SIKESTON -- Funeral for Albert Applewhite, 83, of Sikeston will be held at noon today at St. John Missionary Baptist Church. The Rev. Flem E. Bronner Sr. and Leon Applewhite will officiate.

Burial will be at Sunset of Memories Cemetery at Sikeston.

Applewhite died Thursday, May 20, 1999, at Missouri Delta Medical Center.

He was born Aug. 5, 1915, in Searcy, Ark., son of Albert and Elva Lott Applewhite.

He had lived in Missouri more than 50 years and was a member of St. John's Missionary Baptist Church in Sikeston. He was a farmer. He and Hazel McCauley were married Jan. 29, 1942. She died April 17, 1996.

Survivors include seven sons, Boyd Applewhite and Leon Applewhite, both of Chicago, James William Applewhite, Joseph Lee Applewhite, Albert Applewhite, Ezel Applewhite and Johnie Applewhite, all of Sikeston; four daughters, Willie Lee Stidman of Chicago; Mary Ann Henry of Bowling Green, Ky., Irene and Ida Bell Applewhite, both of Sikeston; three brothers, John Applewhite of Elkhart, Ind., Mose Applewhite of St. Louis and Samuel Applewhite of Sikeston; three sisters, Virginia Sims of Elkhart, Lena Alexander of East St. Louis, Ill., and Rosie Mae Grant of Chicago; 33 grandchildren; and 34 great-grandchildren.