help another. Kathy loved life and always said, “It’s not over till the fat lady sings.” She now joins those she loved that left before her. What a beautiful fat lady choir there must be up there! Rest now angel for you deserve it.
 
”Miss Kathy”  will be sorely missed. Job 21
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Donie Elizabeth Coleman
Tue, November 1st

 

 
Donie Elizabeth Coleman, 75, died Saturday, October 29, 2011 at home. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at Ridgecrest Baptist Church with burial following in Lakewood Memorial Park South. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Mrs. Coleman was born on December 10, 1935 in Mantee, Mississippi, the daughter of the late Rev. C.L. and Flora Boland. A talented musician, she could play the organ, piano and keyboard. Mrs. Coleman loved traveling and photography. She enjoyed flowers that her husband Carl grew in their garden. A Godly woman, she was a devout Christian and was an active and faithful member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church where she participated in the Joy Sunday School class. She worked part time at D.H. Holmes, where she was in charge of the gift wrapping department. She will be remembered most as a loving wife, a beloved mother, and a devoted grandmother, who loved and cherished spending time with her family and friends. Survivors include her husband of 60 years, Carl Coleman of Brandon; daughter, Diane Pharr of Brandon; son, Steve Coleman and his wife Jennie of Meridian, MS; son Robert Coleman of Miami, FL; son, Ronald Coleman of Pontotoc, MS; daughter, Carla Russell and her husband Bobby of Brandon; 8 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren and brother, Charles Boland, Jr. and his wife Patsy of Water Valley, MS. Memorials may be made to the Mission Program at Ridgecrest Baptist Church, 7469 Old Canton Road, Madison, MS 39110.
 
 
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Phyllis Ann Houghtby
Mon, October 24th

Phyllis Ann Houghtby, 89, died Friday, October 21, 2011 at St. Dominic Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at St. Matthew's United Methodist Church in Madison. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at Sebrell Funeral Home in Ridgeland and 9:00 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Interment will be held later at White Chapel Cemetery in Troy, Michigan.

Mrs. Houghtby was born on December 5, 1921, in Ridgeville, Indiana, the daughter of the late George Washington Coons and May Spouse Coons. A graduate of Highland Park High School in 1940, she continued her education at Highland Park Junior College, earning her Associate's Degree in 1942. Mrs. Houghtby accepted an office position with Jam Handy Organization, a company assisting the war effort by making training films for the US Navy. After the war, she studied bookkeeping, shorthand and typing at Detroit Business College, and later in life studied computer data processing at Oakland Community College. While raising her family, she accepted a position at Control Data. Mrs. Houghtby also had a successful Avon business while caring for her husband and raising her family.

Mrs. Houghtby was a faithful member of The United Methodist Church, having met her husband Harlan in 1942, while attending youth group and the Tower Belles Sunday School Class at Trinity Methodist Church in Highland Park, MI. They were married there on September 18, 1948.

A 35-year resident of Jackson, she was a former member of Aldersgate UMC, Wesley UMC, and has been a member of St. Matthew's for 17 years. Active in the Mississippi UMC Conference, she served as Lay Delegate to the Annual Conference for both Aldersgate and St. Matthew's. A long time member of the United Methodist Women, she recently was awarded her 54 year pin and was featured in the Mississippi Christian Advocate for her accomplishment. She also served as the Conference Treasurer of the Mississippi Conference United Methodist Women, and was active in many local units, holding various offices throughout the units. Mrs. Houghtby was a dedicated 20 year volunteer at Contact-The Crisis Line and served as the organization's Treasurer for many years. Mrs. Houghtby was also a member and Past Mississippi State President of Church Women United, an organization fostering cooperation across denominational, and racial/ethnic borders.

Mrs. Houghtby will most be remembered as a beloved wife, a cherished mother, a devoted grandmother, and a loving friend. Her dedication for her own children carried over into her passion for taking care of needy children around the world.

Survivors include: her beloved husband of 63 years, Harlan Houghtby of Brandon; daughter, Delphine Hogston of Muskegon, MI; son, Dennis Houghtby of Clinton; daughter, Sylvia Nicholas of Kalamazoo, MI; daughter, Natalie K. Houghtby-Haddon of Washington, D.C.; grandchildren, Christopher Nicholas and his wife Collette of Chicago, IL; Heather Nicholas of Kalamazoo, MI; Thomas Nicholas and his wife, Laura Burt- Nicholas of Chicago, IL; Benjamin Hogston and his wife, Mandi Garvey of Grand Rapids, MI; Noah Hogston of Muskegon, MI; step grandchildren, Andrew Hogston, his wife Dana and family, also of Muskegon, and Daniel Hogston, his wife Kathy and family of Charlotte, NC; great grandchildren, Sofie Grace Garvey-Hogston, and future great grandchild Baby Nicholas due in January; sister-in-law Donnette Coons of Spokane, WA, cousin Herbert Larr of Detroit, MI, and many other loving family members. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Houghtby was preceded in death by her brother, Robert M. Coons, and her sons-in-law, David Nicholas and Richard Houghtby-Haddon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Matthew's United Methodist Church, 7427 Old Canton Road, Madison, MS 39110; Contact-The Crisis Line, PO Box 5192, Jackson, MS 39296 or to Church Women United, c/o Anelita Ross, 3924 Azalea Drive, Jackson MS 39206.

 

 
 
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