John Napoleon Bass

Published 6:36 am Monday, September 26, 2022

By Holley Cochran

Funeral services were held Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, at Holly Spring Methodist Church in Bassfield, for Rev. John Napoleon Bass, 82, who died Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022, at Marion General Hospital in Columbia. Johnson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Rev. John Bass was born to the late Alexander Bass and Edna Bass in Bassfield. He united with Holly Springs Methodist Church at a young age and was instrumental in organizing the youth and young adult choir, becoming the youth choir director and organizing the Trudie Hawkins and Song Festival.

He graduated from Carver High School in 1960.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Language Arts from Jackson State University, Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Mississippi Industrial College, Master’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. He also matriculated at Ole Miss and Mississippi State University. He served as an educator on the elementary, high school and college level. he retired from teaching after 30 years of service and served on the Jefferson Davis County School Board for six years.  Rev. Bass started the Carver High School Reunion after Carver High School was integrated and became Carver Elementary School.

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Rev. Bass was called into the ministry in 1975. He earned a Master of Divinity from the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, Georgia.  He pastored Trinity CME Church in Toccoa, Georgia. He returned to the Mississippi Conference and was admitted to full connection; as a pastor in full connection, he served in the North-East Mississippi Conference and the Mississippi South conference. During his tenure in Mississippi, he served as pastor of the following churches: St. Paul in Smithville, Jennings Temple in Greenwood, Newell Chapel in Meridian, Little Mount in Utica and Zionell in Mt. Olive. he retired in 2014 as a pastor in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Ludus Bass and Willie Glenn Bass; one brother reported missing, Earl Bass; four sisters, Celestine Fairman, Virginia Adams, Vera Bass and Lela Bass.

He is survived by two sisters, Frankie Jean (Hollis) Booth and Evelyn Haley and many other relatives and friends.

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Betty Robbins Funeral services for Mrs. Betty Robbins were conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at Society Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Paul Young officiating. Interment followed in the Society Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Robbins, age 75, entered into the eternal rest of her Lord early Saturday morning, July 13, 2024, at the Forrest General Hospital. Saulters Moore Funeral Home was entrusted with arrangements. The Robbins family received friends one hour before the funeral service, beginning at noon, Tuesday, at Society Hill Baptist Church. Pallbearers included Kelley LeNormand, Cymantha Shellenberger, Mason Robbins, Jenna Robbins, Frank Vice and Frank Vice Jr. Betty Robbins was born on June 6, 1949, in Magee, Mississippi to Walter R. and Margaret Jones Bishop. Mrs. Robbins was a long-time resident of Carson. She and her husband would go on to raise a happy family of six children that would multiply over the years with the addition of in-laws, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mrs. Robbins loved the country life and will be remembered for not only growing a yard full of beautiful flowers, but also a vegetable garden of which she fed her family. An animal lover, she also had dogs, chickens and hogs over the years. Mrs. Robbins was a member of Society Hill Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her parents, Walter R. and Margaret Bishop, her husband, Kenneth Terrell Robbins Sr; her daughter, Pamela Robbins; sisters, Patsy Holden, Margaret  Coble, Linda Hester and her brother, Richard Bishop. Her memory will forever be cherished by her daughter, Billie Jo Williamson of Prentiss; sons, Kenny Robbins Jr. (Kathy) of Carson, Mikell Robbins (Kelley) of Palestine, Texas, John Robbins (Nicole) of Sumrall, Daniel Robbins, (Tanya) of Ft. Worth, Texas; brother, Ray Bishop (Nancy) of Magee and her sister, Myrtis Craig (Ed) of Rossville, Georgia. Mrs. Robbins also leaves behind 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Online condolences and guest registry are available at www.saultersmoorefuneralhome.com

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John E. Donaldson

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