Former business owner buried
Martha Bishop – Dec. 6, 1941 – Dec. 19, 2024
Martha Nell Maness Ross Bishop, 83, went to be with the Lord on Dec. 19, 2024. Her family and friends honored her memory with funeral services at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, at Shackelford Funeral Home’s Casey Chapel in Henderson with burial at Clarks Creek Cemetery. Martha, or Mo to her grandkids was born on Dec. 6, 1941, to Grady and Bonnie Sanson Maness in the Glendale community of Chester County. She was the seventh of eight children. She married young, running off at 15 to Corinth, Miss., to marry Leo Ross. They made their home in the Glendale community and raised three children: Brenda, Deborah and Greg. In her 40s, she earned her GED, a proud moment for her family. She and Leo were members of Clarks Creek Primitive Baptist Church and owned Farmer Supply on Front Street for many years. After Leo’s illness forced the sale of the store, she worked at the Chester County Farmers Co-op where she knew everybody in town. After Leo’s death, she worked for Maytag in Jackson until retiring in 2003. She told people she was going to spend time gardening, but her family knew she was going to spend her free time watching “Judge Judy.” She married Charles Bishop in 2005 before his passing later that year. She left a legacy of love. She loved big, laughed often and lived for her family. She was born to be a grandmother and embraced the role with her whole being. She covered her grandchildren with lipstick marks for two decades and a blanket of love their entire lives. If she thought her grandchildren were wonderful, she later discovered her great- and great-great-grandchildren hung the moon. She was the family’s heartbeat. Mo was a good Southern cook and spent hours preparing food for her family. Her cornbread dressing could have won awards and made at least one person cry. She was one of the first in the family to get a microwave — a huge 1980s Christmas surprise. She found happiness in a cup of coffee, a bite of something sweet and a nice chat. In her last years, she drove while sitting on two pillows to see over the steering wheel, but in her earlier years, she barreled around on a bicycle, picked cotton and line danced. She was beautiful her entire life, and her family joked she had the same hairstyle for 40 years. Until her later years, she carried a purse the size of a small suitcase and as heavy as a bowling ball. Inside were lint-flavored mints, 27 tissues, multiple wallets, a hair covering and, at one time, a gallon of water from the Grizzly River Rampage ride at Opryland. She owned at least 10 flashlights, and you could count on her to have one ready. She was a bright light.
She loved seeing her family grow, welcoming each new generation with open arms and kisses. She met Carlos Schmitt in 2013 and sewed his family into her circle. She cherished his companionship and love. Never a cat lady, she had two adored cats. She passed out candy to hundreds of kids every Halloween. She traveled, even to Disney World, but the happiest place on earth for her was with her family.
She is survived by three children, Brenda (Eddie) Matthews of Henderson, Deborah (David) Gurley of Mifflin and Greg (Sheri) Ross of Broken Arrow, Okla.; five grandchildren, Nicole (Ashley) Canaday of Henderson, Cherish (Brian Dunn) Matthews of Springfield, Dave Plunkett of Henderson, Taylor (Emily) Ross of Halls and Shiann (Tyler) Cupples of Henderson; eight great-grandchildren, Mary “Katee” Kuykendall of Henderson, Willow, Lily, Bonnie and August Dunn, all of Springfield, and Leo, Hazel and Stella Ross, all of Halls; two step-great-grandchildren, Hayden and AJ Canaday; great-great-grandson, Walter Glover; sisters, Ruby Sue Malone and Dorothy Jane Miller; many nieces and nephews; and special friend, Carlos Schmitt, his daughter, Carla (Mike) Schmitt, and grandson, Keegan Schmitt, of Henderson. She was preceded in death by her parents, Grady and Bonnie Maness; husbands, Leo Ross and Charles Bishop; brothers, Randolph and Kenneth Maness; and sisters Rebecca Wallace, Bonnie Walker and Kathy Busby.
RAY BUSHNELL – July 21, 1945 – Dec. 25, 2024
Hunter Ray Bushnell, 79, of Reagan passed away Dec. 25, 2024, at his home. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Shackelford Funeral Directors – East Main Chapel with Bobby Rushing officiating. Burial will follow at Roby Cemetery. The family will receive friends at East Main Chapel from 5-8 p.m. on Friday and from noon-2 p.m. on Saturday. He was born July 21, 1945, in Henderson, the son of the late Milo Ray and Odell Lavelle Pusser Bushnell. He attended Cash School House. He joined the U.S. Army in 1967 and served two years during the Vietnam War. He earned several metals including a Purple Heart. He married Brenda Smith, and they spent 45 years together before her passing in 2019.
He worked for B & B Sawmill for many years. He enjoyed repairing and collecting old ford cars and watching wrestling. He was a Baptist in Belief. He is survived by two sons, Toby Bushnell of Reagan and Tracy Bushnell of Lexington; a daughter, Trixie Matthews of Milledgeville; four grandchildren, Hunter Bushnell, Milo Bushnell, Levi Bushnell and Desirae Wagnon; three step-grandchildren, Alexandria Bushnell, Kaleb Schuerenberg and Dakota Walden; three great-grandchildren, Chase Bushnell, Naomi Bushnell and Raylynn Wagnon; and two sisters, Nellie Richardson of Henderson and Kathy Riley of Henderson. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife, Brenda Smith Bushnell.
Charles Lane – Feb. 22, 1950 – Dec. 21, 2024
Charles Franklin Lane, 74, of Henderson, died Dec. 21, 2024, at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. There will be no services at this time. He was born Feb. 22, 1950, in Indianapolis, Ind., the son of the late Charles R. and Alma I. Boler Lane. He was a Vietnam Veteran, having served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He loved his family, guns, fishing, helicopters, and riding his tractor on his land.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth Ann Rankin Lane of Henderson; a daughter, Tonya M. Lane of Henderson; three grandchildren, Zach Pursell, Chuck Pursell and Kayley Salango; and six great-grandchildren, Raeannah Finch, Bentlee King, Mia Henderson, Kamden Salango, Jax Pursell, and Korbyn Salango. He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Tenisha G. Pursell.
KIM TUMMINS – Nov. 11, 1973 – Dec. 17, 2024
Kimberly Mae Parrish Tummins, 51, of Henderson passed away Dec. 17, 2024, at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. Funeral services were 2 p.m. Sunday at Shackelford Funeral Directors – Crook Avenue. Burial followed at Chester County Memory Gardens. The family received friends at Crook Avenue from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. service time on Sunday. She was born Nov. 11, 1973, in Oak Park, Ill., the daughter of Karen Vandiver Ross and the late Odell Douglas Parrish. She grew up and attended school in Henderson. She married Anthony “Tony” Tummins on July 30, 1994. They made their home in Henderson. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and daughter, who loved taking care of her family. She loved shopping, vacationing and spending time with her grandbabies and her grandmother whom she took care of for several years. She is survived by her husband, Anthony “Tony” Garrett Tummins of Henderson; son, Cody Garrett Tummins of Ramer; daughter, Kelsey Breanna Tummins of Henderson; her mother, Karen Delois Vandiver Ross of Henderson; and three grandchildren, Eli Garrett Tummins, Callie Lorraine Tummins and Joshua Cody Horne, Jr. She was preceded in death by her father, Odell Douglas Parrish; brother, Darrell Douglas Parrish; and stepfather, Dennis Wayne Ross.
TERRY MELTON – May 9, 1947 – Dec. 18, 2024
Willard Terry Melton, 77, passed away Dec. 18, 2024, at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. Funeral services were 11 a.m. Saturday at Shackelford Funeral Directors – East Main Chapel with burial following at Unity Cemetery with Military Honors. The family received friends at East Main Chapel from 4-8 p.m. on Friday. He was born May 9, 1947.
Former business owner buried
SHANE CLAYTON – Feb. 20, 1970 – Dec. 24, 2024
Mitchell Shane Clayton, 54, of Bethel Springs passed away Dec. 24, 2024, at his home.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Shackelford Funeral Directors – Crook Avenue with Bro. Jerry McCorkle officiating. Burial will follow at Finger Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Crook Avenue from 5-8 p.m. on Friday. He was born Feb. 20, 1970, in Jackson, the son of Judy Carol Beene Clayton and the late Gayle Mitchell Clayton. He grew up in Henderson and graduated from Chester County High School in 1988. He worked for several local industries but did mechanic work much of his life. He did carpentry work and owned his own mechanic shop Henderson Service Center in Henderson for several years. He later worked as an adjuster at Duro Bag in Jackson. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his sons and attending his kid’s ballgames and Dixie Youth. He also had a green thumb and always raised a big garden, both vegetables and flowers. He raised quail with his dad and then later raised chickens as a hobby. He enjoyed going to the river and loved his family and spending time with them. He was member of Victory Baptist Church. He is survived by his mother, Judy Carol Beene Clayton of Bethel Springs; two sons, Joshua Mitchell (Sarah) Clayton of Henderson and River Dalton Clayton of Reagan; a daughter, Madeline Ann (Fiancé, Blake Smith) Clayton of Beech Bluff; three grandchildren, Alaina Clayton, Lilah Clayton and Everett Clayton; and a lifelong friend, Wayne Patterson of Henderson. He was preceded in death by his father and two brothers, Craig Lavoy Clayton and Brandon Clayton.
