Ellis Holdiness, Jr

Mr. Ellis Holdiness, Jr, 88, passed away on Friday, July 31, 2026, at home surrounded by family. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at Poplar Flat Baptist Church with Rev. Doug Wise officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Porter Funeral Home, and on Wednesday at the church from 10:00 A.M. until service time. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Porter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Ellis was born February 19, 1938, in Louisville, MS to Ellis and Lydia Holdiness. Ellis spent a little more than 20 years in the U.S. Army with station stops in Texas, Germany and Washington, DC. After retiring from the Army, Ellis went to work for the VA Hospital where he spent another 20 years. After retiring, Ellis and Arlene moved back to Louisville. Ellis loved spending time with his family – especially his grandchildren and his great grandchild. Ellis enjoyed working with Samaritans Purse when he was able to.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ellis and Lydia Holdiness; four sisters, Valeria (Sis) Humphries, Janie Clark, Vera Hummell and Bobbie Ruth Rogers; four brothers, Herbert Holdiness, Hubert Holdiness, Clyde Holdiness, and T.W. Holdiness.

He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Arlene Holdiness of Louisville, MS; two sons Bill Holdiness of Woodbridge, VA and Ken Holdiness of Flowood, MS; a sister, Carolyn Ward of Iuka, MS; two grandchildren, Lydia Bryan of Tupelo, MS and Gregory Holdiness of Flowood, MS; one grandchild, Asher Hayes of Tupelo, MS; numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be David Ward, Michael Gates, Clay Gates, Clay Bane, Robert (Bob) Burks and Robbye McMillan. Honorary pallbearers will be David Lewis, Jerry Allen Holdiness, John Michael Holdiness and Patrick Holdiness and the men from Poplar Flat Sunday School that Ellis taught on Sunday mornings.

Zachariah Brown

Zachariah Brown, 92, of Louisville, MS., passed on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at the Louisville Health Care Center, Louisville, MS. Funeral Service will be Sunday, August 2, 2026 at 2 p.m., at the Mount Pisgah M. B. Church, Louisville, MS. 39339. Visitation will be Saturday, from 4 until 6 p.m., from the Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Mount Pisgah Cemetery. Beck Funeral Home of Louisville in charge of arrangements.

Martha Marie Slawson

Martha Marie Slawson, 93, passed away on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at Pilgrim Manor Nursing Home in Bossier City, Louisiana. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, August 4 in the Massey Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Jerry Lundy officiating. Visitation will be the day of the service from 9:00 a.m. until service time at Massey Funeral Home in Louisville, Mississippi. Interment will immediately follow the service in Harmony Cemetery.

Martha was born to John Boyd and Annie Laura Horton Gregory on March 3, 1933, in Winston County, Mississippi. She was a member of Harmony Baptist Church. Martha enjoyed gardening and ordering from the $1 menu at McDonald’s. Most of all, she dearly loved her family and enjoyed spending time with them.

Martha is survived by her son, Paul Russell Slawson (Bebia Ann) of Bossier City, Louisiana; and her sister, Betty Stevens of Sallis, Mississippi. One of her greatest joys was being with her four grandchildren: Russell Bryan Slawson, Carie Ann Bernard (Fred), Beckie Leigh McCormic (Todd Woodward), and Thomas Reed Slawson. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband, Randolph Slawson; son, Randy Slawson; grandson, James Randolph Slawson; and her parents.