Reverend George Alva Skelton Services for Reverend George Alva Skelton will be held Monday, June 4, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Gary Howse officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery with Robert Barham Family Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements. Reverend Skelton, 90, of Porterville died Thursday, May 31, 2012, at Bethany House in Madden, Mississippi. Reverend Skelton served in the 153rd Observation Squadron with Air National Guard during World War II and was a charter member of this squadron. Reverend Skelton was a minister for forty years and was a retired Elder of the United Methodist Church, Mississippi Annual Conference and served until his death. He was a member of the Hamasa Shrine Club where he served as the Chaplin of the Masonic Order and was a life member of the Post 21 in Meridian, Mississippi and was also the Chaplin and life member of American Legion Post 56. Survivors include his wife Johnetta Buchanan Skelton of Porterville, daughters Kay Brandt of Houston, Texas, Paula Givens and her husband Roy of Tallahassee, Florida, and Cindy Peden and husband Chris of Hattiesburg, three step-sons James Buchanan and wife Linda of Quitman, Billy Buchanan of the Vimville Community, and Martin Buchanan and wife Joanne of Porterville, four step-daughters Betty Wiggins, Sue Stuart, Polly Buchanan all of Porterville, Judy Garrett of Collinsville, daughter-in-law Patricia Skelton of Lauderdale, host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, fifteen step-grandchildren and twenty-seven step-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Helen E. Skelton, son Barry G. Skelton, eight brothers and two sisters. The family requests memorials be made to Wesley House in Meridian, Mississippi. Pallbearers will be Mitch Skelton, Allen Skelton, Heath Thomas, Peter Thomas, Roland Richardson and Ray Peden. Family and friends may sign online guest book at robertbarhamffh.com Visitation will be held Sunday, June 3, 2012, from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
