Extracted from The Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)
Tuesday, October 27, 2009

A.J. Havard

A native of Wilkinson County, Miss., he died Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, at his residence in Centreville, Miss. He was 87, born June 2, 1922, the son of William and Reva Ashley Havard. He was a retired heavy equipment operator. He was of the Methodist faith and a Mason and member of Trinity Union Lodge.

Survived by his wife, Evelyn Dawson Havard, of Centreville; sister, Lurline Ashley, of Crosby, Miss.; daughter, Iris Ash and husband Richard, of Centreville; grandson, Dean Ash, of Centreville; granddaughter, Rhonda Dyer and husband Bryant, of Prairieville; great-granddaughter and DeDe's precious little angel, Mallory Dyer; two special friends, Monroe O'Neal and Gene Hernandez; members of Operators Local 406, Baton Rouge; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Mamie Joseph, Juanita Redman, Thelma White, Alma Netterville and Ruby Mathis; brothers, Curtis Havard, Murdock ``Jay Bird'' Havard, Lawrence Havard, Coach Harold Havard, Herman Havard, Luther Havard, Jack Havard and Steve Havard.

Visitation at Brown Funeral Home, Gloster, Miss., on Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Religious service at the funeral home chapel on Wednesday at 2 p.m., conducted by the Rev. William H. Dowling Sr., the Rev. Robert Seale and the Rev. Kevin Trantham.

Pallbearers will be Gary Whittington, Bryant Dyer, Sidney Ashley, Rickey Havard, Sammy Whittington and Jerry Boykin. Honorary pallbearers are Gene Walters, Monroe O'Neal, Gene Hernandez, Jackie Whittington, Thomas Ashley, Lonnie Dyer, Dennis Mizell, Ray Netterville, William B. Netterville and Robert Thornton.

In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be made to Natchez Children's Home, Natchez, or St. Jude Children's Hospital, Memphis, Tenn.