Mrs. Mattie Bell Hooker Ross, 73, died Thursday, August 21, 2014, at the Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg. Services for Mrs. Ross were held on Tuesday, August 26, at Mt. Zion MB Church in Prentiss, with Pastor Ozell White officiating. Interment was in the Mt. Zion Cemetery, with Laird Mortuary in charge of all arrangements.

Mrs. Ross was the daughter of the late J.W. Hooker and the late Ardie Mae Hooker Hooker of the Whitesand community of Jefferson Davis County. At an early age, she joined the Green Grove MB Church, while also attending the Mt. Zion Church on a regular basis.

Mrs. Ross married Daniel Ross, Jr. of the Mt. Zion community of Jefferson Davis County, and to this union five children were born.

After being reared and educated in the Jefferson Davis County School System, Mrs. Ross moved with her family to California, where she worked for McDonald Douglas Aircraft Manufacturing Company for over 30 years. Mrs. Ross moved back to Prentiss with her family, and worked various jobs that culminated with her employment at Horace Smalls in Bassfield.

Mrs. Ross’ survivors include her husband, Daniel Ross, Jr. of Prentiss; four sons, Michael (Frances) Ross, Marcus (Mary) Ross, both of New Hebron, Ricky Ross of Prentiss, and Daniel Ross III of Gulfport; one daughter, Kelley Ross (Teddy) Brown of Prentiss; one brother, Melvin (Janice) Hooker of Prentiss; five sisters, Paula (Bob) White of Buffalo, NY, Barbara (YC) White, Louise Walker, Belinda Hooker, and Lillian Hooker, all of Prentiss; eleven grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.