Utica Area News

After a long fight with cancer, Mrs. Earlene Puckett Hood, 77, passed away on March 21, 2022, surrounded by her family. She was born in Utica, MS, on February 28, 1944. She was the youngest of five children, and upon graduating from Utica High School (Class of 1962), she married Larry Hood. The joy of her life became raising their three children, Charles, Roy, and Lillian, and eventually becoming Granny to Lauren, Nicole, Dalton, Chase, Bryson, Dawson, and Lilliana.

She was a member of Pine Bluff Baptist Church and attended faithfully until her health kept her from attending in person. When she was not spending time with her family, she could often be found working in her yard or on a crossword or jigsaw puzzle. Many children of all ages called her Granny. She welcomed all into her home, and anyone who sat at her table loved “Little E.”

She is preceded in death by her parents, Edgar Harold Puckett, Sr. and Lillian Ollie Tompkins Puckett, her brothers, Harold Puckett, Jr. and Paul Puckett, her sisters, Lela Puckett Layne and Lynda Puckett Stephens, her son, Royal Dale Hood, and granddaughter, Ashley Nicole Hood. She is survived by her husband, Charles Larry Hood, Sr., children, Charles Larry Hood, Jr. (Amanda) and Lillian Ann Puckett Gaddy (Perry), grandchildren, Lauren Whitney Hood, Dalton Alexander Gaddy (Janie), and Chase Asher Gaddy, great-grandchildren, Bryson Cole Applewhite, Dawson Allyn Gaddy, and Lilliana Jade Bridges, and numerous nephews and nieces.

Visitation was held at Pine Bluff Baptist Church followed by funeral services.. A graveside service was held at the Pine Bluff Cemetery immediately following her service. Pallbearers are Mark Puckett, Trey Puckett, Ronnie Hood, Perry Hood, Jerry Hood, Thomas Hood, and Randy Davis.

Robert Leon Huskey passed away on Thursday, February 17, 2022. He was 90 years old. Robert was born in Carraway, AR. lived in Kalamazoo, MI for about 40 years, and had lived in Utica, MS for the past few years. He was preceded in death by his wife Jessie Irene Huskey; father and mother H.L. and Callie Riggs Huskey; son Steve Huskey; daughter Sharon Huskey Cook; and brothers Delbert Todd Huskey, Gene Huskey, and Jimmy Huskey. He was a member of Utica Baptist Church in Utica, MS. He is survived by a brother Jerry Huskey (Beth); sister Ann Huskey Lott; daughter-in-law Carol Huskey; and 4 grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Jeanette Rogers Bolton, lovingly known as Mammaw, passed away on January 5, 2022, at the age of 76. Jeanette was born on October 24, 1945, the daughter of George Russell Rogers and Cleo Bryant Rogers. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Peggy Rogers Williamson. She was a member of Berea Baptist Church of Terry, MS.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Derald Bolton (Utica Class of 1961); sons Russell C. Bolton, Kevin D. Bolton, and Chris G. Bolton (Becky); brother Kenny Rogers (Teri); sisters Diane Rogers Germany and Mary Jane Rogers Jordan (Richard) and grandchildren Taylor Kimberlin (Trent), Mason Bolton, Skyler Bolton, Kassidy Bolton and Brody Bolton.

A private graveside service for family only was held at the Bolton Family Cemetery on the Bolton Farm, January 10, 2022.

A memorial Service will be held for Mrs. Sharon Johnson Henriques, wife of Rev. Dr. Rocky Henriques, on April 23, 2022 at the Utica Baptist Church at 1 pm. It will also be livestreamed.

I apologize about not having any news in last week’s paper. I was having both health problems and computer problems. Hopefully I can get the news in this week without difficulty. We still have the virus among us, so be careful, but go on about your lives as usual. I wear my mask any time I am going out in public, and avoid crowds if possible.

So far, Mississippi has had 793,741 cases of coronavirus, with 12,368 deaths. Hinds County has had 52,012 cases with 984 deaths. Long Term Care Facilities are down to 31 still infected with the virus in our state. We are doing better and better with living with the virus. USA-wide, there have been 79,621,004 cases, with 971,422 deaths. Over 8 billion doses of vaccine have been administered. The parts of the world with the most cases are Europe and Africa, but China and China have more outbreaks. Europeans are doing a better job of getting vaccinated than the USA. Large parts of Central Asia and Africa have no vaccines and nobody really knows how many cases of the coronavirus they have had. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia mid-month is not helping any of the virus cleanup issues and problems.

Speaking of crowds, we are hoping that you will brave the Yard Sale the week of April 4, and come spend some money on items at the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child first sale of the year in Utica. If you go inside the gym, you will need your mask to browse around and to buy things. Everybody working there will have had their virus shots and first booster shots. First proceeds go towards determining how many shoe boxes Utica will be able to pay to ship at the end of 2022. For those who are still unfamiliar with what goes on, communities all over America voluntarily make up a box of Christmas practical items to be given to a Third World child who has never gotten a Christmas gift before. It was started by Franklin Graham Ministries about 20 years ago, and Utica led by the Baptist Church, works toward making and filling shoeboxes, then shipping them to countries already chosen in time for Christmas. The wondrous looks on the receiving child’s face is enough of a thank you for just about any of us. Call 601-885-8806 for more details.

I will wait to add more to the Utica Settlement history until I have more room. Everybody get out and enjoy the beautiful weather! Until next week, send me your news!