Mr. Willie Washington

Published 12:00 am Sunday, November 25, 2007

Jan. 6, 1922, was a blessed day when Willie Washington was born to the late Nathaniel Washington and Emma Maul-Washington. He was the ninth child of 10 siblings.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. today at Freedom Baptist Church, 1910 Summerville Road, Selma. Burial will be in Pointview Memory Gardens under the direction of Lewis Brothers Funeral Home.

He confessed Christ at an early age and later joined The Freedom Baptist Church family after retirement from his job in Cleveland and relocated to Selma.

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He served his country as a proud soldier in the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army. During his years of military service he received several medals of honor, including the Fidelity Efficiency Honor, European African Middle Eastern Campaign, World War II medal; National Defense Award, Korean Service Award, Submachine Gun Operator and Carbine.

He also was one of the Tuskegee airmen. He was married to the late Georgia Mae Green. To this union three children were born: Dorothy, Irene and Melvin.

He leaves to cherish his memories: two daughters, Dorothy Mae Washington-Morrison and Irene Washington &045;Dean, both of Detroit; a daughter-in-law, Doris Washington of Selma; a son-in-law, Michael Dean of Detroit; eight grandchildren, Mac Morrison Sr., Corey Morrison Sr. and Ivan Washington, all of Detroit; Derrick Washington, Ericka Washington (Jermaine), Aaron, La., Melody Washington (Anthony) Sellers, Natalie Washington and Ashley Washington of Selma; seven great-grandchildren, Mac Morrison Jr., Corey Morrison Jr., Kearsten Morrison, all of Detroit; Austin Washington, Aaron; a devoted sister, Estelle W. Ellis of Selma; a devoted niece, Dorothy M. Chatmon, Selma; two sisters-in-law, Ceola Washington of Birmingham; Ella Washington, Selma; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his son, Melvin; four brothers, James Washington, George Washington, Robert Washington and Reuben Washington; and four sisters, Louise Washington, Dora Washington-Chatmon, Rosa Washington and Corine Washington-Welch.

Ms. Mary Parrish Butler

Ms. Mary Parrish Butler, 53, died Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007, at her home.

Services will be 1 p.m., Saturday at Antioch Baptist with the Rev. Curtis Williams officiating. Burial will be in Antioch Cemetery under the direction of Lewis Brothers Funeral Home Inc.

Lt. Col. (Ret.)Fred Thomas Eanes Jr.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. &045; Fred Thomas Eanes Jr., Lt. Colonel United States Air Force, retired died peacefully on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007, at the age of 90 years in Nashville, Tenn. Graveside services were Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2007 at the Rucker-Donnell Plot in Evergreen Cemetery in Murfreesboro, Tenn. with military honors.

The services were conducted by the Rev. James Bachmann, Jr. of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Nashville, where Col. Eanes and his wife, Dorothy Donnell Eanes. were members.

Col. Eanes was preceded in death by his wife in 2003 after 57 years of marriage. Colonel Eanes was also pre-deceased by his sister, Mary Eanes &8220;Sis&8221; Wood of Polk.

He is survived by his half brother, Jerry Meeks (Ann) of Delray Beach, Fla.,

his brother-in-law, George Wood of Polk; his son, Fred T. Eanes III (Mary) of Trinidad, Colo.; his daughter, Mary Anne Eanes Harwell (Jonny) of Nashville; grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Colorado and California.

Col. Eanes was born and grew up in Selma attended Auburn University and thereafter joined the Air Force. From that moment, he was career military.

During World War II, Col. Eanes was stationed in England where he flew in B-24’s as a member of the 42nd Bomber Squadron commanded by Jimmy Stewart.

He flew well over the regulation number of combat missions in the European theater.

He flew combat and reconnaissance missions in the Far East during the Korean conflict.

And in 1966, he requested and was appointed to a position with the Strategic Air Command (SAC), flying B-52s over Vietnam and other areas of the world where the vital interests of the United States were at risk.

He was decorated numerous times, receiving among other medals the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Upon his retirement from the Air Force, in 1971, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for service to his country, having distinguished himself in the performance of outstanding service to the United States, as Chief, Operations Plans Division, 509 Bombardment Wing, Pease Air Force Base, New Hampshire…..he consistently displayed superior professional skills, leadership and initiative in the performance of his duty.

His rapid response to impending problem areas and institution of corrective measures were important contributions to the 509th Bombardment Wing’s capability to execute the War Plan.

The singularly distinctive accomplishments of

Col.

Eanes culminate a distinguished career in service to his country and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. As was the case with many members of his generation, Col. Eanes was reticent to discuss his tour of duty in the Air Force, his remarks generally being limited to expressions of gratitude for the opportunity to serve his country.

After retirement during an interview about his service career, he was asked why he chose active service in the Air Force as his lifetime work.

His simple, very straightforward response was that he believed it was the right thing to do.

For years he and his wife Dorothy faithfully and with great enthusiasm attended reunions of the 42nd Bomber Squadron in the United States and abroad. These reunions were all part of the world wide travels, that as a couple, they so loved; an activity that they pursued with great joy.

They were both, but especially Col. Eanes, connoisseurs of good music, the big band sounds of the 40s and 50s, symphony, opera and especially the works of Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Even after his wife’s death, Colonel Eanes continued to travel, scheduling his trips around music performances on board ship and in various other venues.

He was in Killarney, Ireland, enjoying local music there, when he fell suffering a broken hip, an injury from which he was unable to recover.

Honorary pallbearers are Drs. Anderson, Van Hook, Kyriakidis, William Frist, William Edwards, Newton Lovvorn, John Morris, Nursing staff and caregivers from the fifth floor of Saint Thomas Hospital, Andrew Jarratt, Thomas Hord, Jerry Meeks, George Wood Sr. and the surviving members of the 42nd Bomber Squadron.

Active pallbearers are George Wood Jr., Michael Wood, Tim Wood, James Neeley, John Howell, Bruce Hughes, Jonathan Harwell Sr. and Jr. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Girls on the Run (GOTR) of Nashville, The Nashville Humane Shelter or Covenant Presbyterian Church, Nashville, Tenn.

Mrs. Sarah Osborne

Sherman

Mrs/. Sarah Osborne Sherman, 83, of Selma died Friday, Nov. 23, 2007, at a local nursing home.

Graveside services will be 2 p.m., Tuesday, at New Live Oak Cemetery with the Rev. Jack Lovelace officiating and Lawrence Brown Service Funeral Home directing.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday.

Survivors include two children, John Nick Sherman (Susan) of Selma and Stephen Sherman (Natasha) of Pratville; grandchildren, Jennifer Sherman Threadgill (Brandon), Stephanie Sherman and Sarah Marie Sherman.

Mrs. Sherman was preceded in death by her husband, John Frank Sherman.

Ms. Marie J. Kemp

Ms. Marie J. Kemp of Selma died Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2007.

Services will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday at Mt. Ararat Missionary Baptist Church. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery.

Ms. Lizzie Scott

ORRVILLE &045; Ms. Lizzie Scott died Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007.

Arrangements are incomplete.

Mr. Roy Parker

Mr. Roy Parker of Selma died Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007.

Arrangements are incomplete.

Ms. Annie Williams

Ms. Annie Williams of Selma died Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.