LIEUTENANT GENERAL ORREN RAY WHIDDON Lieutenant General Orren Ray “Cotton” Whiddon, 81, died March 20, 2016. Interment will be in Joaquin Cemetery. He was born March 10, 1935 to Cynthia Betty Cockrell and Orren Cox Whiddon in Joaquin, Texas.  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. He was preceded in death by, Parents; Brother, Richard Abner Whiddon. Survivors include, Wife, Harriot McKinney Whiddon; Son, Orren Prentice Whiddon of Artemis, Pennsylvania; Daughters, Laura Whiddon Shortell & husband, Joe Ross Stutts of Dallas, Texas, Barbara Whiddon Chandler & husband, James B. Chandler of Allen, Texas; Sister, Susan K. Whiddon, Joaquin, Texas; Sisters-in-law, Susan P. McKinney of Nacogdoches, Texas, Jean T. Whiddon of Hideaway, Texas. Online condolences can be sent at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com Gipson Funeral Home, Lufkin, Texas

WELDON GREER, SR. Weldon “Banny” Greer, Sr., 80, of Center, died March 20, 2016 in Nacogdoches Medical Center. Interment was in St John’s Cemetery (Africa), Shelby County. He was preceded in death by, Mother, Lorine Gaddis; Father, Leo Greer; Daughter, Shelda Lynn Greer; Brothers, Valton “Cude” Greer, Rayford Greer, Prentice Greer. Survivors include, Wife, Patsy Greer of Center; Son, Weldon Greer, Jr.; Stepchildren, Gustarvus Wayne (Sharetta) Netherly, Patricia Nash, William (Pearlie) Nash, Channing (Mellody) Daniels; Brothers, Felton Greer, Sr., James Greer. Hicks Funeral Home, Center, Texas

LAVERNE STROUD RICHARDS Laverne Stroud Richards, 92, of Many, Louisiana, died March 21, 2016 in Palestine. Interment will be in Oaklawn Memorial Park, Center, Texas. She was born September 11, 1923 in Many, Louisiana to J. P. Stroud and Minnie Stroud. She was preceded in death by, Parents; Husband, M. H. Richards; Sisters, Vernon Bridges, Georgia Cook, Erma Cooper; Brothers, Perry Stroud, Howard Stroud, Sr., James B. Stroud. Survivors include, Son, Randy Gandy; Sister, Jonnie Hossler. Watson and Sons Funeral Home, Center, Texas

VIRGIE FAYE YARBERRY Virgie Faye Yarberry, 79, of Carthage, Texas, died March 11, 2016 in Longview, Texas. She was born July 01, 1936 in Timpson to Weldon Wade Smith and Lula Faye Hunt Smith. She was a 1954 graduate of Tenaha High School. She was preceded in death by, Parents; Sister, Geneva Smith Rowe Loche. Survivors include, Husband, Tommy Yarberry of Carthage; Sons, Ricky Yarberry & wife, Teri of Carthage, David Yarberry & wife, Jennifer of Tyler; Daughter, Becky Yarberry Taylor & husband, Ray of Carthage; Sister, Yvonne Smith Ritter of Broken Bow, Oklahoma. Online condolences can be sent at www.hawthornfuneralhome.com Hawthorn Funeral Home, Carthage, Texas

L. J. JENKINS L. J. Jenkins, 61, of Joaquin, Texas, died March 16, 2016 at his residence. Interment was in Lane Town Cemetery, San Augustine. Survivors include, Wife, Mary McCollister of Joaquin; Sons, Hitachi (Candy) Jenkins of Joaquin, Cloish Jenkins of Joaquin; Joshua (Lanieba) McCollister of Joaquin; Daughter, Angelia (Xavier) Gentry of Joaquin. Community Funeral Home, Center, Texas

STANLEY BURGAY Stanley Burgay, 62, of Timpson, died March 21, 2016 in Center. Interment was in Blair Cemetery, Shelby County. He was born November 28, 1953 in Shelby County to Dallas Burgay and Mildred Estelle Scott Burgay. He retired from Center Police Department after 30 years of service. Following his retirement, he continued in law enforcement by serving as Constable in Timpson for 12 years. He was preceded in death by, Father, Dallas Burgay; Sister, Ann McAleander. Survivors include, Wife, Betty Burgay of Timpson; Sons, Stephen Burgay & wife, Belinda of Timpson, Chuck Kay & wife, Kathy of Huxley; Daughter, Selisha Cockrell & husband, Jay Dee of Joaquin; Mother, Estelle Burgay of Garrison; Sisters, Judy Vaughn of Timpson, Yvonne Ramsey of Timpson; Sisters-in-law, Barbara Bossier & husband, James of Logansport, Louisiana, Cherry Hipp & husband, Ricky of Center, Maryland Williamson of Tenaha. Online condolences can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com Watson and Sons Funeral Home, Center, Texas

DAVID LAMAR HENDERSON David Lamar Henderson, 76, of Center, died March 18, 2016 at Nacogdoches Medical Center. Interment will be in Westview Cemetery, Center, Texas. Survivors include, Sons, David Henderson of Center, Larry (Myrtle) Osby of Center; Daughter, Yvonne Suell of Dallas. Community Funeral Home, Center, Texas

IRENE FLURRY HENDRICKS Irene Flurry Hendricks, 84, of Lufkin, died March 19, 2016 in Lufkin. Interment was in Glendale Cemetery. She was born August 26, 1931 in the Shawnee Prairie Community of Angelina County, Texas to Hoyt and Nona Bell Havard Flurry. She was preceded in death by, Parents; Husband, Walter Arnold Hendricks, Jr.; Sisters, Ida Flurry, Lorene Boulware; Brothers, Wiley Flurry, J. C. Flurry; Son-in-law, Glenn Dunn. Survivors include, Sons, David Hendricks of Lufkin, Ralph Hendricks & wife, Jan of Lufkin, Ronny Hendricks & wife, Laurie of Etoile, Joe Hendricks of Lufkin; Daughters, Linda Dunn of Hudson, Judy Doyle & husband, Roger of Center. Online condolences can be sent at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, Texas

ALLEN DALE ANDERSON Allen Dale Anderson, 83, of Huxley, died March 17, 2016 at Nacogdoches Medical Center. A memorial graveside will be held at a later date in Strong Cemetery, Shelby County. He was born March 31, 1932 in Champaign County, Illinois to Ivan and Mary Austin Anderson.

BECKY JEAN SAMFORD PERMENTER Becky Jean Samford Permenter, 70, of Center, died March 20, 2016 in Nacogdoches. Interment was in Folsom Chapel Cemetery, Shelby County. She was born November 29, 1945 in Center to E. B. Samford, Jr. and Gloria J. Beckham Horton. She was preceded on death by, Father, E. B. Samford, Jr.; Brothers, Terry Samford, Donnie Parker. Survivors include, Mother, Gloria Beckham Horton of Tyler; Sons, Ronny Bennefield & wife, Robin of Atlanta, Steve Bennefield & wife, Christine of Ben Wheeler, Brian Bennefield & wife, Robin of Texarkana, Hurchell Permenter & wife, Marina of Center; Sisters, Linda Horton, Cathy Williams, Deborah White, Jena Fuller, Debra Jo Diverdi; Brothers, Don Horton, Clint Parker. Watson and Sons Funeral Home, Center, Texas

HAZEL MARIE COOPER HAESSLY Hazel Marie Cooper Haessly, 58, of Timpson, died March 19, 2016 at her residence. Interment was in Mt. Olive Cemetery, Shelby County. She was born October 05, 1957 in Houston to Tubby Haessly and Jackie Sanford Haessly. She was preceded in death by, Parents; Husband, Billy Whittington; Son, Louie Cooper, Jr.; Sister, Georgia Taylor. Survivors include, Husband, Mike Miller; Daughters, April Gaddy & husband, Chris of Timpson, Ashley Nichols & husband, Robert of Troup; Sisters, Janelle Boyd & husband, Larry of Haughton, Louisiana, Dianne Cole & husband, Jerry of Ratcliff, Sheila Jurney & husband, Ronnie of Logansport, Louisiana; Brothers, Johnny Haessly & wife, Dana of Joaquin, Robert Haessly & wife, Felicia of Timpson, Ricky Haessly of Center, Jerry Sanford & wife, Cindy of Center, Dewayne Sanford & wife, Samantha of Center. Watson and Sons Funeral Home, Center, Texas

CECIL JONES Cecil Jones, 88, of Center, died March 22, 2016, at his residence. Interment will be in Oaklawn Memorial Park, Center, Texas. He was born June 16, 1927, in Louise, to Ira W. Jones and Pearl Goode Jones. He was preceded in death by, Parents; Wife, Dorothy Jones; Brothers, Leroy Jones, Raymond Lee Jones. Survivors include, Son, Larry “Dude” Jones & wife, Susan, of Tenaha; Grandchildren, Justin Jones of Tenaha, Bailey Jones of Tenaha. Online condolences can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com    Watson and Sons Funeral Home, Center, Texas

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