lizabeth “Beth” Hobgood Clark, age 85, of Meridian, Mississippi, passed away peacefully on October 27, 2025.

Born on February 26, 1940, in Meridian, Mississippi, Beth spent her life devoted to her family, her faith, and her community. She worked faithfully as the secretary to the Meridian Chief of Police for 30 years and later served as the secretary for the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department for over a decade. After her retirement from public service, she continued to greet others with her warm smile as a receptionist at Norman Roofing.

Beth was a member of Central United Methodist Church, where she treasured her church family and joyfully served as treasurer of her Sunday school class for many years. Her faith guided her life and shone through in the kindness, humor, and generosity she shared with everyone around her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Otis & Cecilia Hobgood, her sisters Amy Lampton and Felicia Sessums, her husband, Harold Clark, and her daughter, Cheryl Culberson. She is survived by her children Wayne Dowdle (Debbie Batia) and Amy Norman (Chuck); her stepchildren Debbie Barnes (Harry), Steve Clark, and Leslie Clark; her grandchildren Ashley Slaton (Rush), Justin Dowdle (Brenna), Amanda Culberson, Tyler Norman (Julia), and Amber Brune (Jeffrey); several great-grandchildren and many friends and extended family who loved her dearly.

Beth will be remembered for her loving heart, her gentle spirit, and her gift of making everyone feel special. She found joy in crocheting, cooking for her loved ones, and spending time surrounded by her family.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Webb Funeral Home (Downtown) in Meridian, Mississippi. The funeral service and graveside will follow at 12:00 p.m.

Beth’s life was one of faith, laughter, and love—an example of grace and goodness that will continue to inspire all who knew her.

Obituary of Harry L., Hopkins, husband of Martha Ann Marklkne Hopkins. They were married for 63 years.

 Harry L Hopkins, a cherished man known for his kind, loving, caring, and cantankerous personality, left us on September 24, 2024. Born on August 11, 1935, Harry lived a life filled with tremendous passion, discipline and service towards others.  As a lawyer, he was the champion of the people, even arguing a case in front of the United States Supreme Court.  As a father and friend, he was a steady hand that steered the ship.  He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Martha Markline Hopkins, daughter Dr. Caroline Baker, son Peter Hopkins (Monica), grandsons Caleb Baker (Taylor), James and Taylor Hopkins, and sisters Eleanor Scites, Sue Berry, and Kay Iffrig (Larry), whose lives were greatly enriched by Harry’s presence. His departure leaves an unfillable void in their lives, yet they find comfort in the memories they shared.

Harry was born in a barn in Piggott Arkansas, one of 12 children, and according to him, had his own milk cow. He was a graduate of University of Southern Mississippi and Tulane School of Law, and practiced law for sixty years, mostly in Birmingham, Alabama. He also taught for many years at University of Alabama Law School. If asked, Harry would likely say he was a farmer, but he was so much more. He was a shining example of how to think of others, a value that was central to his character.  Over the years, he taught many how to be a lawyer and person of character. 

In the 1970’s Harry became a labor law partner at Lange, Simpson, Robinson, and Somerville (Birmingham) where he would teach and mentor countless young lawyers in labor and employment law.  Harry was especially proud of helping the Birmingham Board of Education achieve desegregation without violence or excessive rancor.  Concurrently, his deep knowledge and passion for the law led the University of Alabama School of Law to draw on his talents.  

In September 1997 Harry founded the Birmingham office of the internationally recognized labor and employment law boutique firm Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak, and Stewart.  Harry was thrown an elaborate retirement party when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 70, and he was at the office bright and early the following day continuing to practice the profession he loved.

Harry L Hopkins, a gentleman farmer and lawyer, and beacon of empathy and justice, will forever reside in our hearts and will continue to inspire and guide us. As we grapple with the loss of his physical presence, we find solace in knowing that his spirit lives on in the many people he touched.

Harry appreciated the importance of education, and he founded the Hal R. Hopkins Scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi in honor of his brother who died too soon.  If desired, you may donate by calling 601 266 4217, 

 

Donations for Reunion Planners' Gifts

Our 65th Class Reunion was memorable in a myriad of ways! The group was large, classmates/attendees were in good form (thanks to our Lord), the reunion arrangements were stellar and all were determined to gather again - SOON! The gifts we presented to our loyal committee members reaped an overage of donations, allowing the class to present to Meridian Children’s Museum $150.00! The donation has been sent to the museum with acknowledgment of Meridian High School Class of 1958 - 65th Reunion - May 2023. Please inform our class of the donation via the blog, Facebook and other social means used by the class. Thank you for your efforts. Jinny Curran Walz

MHS 65th Reunion Class of '58 - May 2023 - Meet and Greet - Threefoot Boxcar Lounge

 

Max Dinner - 65th MHS Reunion - May 2023

 

 2008 Reunion

Carlee Hamilton, Peggy Edwards, Martha Ann Markline. Peggy Selklers, David James, Bennett Britt

In Memoriam

                                                                     IN MEMORIAM

                                              MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1958  

                                                                    (As of September 2025)                                                            

Sterling Ainsworth

Charlotte Alexander (Horn Hunt)

Joyce Bailey (Rider)

Bradford Baker

Margorie Barham (Sims)

Phyllis Beckman (Ainsworth)

Jackie Bergermeyer (Brooks)

William (Bill) Anderson Betts

Robert Earl Billingsley

David Bonner

Martha Ann Boswell (Burdick)

Leeann Bounds

Patsy Bradley

Joyce Bragg (Giles)

Shirley Broadhead (Turner Hamilton)

Gloria Brown (Bruister)

Richard Brown

Walter “Bobby” Brown

Georgia Merel Browning T(urnage)

Jimmy Bruner

Jeanette Buckley (Ferguson)

Oliver Buntin

Willie Ray Bungard

James Butts

Minnie Helen Calvert

Ryan Camp

Jean Chandler (White)

Rebecca Chism (Berta)

Lotelle Chisholm

Sylvia Ann Clark (White)

Gloria Jean Cunningham

Everrett Clayton

Roy Crampton

Cecil Crawford

Thomas Eugene Crawford

Buddy Croxdale

Lance Culpepper

Gail Cunningham (Lang)

Gloria Jean Cunningham

Patrick “Pat” Curry

Sharon Daggett (Butler)

Arlene Davidson (Merson)

Mary Evelyn Davidson

Arthur Leonard Davis

Billy Wayne Dean

Alice Faye Dewitte (Ulfers)

Patsy Dorman

Nadoe Rene Ellis

Jackle Eddins (Pickard)

W. F. “Bobby” Enslen

Gerard Donald Ethridge

Marjorie Fant (Sims)

Billy Faulkner

Jeanette Ferguson (Noe)

Carolyn Fisher

Bobby Fleming

Homer Fletcher

Lix Fruge

Sephus Garrett

Carolyn Gipson (Falcon)

Jana Kay Glasser (Dalton)

Margie Fay Godwin (Dalton)

Jimmy Gossett

Richard Hsrrison Gough

Paul Graves

Carlee Hamilton (Whitaker)

Lidia Herrington (Minor)

Sandra Hodge (Jones)

Tony Holt

Amelia Hood (Roach)

Dot Hood (Adams)

James Ray Hopkins

Billy Horn

Richard House

Guy Howard

Michael Howard

Richard Huff-master

James “Jim” Hurley

David James

Robert “Bobby” Johnson

Mary Ruth Jones (Collum)

Lelia Keeton (Martin)

Albert Ray Keller

Mary Jane Kelly (Heisterkamp)

Mary Alice Keyes (Skelton)

Ouida Landreth (Tomlinson)

Delores Lott

Pansy McCarra (Mosby)

Charles “Stuff” McCraney

Judy McKellar (Thomas)

Tommy McMullan

Harold Glenn McQuage

Charles Maggard

Eddie Manney

Ann May (Watts Crowe)

Jimmy Mayatt

Frances Mayerhoff (Askew)

JoAnn Mills (White)

Sandra Mitchell (Huffmaster)

Rita Monette (Tillman)

Jackie Mosley (Massey)

Donald Briggs Murray

William “Dave Owen

Martin Palmer

Nona Parker (Rhodes)

Walter “Mac” Parker

Mary Virginia Petty (Moore)

Thomas Willard Pool, Jr.

Neil Pope

Walter Powell

Sue Powell (Gough)

Denman Powers

Mary Price (Robertson)

Sandra Pulliam

Terry Rainey

Ina Clair Randall (Manney)

Gay Love Rawlings (Elliott)

Fay Reed (Palmer)

Linda Reidenbaugh (Burks)

Arlene Richardson (Miles)

Raymond Roberts

Arlene Richardson (Miles)

Mona Robinson

Sylvia Rucker (Hitt(

Shirley Rush (Guy)

Richard Russell

Carey Ann Sanford (Dalton)

Clyde Searcy

Peggy Sellers (Rayzor)

George Shannon

Sue Shannon (Martin)

Wanda Ruth Sharp (Dixon)

Sarah Shelby

Bobby Shepard

Carolyn Smith (Minor)

James Minor Smith

Grantison “Grant” Smith

Peggy Joyce Smith (King)

Ann Stallworth (McKeown)

Elmer Stodard

Tony Storey

Fred Stroble

Ann Spitzer

Carolyn Tanner Kozman

Tommy Temple

Joyce Thompson (Rogers)

Louis Thompson

Billy Tidwell

Fred Tingle

Al Trussell

Paul Walker

Rita Ward (Alexander)

James “Peewee” Warren

Jimmy Watson

Linda Watts (Taylor)

Danny Wedgeworth

Carl Weldon

Betty Lou White (Ross)

Mack White 

Mary Ann Williams (Wagner)

Meredith Williamson (Welch)

Carole Winslett (Dennis)

Edgar Lee Wright

Martha (Markline) Hopkins riding Wild Blue, the flying horse she painted for the Meridian airport.  It was originally inside, complete with carousel, decorated with her sky paintings.   This was part of the Carousels Abound project, which placed artists' painted horses around town to advertise our famous Dentzel Carousel.

'

'

Bass caught by Will Hudson

 

Will Hudson says:  nice bass I caught right off my boat dock on spinner bait lure.

Happy Birthday - January

 

Ethridge, Gerard D. (MHS) Jan. 27

Lewis, Jimmy (MHS) Jan. 25

Trussell, Al (MHS) (deceased) Jan. 21

Shaw, Charles P. (MHS) Jan. 16

Powers, Denman (MHS) Jan. 12 Brown, Richard Allen, MD (deceased) Jan. 4

Happy Birthday - December

 

Croxdale, Madeline Ray (MHS) Dec. 29

Griffin, Joe (MHS) Dec. 28

Weaver, Mary Anthony McLemore (MHS) Dec. 27

Gibson, Everett "Buddy" (MHS) Dec. .26

Thigpen, Morris (MHS) Dec. 25

Burnett, Ivan (MHS) Dec. 22

McCraney, Charles (MHS) (deceased) Dec. 18

Long, Tee Mann (MHS) Dec. 16

Bailey, Bob (MHS) Dec. 12

Smith, Minor (MHS) (deceased) Dec. 11

McDonald, Patsy (MHS) Dec. 11

White, Jo Ann Mills (MHS) (deceased) Dec. 10

Hermon Gray Johnson, III, Brother of Lynne Johnson Grimes

 Graveside services for Gray Johnson will begin Tuesday, March 16, 2021, at 11 a.m. at Long Creek Baptist Church cemetery on Causeyville Rd., with Fr. Augustine Palimattam from St Patrick Catholic Church officiating. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements.

Gray, 82, passed away at Rush Foundation Hospital on March 14, 2021, from COVID.
Gray was the son of Hermon Gray Johnson Jr., and Dorothy Duane Johnson, born April 11, 1938.
The Meridian High School quarterback and Northwood lifeguard caught the eye of Peggy Joyce Shirley, which led to over 60 years of marriage until her passing in 2016. After graduation, Gray enlisted in the Marine Reserve with his first employment being with his uncle, John O'Neil Johnson, at Mississippi Beverage Company. Gray found his true passion by being an engineer with the railroad with GM&O and ICG, even coming out of retirement a few times when needed. After retirement and wanting to stay busy, Gray worked part-time at Lake Shore Studio and also the main downtown post office.
One of his and Peggy Joyce's hobbies was going to flea-markets locally as well as all over the state, yet their biggest interest together was the love of animals. Friends would jokingly say, you both should have been veterinarians, as they would save, feed and care for literally any animal. Known for his card-sharp mind and domino playing, Gray was also a past member of the Meridian Coin Club, and he turned his hobby of coin collecting into being a certified Numismatic enthusiasts' appraiser. Gray would say that he could not hear thunder but had a sharp and keen eye for helping people with their coin collections.
Gray is survived by his children, Dianne Johnson (Donald) Kitchens, Cathy Ann Johnson and Larry Johnson; his four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren; his sister's, Lynne Johnson Grimes, Donna Jill Johnson and his brother, Duane O'Neil Johnson.
He is preceded in death by the love of his life, Peggy Joyce Shirley Johnson and his parents, Hermon Gray Johnson Jr, and Dorothy Duane Johnson.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be shared with East Mississippi Animal Rescue, 2440 North Hills Street - Suite 105-107 - Meridian, MS 39305 or a charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.robertbarhamffh.com.

Published on March 15, 2021

O God our Father, Creator of all the living,

we entrust to Your gentle care

all those we love who have gone before us;

and have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Eternal rest, grant unto Gray, O Lord,

and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May the souls of the faithful departed

through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

John Landreth Obituary, Brother of Ouida Landreth Tomlinson

 

John Landreth

FEBRUARY 8, 1949 – NOVEMBER 19, 2021

John Landreth, age 72, of Mansfield, Texas passed away on Friday, November 19, 2021. John was born February 8, 1949.

O God our Father, Creator of all the living, we entrust to
Your gentle care all those we love who have gone before us;
and have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again. . . .
Eternal rest, grant unto, John, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

Obituary of Tommy L. Ranager, Husband of Nancy Collier Ranager (March 22, 2010)

Long-time Millsaps athletic coach Tommy Ranager, 68, passed away Monday, March 22, 2010 at the Brandon Court Nursing Home in Brandon. Visitation will be held today from 10am. until the 11am funeral service at Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Brandon. Graveside services are 3pm. today at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Meridian.
Born in Meridian, Mississippi on September 19, 1941, to Cecil L. Ranager and Annell Hansen, Tommy grew up in Meridian and attended Meridian public schools where he excelled in athletics.
He graduated from Mississippi State University where he was a starting offensive guard and defensive linebacker for the Bulldog football team. While at State he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and MSU M Club.
He married Nancy Collier of Meridian and began his coaching career in Hazelhurst, Mississippi, where he coached football under Charles Calloway. His older son Cecil McKinley (Ken) was born in Hazlehurst and his younger son Thomas Clay was born soon after his move to Millsaps College.
In 1964 Tommy began a long, successful, happy career at Millsaps. For 25 years Tommy served as Coach Harper Davis' only assistant. Together they won games, broke records and touched the lives of hundreds of young men and women.
Coach Davis retired after 25 years, and Tommy became head football coach, concluding his career at Millsaps in 1996 after 32 years. His greatest joy was in knowing of the success and accomplishments of his former players and students.
During his tenure at Millsaps Coach Ranager taught health and physical education while also serving as the Majors' head baseball coach for nineteen years. He was succeeded by the current coach Jim Paige who was his former student and baseball player.
In 1975 Coach Ranager led the defensive unit to finish first in the nation in both scoring defense and total defense. In 1980 he led the defensive unit to set the Division III mark in scoring defense for a season by holding the opposition to 3.4 points per contest. In 1991 he led the football team in capturing its first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship.
Coach Ranager was inducted into the Millsaps Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995. In 2005 he was honored when Millsaps named the field house The Tommy Ranager Field House. An academic scholarship was also established in his name.
After retirement Tommy worked for Rankin County School District Alternative School under principal Jamie McKlemurry.
Tommy treasured his friends from all areas of life. He loved the outdoors and all it had to offer. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and sharing stories about past adventures. He was a wonderful cook and could easily draw a crowd whenever he fired up the grill or got out his gumbo pot -- the longer it took, the better!
He delighted in friends and family especially his six grandchildren.
He was a life-long Baptist and a charter member of Brandon Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by both parents. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Nancy Collier Ranager and his sons, Ken Ranager (Tana), Clay Ranager (Heather) and grandchildren Thomas Collier Ranager, Catherine McKinley Ranager, Cecil Hudson Ranager, Laura Preston Ranager, Mary Cecille Ranager and Jane Marie Ranager.
Other survivors include much loved stepmother, Helen Ranager; brothers, George Ranager (Beth) of Meridian, Ab Demoran and Louis Demoran of D'Iberville; and sisters, Cecilia Ranager Jackson of Meridian and Kandie Taylor (David) and Mary Scott of D'Iberville, Mississippi.
Memorials may be directed to Millsaps College for the Tommy Ranager Field House, Millsaps College Tommy Ranager Academic Scholarship or Brandon Baptist Church Building Fund.
The memory of a just man is a blessing." Proverb

Published by Clarion Ledger on Mar. 24, 2010.

O God our Father, Creator of all the living, we entrust to
Your gentle care all those we love who have gone before us;
and have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again. . . .
Eternal rest, grant unto, Tommy, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.