Douglas Michael Johnson was born February 15, 1963 and passed away September 3, 2010. Doug was preceded in death by his mother, Marcia Johnson. He is survived by his son, Jeromy Johnson; daughter, Alyssa Johnson; father, Billy Johnson and three sisters, Kelly Vincent, Kim Walter and Amy Fincher. Funeral services are 3:00 PM, Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at Jaynes Memorial Chapel. Burial will be at Little Bethel Memorial Park. Visitation is 6-8 PM, Monday, September 6, 2010, at Jaynes Memorial Chapel.

Mary Agnes Heitzman, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, died peacefully on August 29, 2010. Mary was born October 3, 1924 in Fort Worth, Texas, and was a long time resident of Dallas and Cedar Hill. She worked for over thirty years for the US Department of Labor, was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, and an active volunteer for the Oak Cliff Food Pantry. Her daughter, Pam, preceded her in death. She is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, Donald Heitzman Sr.; children, Marsha Heitzman and partner Linda Law, Don Heitzman, Jr. and wife Elizabeth Rondeau, John Heitzman and wife Cindy, Greg Heitzman and wife Cindy, Becky Buddenbohn and husband Tom, and Krista Hodge and husband Scott; grandchildren, Randy and Eric Buddenbohn, Matt and Elizabeth Heitzman, John and Jesse Hodge, and Jake and Carson Heitzman. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and many loving friends. Visitation will be held Tuesday, August 31, 2010 from 7-9 pm, with a Rosary at 7:30 at Jaynes Memorial Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 am, Wednesday, September 1, 2010, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 1111 West Danieldale Road, Duncanville, Texas. Serving as Con-Celebrants are Rev. Msgr. John Meyers, Rev. Joseph Lee, and Rev. Timothy Gollob. A reception will follow at the church. Burial will be held at the DFW National Cemetery following the reception. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Sisters of Saint Mary Namur, 909 West Shaw, Fort Worth, Texas, 76110.

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Roy Allen Eury passed away Aug. 28, 2010 at the age of 74. He is survived by his wife, Minta Eury; daughters, Joanna Heymann, Chris Hayden & Melinda Slauson; along with 7 grandchildren. Memorial Service is 10 AM Sat., Sept. 4, 2010 at Jaynes Memorial Chapel in Duncanville.

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William Gene Ewing was born in Taylor, Texas, on August 4, 1935, the son of Celestine (Matoska) and Grady Joe Ewing. He passed away August 27, 2010, in DeSoto, Texas, at age 75. Gene was in the R.O.T.C. at Adamson High School in Dallas. After graduation in 1953, he joined the United States Air Force and served his country proudly for four years. For two years Gene studied to be a TV cameraman, but his love for cooking turned into a career at Fred's Bar B Q in the Wynnewood neighborhood of Dallas. He worked at Fred's until the business closed. Gene loved to play the steel guitar. He was also known for his oil paintings, a gift in which he excelled. For the last 10 years of his life, Gene was in the DeSoto Nursing and Rehab Center, where he acquired many friends and was known as a kind, loving, and pleasant man who always had a smile on his face. He was a giver and was generous with whatever he had to give. Gene is preceded in death by his mother, Sally Ewing. He will be dearly missed by his sister, Sheila Holt, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Graveside services are 10:30 am, Tuesday, August 31, 2010, at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas, with Rev. Bobby Stovall officiating. Visitation with the family is 7-9 pm, Monday, August 30, 2010, at Jaynes Memorial Chapel in Duncanville.

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Vera Lucille Wright, cherished wife, mother and grandmother, lovingly known to her family as “Lucille”, “Snookie”, “Mama”, “Mamaw” and “Grandma”, passed away August 25, 2010, at the age of 90. She was born Vera Lucille Palmer in Bells, Texas, on November 12, 1919 to parents Arthur D and Vera Hannah Palmer. A long time resident of Oak Cliff, she was a proud graduate of W. H. Adamson High School, class of 1937. Due to a family health crisis and the waning years of the Great Depression, she was unable to pursue her dream of going to college. Instead she sought employment with the Ripley Shirt Company where she soon found success as Executive Secretary to the company Vice President, Mr. Boyd.
About this same time, she met her lifelong sweetheart, John Thomas Wright, at Oak Cliff First Baptist Church. Their marriage plans were interrupted by a small international “incident”, more commonly known as Word War II, and Tommy’s call from Uncle Sam. For over three years, while he was stationed in Alaska, she wrote him a letter every day. His stacks of letters during mail call became legendary and he willingly shared them with any of the guys in his unit who were not receiving mail. Lucille only found out about his “generosity” when many of his buddies began writing back to her and calling when they came through Dallas. They all wanted to meet the lovely redhead who had so faithfully sent all of the letters.
Upon Tommy’s return from the war, he and Lucille were married in January of 1945. While Tommy went to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, Lucille chose to give up her secretarial career to become a full time homemaker. She and Tommy lived in Oak Cliff for 65 years, raising two daughters, and enjoying five lively grandchildren. Lucille instilled in her daughters and grandchildren a lifelong love of reading and the arts. She was so very proud that her four oldest grandchildren attended the Arts Magnet High School in Dallas and her youngest grandchild was currently in the Art’s Academy. She eagerly attended every theatre production, dance recital, and choir concert until health concerns slowed her down.
Lucille was a lifelong Baptist and for many years was a member of Elmwood Baptist Church and more recently Wynnewood Baptist Church. She was also a lifelong member of the Democratic Party. She was preceded in death by her parents and only sister, Mabel Louise Palmer. Survived by her loving husband of 65 years, John Thomas Wright; daughter Carolyn Tipton and husband Glynn; daughter Patricia Erickson and husband Steven; granddaughters Erin Tipton, Elspeth Erickson, Elisa Tipton, Kestrel Erickson, and grandson Rowan Erickson.
Visitation with family will be at Jaynes Memorial Chapel, 811 South Cockrell Hill Road, Duncanville, TX on Saturday, August 28, 1:00 pm, followed by the Funeral Service at 2:00 pm. Reverend Keith Brister officiating. Interment service will be at Old Arlington Cemetery, Arlington, Texas.

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Longtime resident of Duncanville, passed away August 24. Dorothy was born October 8, 1919, in Dallas. She is preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Elmer Rogers, and a daughter, Dorothy Jean Kelleher. Survivors include her daughter, Barbara Worthen & husband Richard; grandchildren, Vicki L. Krystal, Sherry D. Ferrell, R. Dean White, Joli K. Grisham, and Linda F. Matthews; 12 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; and her sister, Billie Stewart. Graveside services are 1:00 pm, Friday, August 27, 2010, at Laurel Land Memorial Park in Dallas, with Rev. Clayton Allard officiating. Visitation with the family is at Jaynes, 10:00 am to 12:00 noon, Friday, immediately before service. Memorial donations may be made to "The Remnant Newsletter", c/o Delores Curtis, 807 S. Barnett, Dallas, TX, 75211.

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Age 93, of Cedar Hill, Texas passed away August 19, 2010. She was preceded in death by her husband Elbert Jacobs, November 19, 2009. Alice is survived by her cousin, Victor Deuback of Cedar Hill. A graveside service will be 11:00 am Monday, August 23 at Little Bethel Cemetery in Duncanville, Texas. No visitation is planned.

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Billie Marie Morris Kerbo passed away August 17, 2010. Graveside Services are 2:00 PM, Friday, August 20, 2010, at Grove Hill Cemetery, 4118 Samuell Blvd. Dallas, Texas, 75228. The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM, Thursday, August 19, at Jaynes Memorial Chapel in Duncanville.

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Michael Blackwood, age 57, of Cedar Hill, Texas, passed away August 13, 2010, in Arlington. He is survived by his wife, Claudyne Blackwood and other loving family. Memorial services are 2:00 pm, Tuesday, August 17, 2010, at Hillcrest Baptist Church, 265 W. Pleasant Run Road in Cedar Hill.

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Bobby McMinn, beloved father and husband, passed away August 12, 2010, surrounded by his family. He was born May 3, 1940, in Coolidge, Texas, and was a longtime resident of Duncanville. Devoted to his family and his faith, Bobby was a wonderful provider for his family. He was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War and during his military service was awarded a Bronze Star. Bobby is survived by his wife of 49 years, Mary Elizabeth; son, Gordon and wife, Erika; daughter, Nora and husband, Stephen Schutt; grandchildren, Anthony and Paige; sisters, Robbie Church, Mary Schubert, Leta Wisenbaker; brothers, Sydney McMinn and Roy Pickett; and numerous nieces, nephews and loving friends. Visitation is 5-7 PM, Sunday, August 15, 2010 at Emmanuel Pentecostal Church. Funeral Service is 10:30 AM, Monday, August 16, 2010, at Emmanuel Pentecostal Church, 1200 Poplar Drive, Mesquite, Texas. Bobby will be laid to rest at DFW National Cemetery.

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Franchelle Byington, as beautiful and unique as her name, went to be with her Lord and Savior Aug. 9, 2010. Franchelle was born Aug. 11, 1924 in Corsicana, TX to Edward James & Velma Pearl (Smith) Byington. Her family moved to Dallas when she was 2 and she remained a resident of the Dallas area throughout her life. Preceded in death by her parents, husband, Vic Ballard, and two brothers, Billy & Bobby. Survived by three daughters, Vickie, Pam & Cathy; 5 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Her family adored her and misses her smiles and hugs already. Friends were instantly drawn to her sweet smile and sincerity. She lived the last 15 years of her life in Irving in a lakeside home surrounded by the flowers and family she loved so much. She was a member of the Pathfinders Class of First United Methodist Irving. Even though she was unable to attend class in recent years, she was faithfully in her seat at church every Sunday she was able. A strong and smart woman, Franchelle was an excellent bookkeeper which led her to many jobs, working in the fashion industry for many years, and then becoming a business owner herself. She loved life and lived it to the fullest, encouraging her family to do the same. She traveled, danced and played until she was no longer able. She persevered for 8 years on dialysis, driving herself to and from treatments 3 times a week, a feat almost unheard of in the medical world. She was beloved and cared for at Irving Dialysis. The family owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. Liang who has watched over her health with us in ways far beyond what a medical doctor would normally do and thanks also to the staff of Irving Dialysis, Baylor Hospital Irving CCU staff for their care and attention this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First UMC Irving. A Celebration of Life and Homegoing to Jesus will be held at 2:00 PM, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010 at First United Methodist Irving. Her ashes will be taken to the beach where she taught 2 generations to love the golden days of summer.

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Imogene LaPine passed away August 6, 2010, at the age of 82. She was born December 26, 1927, in Holiday, Texas, to Mable Lorene (Rhodes) and Ernest V. Hawkins. They moved to Wichita Falls, Texas, when she was very young and she graduated from Wichita Falls High School. She was a long time member of the Church of Christ. Mrs. LaPine was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Jim LaPine in June of 2001, a daughter, Nancy Ramsay, in November of 2009, and a granddaughter in October of 1998. She is survived by her daughter, Carol Woitalla and husband Horst of Fredericksburg, Texas, and son-in-law, David Ramsay of DeSoto, Texas. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Jeani Little, Kristi Wooddell and husband Brandon, and Jason Wilson and wife, Ginger; great-grandchildren, Tara Wright and husband Lee, Preston Losack, and Ashlyn Wilson; great-great-granddaughter, Emily Wright; and sister-in-law, Ruth LaPine of Bolton Landing, New York. Funeral services are 2:00 pm, Tuesday, August 10, 2010, at Jaynes Memorial Chapel in Duncanville, Texas, with Mr. David McElwain officiating. Burial will follow in Bells Chapel Cemetery, near Rockett, Texas. Visitation with the family is 6-8 pm, Monday, at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the VFW, American Lung Association, American Cancer Society, or the ALS Association (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's Disease).

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Vivian L. Nesmith, loving wife, mother & grandmother passed away August 5, 2010. She was born Jan. 5, 1927 to Thomas G. & Ruby Katherine (Anspaugh) Walls. A true angel on earth, Mrs. Nesmith was devoted to the needs and comfort of her family. Placing others above herself, she truly was a model homemaker and raised her family in the sunshine of her love. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Howard W. Nesmith; daughter, Barbara Nachlinger & husband, Jim; son, David Nesmith & wife, Susan; grandchildren, Rachel Russell, Katie Sotomayor & Ben Nachlinger; great grandchildren, Quinn & Elli Nachlinger, along with her beloved pet, Little Baxter. Funeral Service is 10 AM, Sat. Aug. 7, 2010 at Jaynes Memorial Chapel in Duncanville. Burial will follow at Laurel Land Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM Friday at the funeral home.

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Born, October 10, 1915 to Sanford Monroe and Bertha Jensen DeBusk at Strawn, Texas. She moved to Wichita Falls, Texas when she was eight years of age. She spent her junior years there before moving to Ft. Worth in 1931, where she lived for a year. She was one of the fifty girls selected for the Polytechnic High School Pep Squad. She was very athletic and loved to play softball. Her father was transferred to Oak Cliff in Dallas, TX in January 1932 where Thelma attended and graduated from Oak Cliff High School in 1933. Mr. Adamson was the principal. The school was named Adamson after his death. She became a Christian at seventeen years of age at an open air revival held by John R. Rice who moved to Oak Cliff from Ft. Worth in 1933. She was a charter member of the Galilean Baptist Church and attended there for eleven years. The church was first on Tenth Street and later moved to Cedar Hill in 1985. She married Grover Cleveland Milam in Los Angeles, CA, December 9, 1936 and they returned to Oak Cliff in May 1937. Thelma had two girls, Patricia Louise and Vicki Jeane Milam. She joined Clarendon Drive Baptist Church in 1945. Bro. Ralph Bacon, Pastor. After a few years Bro. Ralph resigned as Pastor and Br. Jeff Pritchard became Pastor. When her girls started school, she worked in pre-school and the P.T.A. She served as president of both at Peeler Elementary School in Oak Cliff. She worked in church as Training Union Director for the Juniors and held offices in Sunday School including being president. She sang in the choir, and was a Vacation Bible School teacher. She and her father both sang in the church choir and the quartet. She married Harry D. Jarrett in April 1955 and lived in Oak Cliff. She joined the North Side Baptist Church of Duncanville in 1974 and moved to Duncanville in 1982. She was very active in the church choir, taught VBS, and held different offices in Sunday School. Thelma is survived by her two daughters, Patricia Louise Adams and Vicki Jeane Mahoney; 5 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; and 2 great-great grandchildren. Services are 2:00 Saturday, August 7, 2010 at Jaynes Memorial Chapel. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Laurel Land Memorial Park in Dallas.

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Loving mother and adoring "Granny B", Virginia Barnes Barton was called home to be with our Lord on July 27, 2010, at age 94. Virginia was born in Greenville, Texas, on April 25, 1916, to James Wyatt and Ella (Shaw) Barnes. Shortly after her birth they moved to a farm outside of Anson, Texas. After her high school graduation, she attended then named North Texas Teacher's College, now titled The University of North Texas. Virginia served as an elementary teacher for 43+ years. In 1947 she married Orval Wesley Yates who would pass away in 1955. Two years later she married a widower, John Finis Barton. She also became the adoptive mother to his son, John Charles Barton. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Virginia Ann, and her husband, John Finis. Virginia is survived by her son, John Charles Barton, Sr.; granddaughter, Angela Bolton and her husband, Hugh, and 13 month old great-grandson, Cole; grandson John Charles Barton, Jr.; along with many nieces and nephews. Funeral services are 10:00 am, Saturday, July 31, 2010, at Jaynes Memorial Chapel in Duncanville, Texas, with Pastor Bob Bell officiating. Graveside services will follow at 3:00 pm, at Liberty Hill Cemetery in Tyler, Texas. Visitation with the family is 6-8 pm, Friday, at Jaynes.

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Joseph L. Brazzil of Cedar Hill, Texas, passed away on Sunday, July 25, 2010, at the age of 91. He was born February 20, 1919, in Flat, Texas. Mr. Brazzil was a resident of Abilene, Texas, from the 1920’s until the mid-1970’s. He volunteered for the U. S. Navy in January, 1942. After training in San Diego, California, he was assigned to the battleship USS Arkansas and served on that ship for the duration of the war. His ship participated in many invasions in both the Atlantic and Pacific theatres of the war. He was very proud of being a veteran of battles at Normandy in Southern France, and later at Guam, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. He was discharged in October, 1945. After returning home from the war, he met and married Bernice Levrets of Abilene on June 1, 1947. They recently celebrated 63 years of marriage. He worked for Texas Steel Products in Abilene, then at Alamo Steel Products in Waco. After retirement, they continued to live in the Chalk Bluff area of Waco, becoming active members of Chalk Bluff Baptist Church where he was a deacon. Sharpening his woodworking skills, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were recipients of many craftsman-like items. He was an avid gardener, winning several awards at McClennan County agricultural shows. He was a long time member of the Civitan Club both in Abilene and in Waco. He also served several terms on the board of the Chalk Bluff Water District. In recognition of his long years of community service, a city street, JL Brazzil Loop, was named in his honor. In 2008, they moved to a retirement center in Cedar Hill to be near their daughter and son-in-law. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Elma Brazzil; three sisters, Maureen Goodrich, Inez Willis, and Lilah Mardis; and a brother, William Brazzil. He is survived by his wife, Bernice, of Cedar Hill; daughter Marylyn F. Womble of Midlothian, Texas, and son Joseph W. Brazzil of Berthoud, Colorado; five grandchildren, Rick Womble of Lockhart, Jessica Craft of Coppell, Jeffrey Womble of New Orleans, and Jamie Brazzil and Erin Brazzil of Berthoud; and three great-grandchildren, Lealan and Cason Womble of Lockhart, and McKenna Ellen "Emme" Womble of New Orleans. Funeral services are 11:00 am, Thursday, July 29, 2010, at Jaynes Memorial Chapel in Duncanville, Texas, with Rev. John Womble and Rev. Fred Levrets officiating. Burial will follow in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Visitation is 6-8 pm, Wednesday, July 28, 2010, at Jaynes.

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John Stephen Ference was born October 9, 1938, in Yonkers New York, the son of Anna (Chepley) and John Ference. He passed away on Saturday, July 24, 2010, at age 71. John was a retired veteran of the United States Air Force and had also been employed by the U.S. Postal Service. Known as a great baseball fan, John and Jennie were Texas Rangers season ticket holders. They were also members of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Duncanville, Texas. John is survived by his wife, Jennie; son, Stephen W. Ference and his wife, Susan, and children, Julie and Jenna, daughter, Susan E. Ference and her son Michael J. Ference, daughter, Cheryl A. Witherspoon and husband, Todd, and their children, Justin L. Graham and Catie, and son Kenneth J. Ference and his wife, Belinda, and their children, Cassidy Stapleton and Kaila Ference. John is predeceased by his parents and a daughter, Sandra J. Ference. Funeral services are 1:00 pm, Wednesday, July 28, 2010, at Jaynes Memorial Chapel in Duncanville with Father Thomas Pamplani officiating. Burial will follow in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

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Mary Mozell Russell Skinner, 82, died peacefully at her home in Duncanville, TX on July 21, 2010. Mozell was born on February 22, 1928 in Bodcaw, AR. She moved to Oak Cliff in 1945, and married her high school sweetheart, John Robert Skinner, on the day after her 18th birthday. Together they had three sons, John Robert Jr., Anthony Ted, and Samul James. Mozell gave the term “full-time mom” new meaning, serving as room mother, PTA president, MYF sponsor, Special Olympics volunteer, and joyfully and tirelessly caring for her son Sam, the light of her life. She was honored with a PTA Lifetime membership. Always an active and faithful member of her church, Tyler Street United Methodist, she was named its Mother of the Year in 1987. She was a member of the Anniversary Class for 63 years. Mozell was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Letha May, and by her beloved son, Sam. She is survived by her devoted husband of 64 years, John Robert Skinner; her son, John Robert, Jr. and wife, Catherine, of Midlothian; grandson, John Robert III, wife Nicole and great-granddaughter, Adrianna Rose, of Midlothian; son Anthony T. and wife, Vivian, of Duncanville; grandson, Ted and wife Jessica, of Dallas; grandson John Gordon and wife Mary, of Dallas; grandson Michael, of Duncanville; and granddaughter, Mary Kathryn, of Duncanville; multiple nieces and nephews, and many friends. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude for the tender care provided by the staff of Vitas Hospice Service. Visitation will be Friday, July 23, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the funeral home. Services will be Saturday, July 24, 2010 at 2:00 pm; Tyler Street United Methodist Church, Dallas, Rev. Ed Lantz and Rev. Fred Durham, officiating. Pallbearers: her four grandsons, and Terry Egger and Butch Boss. Memorials may be made to Tyler Street United Methodist Church, 927 W. 10th Street, Dallas TX.

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Alta Shelby Patton Naylor, beloved mother and grandmother passed away July 20, 2010. She was born April 29, 1919 in Kaufman, Texas to Richard Charles & Dovie (Shook) Chastain, and lived her whole life in the Dallas area. She was honored in the late 1950s, to have been the first female ever seated on a Dallas County Grand Jury. Mrs. Naylor is preceded in death by her husbands; Loyd Shelby in 1981, Charlie Patton in 1990 & Bob Naylor in 2004. Survivors include her children; Nancy Brill & husband, Bob, Sherry Smith, Bob Shelby & Gary Shelby; 12 grandchildren & 15 great-grandchildren. Funeral Service is 2:00 PM, Sat. July 24, 2010 at Jaynes Memorial Chapel in Duncanville. Burial follows at Wheatland Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7-9 PM Friday at the funeral home.

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