BAXTER E. NICHOLS
Baxter E. Nichols, 85, passed away Tuesday, November 26, 2013 at Tyler Holmes Hospital, Winona, MS.
Graveside services were held Saturday, November 30, 2013 at Belzoni City Cemetery, Belzoni, MS.
Sparkey, as he was known to family and friends, was the third of four sons born to Marvin L. and Lucille H. Nichols.  He graduated from Belzoni High School and Delta State College with a degree in accounting.  He worked as an accountant and an independent insurance agent.
He was a veteran of the U. S. Navy serving in the Korean War.
Baxter resided in Clinton, MS with his wife Alma on their beloved Lake Drive.  They attended Faithview Baptist Church in Raymond, MS.
Baxter was blessed with wonderful friends from Lake Drive, Clinton, MS and Faithview Baptist Church, Raymond, MS that loved and cared for him after Alma’s death.
He was preceded in death by his parents Marvin and Lucille Nichols; his wife, Alma Nichols; son, Jerry Nichols; baby daughter born in 1955; and brothers, Clyde, Blevin and Mike Nichols.
Survivors include stepsons, Larry Thames of Houston, TX and Earl Thames of Dallas, TX; five grandchildren; one great grandchild and several nieces and nephews.
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Dwayne “Pete” Simmons Gammons
Dwayne “Pete” Simmons Gammons, 83, of Belzoni went to be with the Lord on Monday, November 25. Funeral service was Wednesday, November 27th at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Belzoni. Interment was at the Belzoni City Cemetery. Burton Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.  
Pete was born November 11, 1930 in Kingston, TN to James W. “Bill” and Mary Louise Simmons Gammons. He was a friend to all and stranger to none. Pete loved his family and friends, but above all he loved Jesus, his Lord and Savior.
He was a long time resident of Belzoni. Raised on a farm, he made farming his career and then worked in the equipment auction business. Pete graduated from Belzoni High School in 1949. He then served in the National Guard and was mobilized for the Korean War. After the war, he finished his education in agriculture at Mississippi State.
He met and married Nellie Ruth Powell Gammons of Indianola in 1961. They shared 52 years of marriage. Pete was a long time member of First Baptist Church of Belzoni; until failing health brought him to the Martha Coker Center in Yazoo City. He then attended First Baptist of Yazoo. He lived the remainder of his life in the center, making many friends in the Luse House and being well taken care of by the staff.
He is survived by his wife, Nellie Ruth Powell Gammons; son, Dwayne Simmons Gammons, Jr. (Carolyn) of Hazlehurst, MS; daughter, Janice Kay “Missy” Gammons Waldrup of Madison, MS; brother, Thomas Roy “Bay” Gammons (Mary John) of Belzoni; sister, Billie Marie Rodgers (Mike) of Daleville, AL; grandchildren, Max Gammons, Hayden Tisdale, Sam and Lindsey Waldrup.; and many nieces and nephews.  An online guestbook may be signed at www.burtonfuneralhome.net.
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Clarence McClain, Jr.
Clarence McClain, Jr., age 60, of Indianola, passed away Thursday, November 28, 2013 at Baptist Medical Center in Jackson.  He was born in Shaw, Mississippi on May 16, 1953, and was the son of Clarence and Freddie Klemme McClain.  Mr. McClain loved his family.  He was married to his wife Diane for nineteen years.  As a father, he was the best friend any son could ever have, and the most amazing daddy any girl could ever be blessed with.  He was so very proud of his children and grandchildren, along with his extended family members.  Mr. McClain loved seeing children have fun, and loved seeing them succeed in any area of their lives. 
For thirty-two years, with hard work and dedication, he owned and operated Indianola Electric Company.  Mr. McClain was a man of his word.  If he said it, you could count on it.  He was extremely loyal and dependable, always putting others first. In his spare time, he loved to hunt and fish.  He loved going to church, and was a member of First Baptist Church of Indianola.  Mr. McClain really appreciated everything his caregivers did for him while trying to restore his health. His kind heart and loving nature will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
He was preceded in death by his parents.  He is survived by his wife, Diane McClain of Indianola; son, Chris McClain of Indianola; step sons, Adam Johnson (Cindy) of Indianola and J.R. Johnson, Jr. (Audrey) of Grenada; one daughter, Vanessa McClain Harris of Indianola; one sister, Bonnie Pearl Thornton (Guy) of Ruleville; and six grandchildren, Nathan Carl Harris III, Christian O'Brien Harris, Sebastian Haynes Harris, Bailee Chandler Johnson, Sadler Austin Pyron, and Adam Lewis Johnson, Jr.
Funeral services were held at Sunday, December 1, 2013 at 3:00 p.m.  First Baptist Church, Indianola.  Interment followed in Indianola Memorial Gardens, all under the direction of Burton Funeral Home, Indianola.  An online guest book may be signed at www.burtonfuneralhome.net.
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BERTHA CLAUDINE RODGERS NEWBAKER
Bertha Claudine Rodgers Newbaker was born on August 23, 1935 to Barbara Louise and Major Lee Rodgers. She went home to be with Our Lord on Tuesday, November 26, 2013. She was 78 years old.
Funeral services were held Saturday, November 30, 2013 at 11 a.m. at Stricklin-King Funeral Home Chapel in Yazoo City with burial in the Phoenix Cemetery.  Brother Robert Ragland officiated.
Claudine was a homemaker most of her life, working outside the home briefly at Jockey International in Belzoni.  Her greatest joy was raising her children, keeping a clean house and cooking delicious homemade meals (especially her chicken dumplings/chocolate pies) for her husband and family. She was a dear friend to all who knew her and devoted her life to helping people in need. She would give you the shirt off her back, if you needed it. She was an active member of Calvary Baptist church where she raised her 5 children, her late husband served as deacon and her youngest son, John, surrendered to preach.  Claudine was a Born Again Christian. She loved her Lord and was a Praying Mother.  She faithfully tithed and was blessed for her service and dedication.
She was affectionately known by her nieces and nephews as “Aunt Deanie” and her great grandchildren called her Gran- Deanie.
Claudine was preceded in death by her husband, J. R. Newbaker; her     parents, Barbara Louise House Rodgers and Major Lee Rodgers; five sisters, Annie Newbaker, Mildred Sanders, Velma Cummings, Louise Tucker and Lillian Millwood and a daughter, Carmen Elaine Newbaker.
She is survived by her daughter, Pam (Steve) Brown of Belzoni; three sons, Ray (Pam ) Newbaker of Birdsboro, PA, Edward Newbaker of Satartia and John (Shelia) Newbaker of Collinsville;  12 Grandchildren, 10 Great Grandchildren, 2 Step Granddaughters and  3 Step Great  Grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Brian Outlaw, Lane Outlaw, Calvin May, Justin Newbaker, Lamar Newbaker and Tim Millwood.
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