All Obituaries

Mason Allen Yarbrough was born on April 25, 1932, in Decatur, Alabama to Bebee Yarbrough and Roxie Pitts Yarbrough. He was the youngest of three children. His mother later married Walter Brown who became a loving step-father to Mason.  After graduating from Decatur Negro High School in 1949 he became a member of the U. S. Air Force. Mason enrolled in Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama after serving three years in the military. In 1957 he graduated with a Bachelor of Science...

On April 7, 1944, a blessed event took place, a baby boy, Johnnie “John” L. White was born to the union of Arthur and Easter Deckard White. As a youth, he joined Pleasant Grove Church under the leadership of Rev. Ross. He received his education through the McLennan County School. He married Betty White in 1986. He was a very faithful, dedicated, and hard worker at Luby’s Cafeteria. He was a loyal, loving, and caring person who loved his family and friends. The love...

Norman Elvery Mitchell was born to Frank and Mattie Mitchell of West, Texas on January 16, 1936. He was the third born of five children. Norman accepted Christ at an early age. He was a member of Bold Springs Baptist Church in West, Texas from 1946 to 1976. He later united with Greater Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in 1976 where he was a devoted Deacon, brotherhood president, and choir member.  Norman graduated in 1954 as a salutatorian from Dunbar High School in West, Texas,...

Doris M. Peoples Sewell was born on April 9, 1931, in Waco, Texas the fourth of six children to parents Ira Peoples Sr. and Inez Peoples. She accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of Greater Mt. Olive Baptist Church. She attended Waco Independent School District and later received her cosmetology license from Waco Cosmetology School. She worked as a cosmetologist starting at Goldstein-Migel in their beauty salon and retired from Head Shapers in Lake Air Mall in 1999 after being...

Christell E. Bess was born on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1941 in Limestone County, Texas to Amos Emerson, Sr. and W. Estelle R. Emerson. The family moved to Waco, Texas when she was a year old, after the death of her father. She met and married Virgil C. Bess, Sr. in 1963.   She was affectionately better known as "Patsy", or "Aunt Patsy" to all of her loving family members. Christell accepted Jesus Christ at a young age under Rev. King at...

Albert Wayne Smith was born on November 13, 1950, to John T. Smith II and Bennie Kelly Smith in Waco, Texas.  He was sprinkled into the body of Christ at St. Paul A.M.E. Church at an early age. He was in the first class to start and finish at G.W. Carver High School in 1970. Albert Wayne continued his education at MCC and transferred to Baylor University and finished with a degree in Mathematics, Chemistry, and Environmental Science. Albert accepted Christ and was baptized at...

Virginia Nell Jackson Davenport was born June 29, 1955, to James McClennan and Viola Jackson Lewis in Waco, Texas. Virginia attended Waco Public School. Later she met and married Donald Ray Hackworth, Sr. To this union Tonia Rayleen Hackworth and Donald Ray, Hackworth Jr. was born. She was a homemaker and took care of her household. Later in her life, Virginia moved to Garland, Texas where she attended the Garland Faith Community Seventh Day Adventist Church. She loved cooking and helping...

“Precious in the sight of the Lord and the death of His saints.” Debra Boyd departed this life on February 26, 2021. May we cherish the life, work and service of Debra today and forevermore

The Celebration of Life began on August 21, 1953, for Jim West and Maxcine Connor giving birth to a baby girl named Fannie Jane Lee in Hubbard, Texas. She received her formal education from Hubbard Independent School District. She met and married Melvin Jones in 1971. To this union, five beautiful children were born. Fannie was gainfully employed as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) through Mexia State School and Oakview Manor. She left her employment to take care of her father Jim West...