Month: December 2021

Service for Valerie Gooden Wise, age 60, was held Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Toxey, AL with Pastor Kenneth Gray officiating.  Interment followed in the church cemetery.

Valerie was born on February 12, 1961 to Rosa Gooden.  She entered eternal rest on December 3, 2021.

Valerie was a graduate of Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia, PA.  After she graduated, she worked at Elmar Window Fashion.  Soon after, she married her husband, Judson Wise, and moved to Melvin, AL.  At age 44, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, but she did not allow the diagnosis to stop her from living.  She spent her time travelling and watching her grandchildren.

Valerie is survived by her mother, Rosa Gooden; two daughters, Tyeshia Tillman, Karleafa Wise; four grandchildren, Marquise, Janiyah, Jacolbi, and Jabari Grasham; four siblings, Regina Gooden, Darlene (Michael) Simmons, Teresa Gooden, Willie Gooden, Jr.; and several nieces and nephews.

Service for Arthur Lee Duff was held Saturday, December 4, 2021 at 11:00am at Fairview Missionary Baptist Church with Bishop Samuel Duff officiating.  Interment followed in the church cemetery.

Arthur was born January 6, 1955 to the late James Duff and Essie Mae Turner-Duff of Mt. Sterling, AL.  He departed this life on November 22, 2021 at Rush Foundation Hospital in Meridian, MS.  He was preceded in death by his father, James Duff and two brothers, Rubin James and Bennie Lee.

Arthur accepted Christ at an early age and joined Fairview Missionary Baptist Church where he remained a member.  He attended Choctaw County Training School and later joined the workforce.  He was gainfully employed until his health began to fail working as a custodian in the Choctaw County School System, a woodsman, and as a construction worker.

Arthur leaves to cherish his memories: his mother, Essie Mae Turner-Duff; five brothers, Eugene (Joann) Duff, Mizell Duff, Domark Duff, all of Mt. Sterling, AL, Roy Lee Duff, Meridian, MS, Bishop Samuel (Gloria) Duff, Livingston, AL; an adopted brother, Michael Terry Williams, Mt. Sterling, AL; four sisters, Mary Bell Jackson, Elsie Rene Johnson, both of Mt. Sterling, AL, Creola (Richard) Young, Meridian, MS, Lora Ann Brothers, Greenville, MS; two aunts, Zella Mae Duff, Montgomery, AL and Dorothy Duff-Rodgers, Birmingham, AL; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.