Idella M. Baldridge, 78, of Benoit died Sunday, November 29, 2009, at her home.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Ray Brooks School in Benoit, with the Rev. Gene Fowler officiating. Burial will follow in Asia Cemetery in Stringtown, under the direction of Redmon Funeral Home in Greenville.
Visitation will be from 1-5 p.m. Friday in the funeral home chapel and from 10-11 a.m. Saturday at the school. Family hour will be from 5-6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
She is survived by children, Olivia Sproulls of Scott, Ophelia Baldridge and Gloria Matthews, both of Benoit, and Vernell Baldridge of Cleveland; sisters, Thelma Tobey of Benoit and Earlene Speed of Briston, N.Y.; brothers, Theodore Tobey of Dallas, Texas, and F.L. Matthews of Benoit; and 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Lillian McClinton, 77, of Clarksdale died Saturday, November 28.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Paul Baptist Church, west of Shaw, with the Rev. Lawrence Dangerfield and Rev. Eddie Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in St. John Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 1-5 p.m. Friday at Brinson Funeral Home in Cleveland and from 12:15-1 p.m. Saturday at the church. Family hour will be from 6-7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
She is survived by her husband, Robert McClinton Sr. of Clarksdale; five daughters, Anne McClinton, Willie B. Johnson of Madison, Wis., Lillian Johnson of University Park, Ill., Tachora Morrow of Aurora, Ill., and Virgia Jackson Jr. of Shaw; two sons, Vertis McClinton of Joliet, Ill., and Mitchell Johnson of Madison, Wis.; an adopted daughter, Lucy Coburn of Clarksdale; three adopted sons, Scott Smith of University Park, Ill., Willie Earl Ford and Johnny Kimble, both of Greenville; seven grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren; and a host of cousins, other family members and friends.

Janice Marie Gant, 54, of Cleveland died Sunday, November 29, 2009, at the University Medical Center in Jackson.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Ray Funeral Home with Rev. Phyllis Milan officiating. Burial will follow in North Cleveland Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Ray Funeral Home in Cleveland.
Mrs. Gant was born on January 8, 1955, to James Virgil Mullins and Mildred Skellion. She married Ronnie L. Gant on June 24, 1972, in Cleveland.
She is preceded in death by her father, James Virgil Mullins; and stepfather, Delbert E. Skellion.
Survivors include her husband, Ronnie L. Gant of Cleveland; mother, Mildred Skellion of Cleveland; three daughters, Tanya L. Gant, Heather L. Gant and Brandy N. Gant, all of Cleveland; a brother, Larry Mullins of Drew; and one sister, Becky Mullins Brock of Cleveland; and four grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Glenn Pilgrim, Chris Mullins, Tyler Killingsworth, Randy McCaffrey, Tommy McCaffrey and Jeff Mullins.
Honorary pallbearers are Marrie Mullins and Johnny Doty.
Online guestbook may be viewed and signed at www.rayfuneralhome.net

Martha Myers Carpenter Tipton died on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, at the Orchard Nursing Home in Jackson.
Services for will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the First Baptist Church in Cleveland with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Cleveland Cemetery with Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
She was born in Cleveland on June 29, 1920, to Estelle and William Henry Myers. She graduated from Cleveland High School and then Judson College in Alabama. She taught at the demonstration school at Delta State in Cleveland and in Birmingham, Ala. During World War II, she worked in the Signal Corps in Washington, D.C.
She married William Neel Carpenter, M.D., in 1947 and moved with him in 1951 to Union City, Tenn., where she lived for 50 years.
Dr. Carpenter died in 1974 and she married Winston Tipton in 1988. During her years in Union City, she was an active member of First Baptist Church where she served in the Sunday School and Womens' Missionary Union as well as in many of the childrens' activities. She also was a member of the Third Review Club, the Obion County Hospital Auxiliary and the D.A.R.
Mrs. Tipton was preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands, her oldest son William Neel Carpenter Jr. and her three sisters, Mrs. Sarah Myers Phillips (Robert) of Birmingham, Ala., Mrs. Estelle Myers Bedwell (Cullen) of Cleveland and Mrs. Mary Jane Myers Nichols (Carl) of Leland.
She is survived by her daughter Stella Twilley of Chattanooga, Tenn., her son, Phillip Carpenter and wife Leslie of Jackson, and her daughter-in-law Lane Carpenter of Signal Mountain, Tenn.; 15 grandchildren, Nancy, Rachel and Matthew Twilley, all of Chattanooga, Tenn., Sarah, Winship, Marie, Will, and Henry Carpenter, all of Chattanooga and Signal Mountain, Tenn., Myers Carpenter and wife Laura of Harrisonburg, Va., Parks Carpenter and wife Liz of Wilmington, N.C., and Rebecca Jemison and husband Patrick of Huntsville, Ala., Rob, William, Myers and Annie Carpenter, all of Jackson; and four great-grandchildren, Jack Winston Waymire of Chattanooga, Tenn., Lillian Carpenter of Harrisonburg, Va., Lilly Kate and Charlotte Carpenter of Wilmington, N.C.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering of the Southern Baptist Convention or to the Alzheimer's Association.

Odessa Harris-Clinkscale, 83, died Sunday, November 30, 2009, at Pembrook Place in Ohio.
Friends may call from 10-11 a.m. on Wednesday at Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church. Funeral services will follow at 11a.m. at the church, under the direction of L.E. Black, Phillips & Holden Funeral Home of Youngstown, Ohio.
Mrs. Clinkscale was born October 16, 1926, a daughter of Ed and Ophelia Harris. She was reared by her stepmother Mrs. Alta Mae DuBose after the death of her father.
She attended The Rayen High School and Youngstown State University.
Mrs. Clinkscale was a member of Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church and served as the first lady for 38 years. She served on the Board of Christian Education, President of Disciples of Christ Usher Ministry, Advisor to the Sisterhood, President of the Altar Guild, Chairperson of Vesper Services, and Chairperson of Women's Day. She was an active member of Baptist Minister Wives Council — Past President, Protestant Family Services and Church Women United. 
Advisor for 13 years to LJS's  — Senior High School Girls Club, Jury Commissioner, Precint committee woman for 33 years, First African American to hold an elected office in the Democratic Party, served as corresponding secretary, The second Africian American to serve as Council person.
Mrs. Clinkscale served in many capacities in civic organizations which included Youngstown Area Urban League, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), A. Philip Randolph Institutes (Youngstown Chapter), Pink Carnation Club, Northside Oldtimers, Associated Neighborhood Centers, Southside Coalition, Black Leadership Conference, National Council of Negro Women, Federated Democratic Women of Ohio, S.O.A.R., National Association Investors Corp. and an Advocate for Battered Women. 
She served on the Youngstown Park and Recreation Board, Clarence Robinson Center Board Directors, Model Cities Joint Planning Council, Consumer Advisory Commission, United Negro College Fund, Western Reserve Transit Authority (served as president for two years), the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, Women's Awards/Certificates Youngstown Area Urban League-Outstanding Community Service, Della M. Fordham/Northside Oldtimers Inc.-Community Service Award, United Negro College Fund-Meritorious Service Award, Western Reserve Transit Authority-Appreciation Democrat Woman of the Year-Presented by the John F. Kennedy Democrat Club (1989)
She was united in marriage to the late Pastor Henry Clinkscale Jr. on Sept. 10, 1944.
She is survived by, four daughters, Darnell Louise (James) Williams of Cleveland, Miss., and Rose Ann Clinkscale, Sandra Jean Harden and Judith Elaine Paul, all of Youngstown, Ohio; eight grandchildren, Dwayne Antoine Henry Williams of Cleveland, Miss., Earnest Deright Paul Jr. of San Bernardino, Calif., Rodney Lamar (Delova) Williams of Ellenwood, Ga., and Edward Robert Harden Jr. (Andrea) and Clinton Sterling Harden, both of Youngstown, Ohio, Staacie Michelle Harden of Cleveland, Ohio; Michael James Harden of Glenville, W.V., and Chomney Lynette Williams of Jackson; 13 great-grandchildren, Dwayne McKnight, Asksania White, Deon Harrington, Kaydence Elaine Paul, Vitinia Curb, Duval Davis, Rodney Lamar Williams, Destiny Williams, Micah Jones, Ethan A. Harden, Elijah Clinton Harden, Michael J.R. Harden II, Janyla Scott,  and a host of relatives, church family and friends.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Pastor Emeritus Henry Clinkscale Jr., a daughter, Terrell Lynette Clinkscale, sisters, Otha Lee Bridges and Ruby Mae Gordon and a grandson, Henry Kareem Paul.

John "Dog" Daggett, 66, died of a massive heart attack Monday, November 23, 2009, at Tennessee Tech University.
Services will be held at 2:15 p.m. December 2 on the football field at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tenn. with the Presbyterian Church (USA) Minister Dr. Shep Crigler and the head Tennessee Tech University Football coach Watson Brown officiating.
Daggett was born in West Point and began serving as equipment manager for the West Point Green Wave when he was in the seventh grade. He continued in this position until his graduation from West Point High School in 1961.
He served on a scholarship as equipment manager at Holmes Junior College and Delta State University where he graduated and then served as their equipment manager.
Daggett continued his career as an equipment manager for his entire life serving at major universities including Ole Miss, Michigan, Missouri, Southern Mississippi, Houston and University of Alabama Birmingham. He also worked with the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and Houston Oilers.
He was well know in athletic equipment circles and was the equipment manager at Tennessee Tech University.
Daggett was a charter member of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association, serving as the exhibits chair for the National Convention from 1980-1984.  He was also a member of the Bike Advisory Board. 
He received numerous honors including the  highest AEMA award, the Glenn Sharp award in 1982. He also received the Outstanding Alum Award from Delta State University.
Survivors include his sister, Pierce Buford of Birmingham, Ala., and Oxford; two nieces; four great nephews; and one great niece.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the John Daggett Equipment Managers Scholarship Fund at Delta State University. For more information about funeral arrangements, contact Pierce Buford at 205-823-7467.

Lamar Sheron James, 30, of Independence, Kan., formerly of Mound Bayou, died Saturday, November 21, 2009, at Bolivar Medical Center in Cleveland.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Mark Church of God and Christ in Mound Bayou with Darryl Johnson officiating. T.L. Redmon is handling arrangements.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, December 1, 2009, at Independence Community College.
Visitation will be held from 1-5 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
He was born on Jan. 27, 1979, in Cleveland to Thelma Brown James and Jesse James.
He graduated from East Side High School in Cleveland in 1997 and attended Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale on a football scholarship. This led to his recruitment to the University of Wyoming, where he played strong safety and corner back from 1999 to 2002. While there he achieved Most Valuable Player honors and was named honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference and earned the Outlaw Award. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 2002.
He began his coaching career at the University of Alabama in 2003 as backs and special teams coach at Southeastern Louisiana University. He was the defensive coordinator at Independence Community College in 2006 and was currently the head football coach in Independence.
He married Cindy Richins on January 26, 200, in Independence, Kan. They are the parents of daughter, Kamrynn, 5, and son, Boston. He had a daughter, JaQuayla, 13.
He is survived by his parents; his grandfather of Mound Bayou; two brothers, Jesse James of Jackson and Robby James of Columbia, S.C.; four sisters, Teresa Brown, Rosa Lee Palmer and LaKesha James, all of Cleveland, and NaTasha Clark of Jackson; and several nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.