Shelby County Today

04/05/2016

William Wayne Hopkins, 83, of Center, passed away Tuesday, April 5, 2016, in Nacogdoches.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday, April 8, 2016, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center.  Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 9, 2016, at Watson & Sons Chapel.  Interment will follow at White Rock Cemetery in Center.

Mr. Hopkins was born February 20, 1933, in Shelby County, to George Hopkins and Ruby Lois Counts Hopkins.  He had great interest in genealogy.  Mr. Hopkins and Wanda was actively involved in White Rock Church, serving as song leader, adult leader and numerous other jobs.  

He is survived by
Wife of 34 years: Wanda Hopkins

Children:
Lois Hopkins Robbins
William Hopkins Jr. and wife, Samira
Julie Boland Hopkins and husband, Donnie
Stephen Hopkins
Synthia Bailey and husband, Weldon

Grandchildren:
Lisa and Joey Rand
Heather and Marc Gula
Paige Angelle
Derrick Hopkins
John Hopkins
William Hopkins
Nicole Hopkins
Christina and Brandon Wood
Tamara Hebert
Justin Whitker and Christina
Holly Ann Hopkins
Dakota Lavon Bailey

11 Great Grandchildren

Numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends

Preceded in death by
Parents: George Hopkins and Ruby Lois Counts Hopkins
Sisters: Ruth Hopkins, Mildred Hopkins Bolden, Georgia Pauline Hopkins Jacobs
Brother-in-law: Paul Bolden, Billy Ray Jacobs
Nephews: James Curtis Tidwell

Online condolences & tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com

04/05/2016

Mrs. Lois Griffin, age 101 went to be with her Lord and Savior on April 4, 2016 at Garrison Nursing Home, Garrison, Texas. Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 pm, Thursday, April 7, 2016 at Garrison Funeral Home with Rev. Shak Arrington officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be from 1:00pm to 2:00 pm before service. Burial will be in Libby Cemetery.

Born December 19, 1914 in Rusk County. Lois was the daughter of Alvin and Dossie (Fancher) King, who was a hard working farm family. She and Cal (Tobe) Griffin were married May 13, 1933 and enjoyed 67 years together until his death on May 10, 2000. They lived their entire life in Garrison and Libby area.

In addition to her parents, Alvin and Dosie King she was preceded in death by brothers, Julius Moore King and twin brother Lovis King. Three sons, Charles Ray Griffin (infant), Don Griffin, Harrell Griffin and wife Brenda and a very special grandson, Josh Griffin.  

Surviving are:
Son: Jack Griffin and wife Delores of Garrison, Texas

Daughter-in-law: Sue Daughtery and husband Ronnie of Garrison, Texas

Grandchildren:
Kent Griffin
Kim Avery and husband Ben
Randall Griffin and wife Gayla
Michael Griffin and wife Anna Marie
Allison Griffin
Ricky Don Griffin
Angie Key and husband Jason

Great-Grandchildren:
Isaac and Savannah Avery
Rachel Griffin
Emily Griffin
Hannah Griffin
Jake Griffin
Wade Griffin
Kamryn Griffin
Cutter Griffin
Hunter and Kane Key
Tyler and Cami Griffin.

Lois’s great joy was her family, whom she loved very much. She enjoyed time spent on her farm in the Libby Community. Good times were also enjoyed at Christmas, Griffin Reunion and Libby Homecomings. If Lois had a hobby I guess it was cooking. She was a wonderful cook and enjoyed sharing her baked goods with friends and family. She gave of herself and her love all the days of her life. I think it would be safe to say she left this world loved by all who knew her. Lois was member of Garrison Church of Christ. She loved her church family and appreciated each and every one of you.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Libby Cemetery.

Family served by Garrison Funeral Home, Garrison, Texas.

04/04/2016

Ebenzie Randle, 79 of Center, passed away Saturday, April 2, 2016 at Green Acres Nursing Center.

Visitation will be from 11am until 1pm at Revival Tabernacle, Center, Texas on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 with funeral service to follow at 1pm. Interment is at McWilliams Cemetery, Shelbyville, Texas with Rev. Triplett officiating.

He is survived by:

Wife, Margie Randle of Center

Daughters:
Linda (Mike) Granger of Houston
Amona (Charles) Nash of Shelbyville
Vanessa (Claude) Randle of Shelbyville

Sons:
Lester Lewis of Tyler
Rodney (Tonda) Randle of Katy

6 Step-Children, 6 Grandchildren

Brother, Terry (Sharon) Randle of El Paso

Sisters:
Janice Carr of California
Marlena (Jerry) Johnson of California

Services are under the direction of Community Funeral Home, Center, Texas.

04/04/2016

James Delaney Seabourne, was born November 27, 1946, in Houston, Texas.  Mr. Seabourne was the son of Jesse Seabourne and Norma Jean Fox.   James grew up in Northeast Houston.  He graduated from Smiley High School and attended University of Houston.  While in high school he served in the Navy Reserves and later went Active while in college.  Mr. Seabourne served 14 years in the Navy and after his tour was complete he worked as an electrician foreman for many contractors including those that required him to travel around the globe.  James enojoyed playing golf, reading, and spending time watching movies.  

He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Kathy; sons, Trevor Seabourne of Seabrook, Texas, Jason Seabourne of Pasadena, Texas; mother, Norma Jean Seabourne of Houston, Texas; sisters, Linda Seabourne of Georgia, Cathy Seabourne and husband Marvin Martin of Magnolia, Texas, Karen Steffler and husband Bruce of Houston, Texas; grandson, Dante Seabourne of Galveston, Texas; brother in laws, Jerry Wood and wife Patty of Timpson, Texas,  James Wood and wife Wanda of Houston, Texas; sister in law, Lauri Stout and husband Alan of Austin, Texas; and a host of family and friends who will miss him greatly. 

Mr. Seabourne  was preceded in death by his father;  and sister, Ruth Ann Lofton.

To send condolences and sign the online guest book you may to go www.taylorfh.net.  
Taylor Funeral Home, 511 Ross Graves Drive, Timpson, TX 75975, is in charge of arrangements.

03/31/2016

Sybil Jewel Walker, 93, of Center passed away Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital.

Services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 2, 2016 at Mangum Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Carl Smith and Bro. John Bender officiating. Visitation will be Friday, April 1, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Mangum Funeral Home. Graveside service will be 10:00 a.m. on  Monday, April 4, 2016 at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Natchez, Mississippi.

She was born May 24, 1922 in Haynesville, LA to John Perry and Laura Annie (Tanner) Foster. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Center for many years.

She is preceded in death by her Parents, John and Laura Foster, Husband, Frank Walker, Brother, Perry Duane Foster and Sisters, Elizabeth Smart, Dorothy Van Orsdol, Evenlyn Brown, Marcelyn Foster & Infant Sister, Maxine Foster.

She is survived by:
Daughter & Son-in-law:
Gladys & Bob Giddens of Mt. Pleasant
Son & Daughter-in-law:
Danny & Gladys Walker of Conroe
Grandchildren:
Kirk Giddens & wife, Christy of McKinney
David Walker of Columbia, SC
Dawn Walker Downing & husband, Jordan of San Antonio
Great Grandchildren:
Alyssa Giddens of Dallas
McCall Giddens of McKinney
Lacie & Luke Johnson of McKinney
Joey Walker, Jr. of Kingwood
Cody Walker of Tell City, Indiana
Olivia Jewell Downing of San Antonio
Great Great Grandchildren:
Emma Walker
Julian Walker
Brother-in-law:
Doug Walker of West Monroe, LA 
 
You may sign the online registry book at www.mangumfuneralhome.com
Services are under the direction of Mangum Funeral Home Center, Texas

03/30/2016

Avalonia Jackson, 78 of Shelbyville, passed away Monday evening, March 28th at Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department in Center, Texas.

Lay-in-state will be Saturday, April 2, 2016 from 10am until 11am at Bennett Chapel Baptist Church in Shelbyville prior to funeral serve which is Saturday at 11am. Wake will be Friday, April 1, 2016 from 7pm until 9pm at Community Funeral Home Chapel, Center, Texas. Interment will be at Haley Bush Cemetery, San Augustine, Texas with Bishop W.C. Martin officiating.

She is survived by:

Daughter, Deronda Edwards of Houston, Texas

Sons:
Minister Laterrius (Shavetta) Jackson of Houston, Texas
Minister Rush Jackson, III of Shelbyville, Texas

8 Grandchildren, 6 Great-Grandchildren

Sister, Deidra Lynett Perry of Houston, Texas

Services are under the direction of Community Funeral Home, Center, Texas.

03/29/2016

Allen Dale Anderson, 83, of Huxley, passed away Thursday, March 17, 2016 at Nacogdoches Medical Center.

A memorial graveside service will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday April 2, 2016 at Strong Cemetery in Huxley with military honors given by Fort Hood Honor Guards and Masonic Rites given by Sam Samford Lodge #149.

Full Obituary posted March 18, 2016.

03/25/2016

Daniel Allen (Buddy) Cantrell passed away Thursday, March 24, 2016, at his home while under Hospice care. Graveside service will be Monday, March 28, 2016 at 11:00 AM, at Weaver Cemetery, FM 1970 South, Timpson, Texas, 75975, with Bro. Stan Britton officiating.

He is preceded in death by his wife Janice Charlene Wilde Cantrell and their son, Samuel Allen Cantrell.  He leaves his daughter Cynthia Cantrell Lewing and her husband, Ronald Lewing, of Tiki Island, TX.; his daughter, Paula Cantrell Harness and her husband, Matt Harness of Mesquite, TX.; grandson, Jake Lewing and wife, Katie Lewing of Seattle, WA.; granddaughters, Megan Harness Cuzen and husband, Ben Cuzen, of Dallas, TX., Sarah Lewing of Houston, TX., and Brittany Harness Smith and husband, Hunter Smith of Newport, AR.; and many close friends.  

Born in Houston, the son of Samuel Tanksley Cantrell and Cleva Allene Tyer Cantrell, he spent most of his younger years in Timpson, TX. near his mothers' birthplace.  

In 1952, Buddy entered service into the Army Corps of Engineers during the Korean conflict, and was stationed overseas.  He was released from Active Military Service in 1954, after a serious illness, and sent home with little hope of survival.  His mother nursed him to health, and he was honorably discharged in 1960, earning the Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Service stars, the United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.  

He entered Lamar University on a GI Bill Scholarship, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1959.  He met his wife, Janice when she was attending Sam Houston State University, nearby.  They were married in 1961, and soon settled in Beaumont.  He worked several years inspecting the radio operations of ships in Beaumont and Port Arthur, and was certified as a Professional Engineer in 1970 before taking a job with the Federal Communications Commission in Houston, where he retired after more than 30 years of service.  Following his retirement, he worked for Texas Association of Broadcasters, traveling across the state with Janice at the wheel inspecting various television and radio stations; she was his personal assistant, taking dictation to type his inspection reports.  He met several notable personalities, and enjoyed his travels with his wife.  They eventually built a home in Matagorda, TX., on the Colorado river, where they enjoyed fishing, shrimping, and crabbing.  Both were avid fishermen, and Buddy often designed and built his own crab traps and fishing gear.  He carried a notepad and mechanical pencil everywhere so that he could sketch out his designs.  

Buddy was a Master Mason with the Masonic Lodge in Timpson, for more than 50 years. He served as a Shriner for a number of years and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bay City, TX.

Online condolences and tributes can be sent at www.taylorfh.net

03/23/2016

Lieutenant General Orren Ray “Cotton” Whiddon passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord, March 20, 2016, surrounded by family and friends after fighting the good fight. He was born March 10, 1935 to the late Cynthia Betty Cockrell and Orren Cox Whiddon in Joaquin, TX as a fifth generation Texan.

General Whiddon graduated from Stephen F. Austin University in 1955, was drafted into the US Army as a Buck Private and upon completion of OCS in 1956, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, Field Artillery. He holds a Master’s in Management from USC. His military education includes Field Artillery Basic and Advanced Courses, Army Command and Gen. Staff College and Naval War College.

General Whiddon served two tours in Vietnam, including G2, 101st Airborne and in a variety of career building assignments, including Ft. Sill, OK; Vicenza, Italy; Ft. Leavenworth, KS; The Pentagon (numerous); Giessen, Germany (twice); SHAPE, Mons, Belgium; Ft. Polk, LA; and Ft. Eustis, VA. Other key assignments include AFCENT, The Netherlands; and Commanding Gen., 8th ID, Bad Krueznach, Germany. Gen. Whiddon retired in 1990 as Commanding Gen., Second United States Army, Ft. Gillem, GA.

Awards and decorations Gen. Whiddon received include the Distinguished Service Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Defense Superior Service Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Legion of Merit (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Bronze Star Medal (two Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Service Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters), Air Medal (5 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Good Conduct Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), National Defense Service Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Vietnam Service Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Service Ribbon (1 Oak Leaf Cluster) and Overseas Service Ribbon (Oak Leaf Clusters). Gen Whiddon is authorized to wear the Combat Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge, Joint Chiefs of Staff ID Badge, and Army Gen. Staff ID Badge.

General Whiddon was inducted into Stephen F. Austin University’s Alumni Hall of Fame in 1988, awarded the Angelina Rotary Club’s Paul Harris Fellow Award and “Service Above Self” Award in 2005 and the Angelina Award in 2014. He was a longtime supporter of the SFA’s ROTC program. The Howitzer fired at SFA home games, Ol’ Cotton, is named in his honor.

After retiring in 1990, Cotton and the love of his life, Harriot McKinney Whiddon, began the second adventure of their lives in Lufkin, Texas. His leadership and ability to inspire others led to his work with and development of the PineCrest Retirement Community and Salvation Army Adult Day Care Center. His community work included the Lufkin Planning and Zoning Board, St. Cyprian’s Episcopal School Board President, Methodist Retirement Communities Board, Methodist Retirement Trust Board, and Senior Warden for St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church. Cotton loved Lufkin, and Lufkin loved him.

He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Cynthia Betty (Cockrell) and Orren Cox Whiddon, and brother, Richard Abner Whiddon. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Harriot McKinney Whiddon; son, Orren Prentice Whiddon of Artemis, PA; daughters, Laura Whiddon Shortell and husband, Joe Ross Stutts of Dallas, TX; Barbara Whiddon Chandler and husband, James B. Chandler of Allen, TX; four grandchildren, Orren A. Whiddon, Pittsburgh, PA; Joseph H. Shortell III, Dallas, TX; Catharine T. Whiddon, Artimus, PA; Skylar J. Chandler, Allen, TX; sister, Susan K. Whiddon, Joaquin, TX; sisters-in-law, Susan P. McKinney of Nacogdoches, TX and Jean T. Whiddon of Hideaway, TX; and numerous nieces and nephews.

We’d like to thank “Cotton’s Angels”, Norma, Evia, Bonnie, Brenda, Crystal and Ruth; LTC Francis Jackson; the staff and caregivers at Hospice in the Pines; Memorial Home Health; and all the doctors who cared for him, especially Dr. Kyle Krohn.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 26, 2016 at St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church, Lufkin and burial with full military honors at 3:00 p.m. at The Joaquin Cemetery, Joaquin, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice in the Pines, 1504 W. Frank Avenue, Lufkin, TX 75904 or The Salvation Army Adult Day Care Center, 412 S. 3rd St., Lufkin, TX 75901 or to the charity of your choice.

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.