RUTH BELL OUSLEY

EGREMONT Ruth Bell Ousley died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at Delta Regional Medical Center in Greenville. She was 61.

She is survived by her husband, James S. Ousley Sr. of Rolling Fork; four sons, Calvin Traylor of Shubuta, James Ousley Jr. of Egremont, and Rodger B. Ousley and James E. Ousley, both of Rolling Fork; two daughters, Linda G. Hagger of Indianapolis, Ind., and Velma Newell of Grace; three brothers, Horace Richardson, Henry Richardson and Earnest Richardson, all of California; six sisters, Ida Richardson of Clinton, Joyce Williams, Essie Coleman, Hattie Albert and Mamie Smith, all of California, and Johnnie Price of Edwards; 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Services will be at noon Wednesday at Mount Ollie M.B. Church in Egremont. Burial will follow at Mount Ollie Cemetery in Egremont under the direction of Walker Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 7 until 8 Tuesday night at the funeral home in Rolling Fork.

MABLE LOGAN PETERSON

Mabel Logan Peterson died Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at her home. She was 91.

A resident of Warren County, Mrs. Peterson retired in 1972 from Jett Elementary School as a custodian. She was a member of Hopewell Baptist Church where she was choir president and church treasurer for many years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ben Peterson Sr.; her parents; five brothers including Willie Logan; and three sisters including Mamie L. Cosby.

Survivors include a son, Ben Peterson Jr. of Vicksburg; a daughter, Orelia P. Crump of Vicksburg; a stepdaughter, Bessie Singleton; 18 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren and other relatives including Chaney Peterson, Frank Crump Jr. and the Cosby family, all of Vicksburg.

Williams Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements.

WILLIE SMITH JR.

Willie “Big June” Smith Jr. died today, Jan. 9, 2001, at his home. He was 40.

Mr. Smith was a former employee of Walnut Hills and the Biscuit Company. He was a member of St. Mark M.B. Church.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary “Skit” Lee Jefferson Smith; a brother, Robert Earl “Tip Toe” Smith; grandparents, Otis Smith, Agnes Passmore and Joe Jefferson Sr.

He is survived by his father, Willie Smith Sr. of Vicksburg; three brothers, Benard Jefferson, William “Man” Jefferson and Milton “Shorty” Jefferson, all of Vicksburg; seven sisters, Sadie Bush, Lee Ester Bridges, Melvinia “Honey” Jones, Mary Diane Smith, Rosetta Smith, Sandra Kay Smith and Sharon Renee Dotson, all of Vicksburg; and his paternal grandmother, Naomi Smith of Vicksburg.

W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements.

ANNIE BELL WHITING

PORT GIBSON Annie Bell Whiting died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at Claiborne County Hospital. She was 82.

Mrs. Whiting was a member of Rose Hill Christian Church where she was on the mother board. She was also a member of the Christian and Baptist Aid.

She was preceded in death by six brothers, Robert Johnson, Henry Johnson Jr., Alfred Johnson, Dale Johnson, Clarence Johnson and Walter Johnson; three sisters, Aileen Hillman, Irene Lewis and Lula Mae Trevillion; and four grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Bernard Whiting of Port Gibson; two sons, Leroy Whiting and James Whiting, both of Port Gibson; three daughters, Janie Duckworth of Huntsville, Ala., Josie Smith of Chicago, Georgia Freeman of Fort Meade, Mass.; two brothers, Willie Johnson and John Henry Johnson, both of Jackson; six sisters, Eddie Sanders Alexander of Port Gibson, Senora Greer of Kokomo, Ind., Katie Lee Clark, Gloria Johnson, Mary Green and Annie Ruth Tims, all of Jackson; three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and other relatives.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Rose Hill Christian Church in Russum with Walter Chambers officiating. Burial will follow at Welcome M.B. Church Cemetery in Hermanville under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 1 until 7 Tuesday night at the funeral home in Port Gibson and from noon until the service Wednesday at the church.

HARRISON WILLIAMS JR.

Harrison “Wild Bill” Williams Jr. died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2001, at ParkView Regional Medical Center. He was 48.

Mr. Williams was a beautician and a member of the Baptist faith.

He was preceded in death by his father, Harrison Williams Sr.; his mother, Fannie Mae Nuttall Williams; and a brother, Glen Williams.

He is survived by two sons, Michael Buchanan of Vicksburg and Lamont Williams of Buffalo, N.Y.; two daughters, LaSheka Williams of Vicksburg and Janice Williams of Buffalo; seven brothers, Larry Darnell Williams of Vicksburg, Alphonza Williams of Atlanta, the Rev. Bernell Williams of Griffin, Ga., Charles Johnson of Edwards and Nelson Pinkston of Long Beach, Calif., Eunice Williams of Chicago, Jerry Williams of Buffalo; five sisters, Fannie Williams of Vicksburg, Beatrice Williams of Memphis, Frances Thompkins of Atlanta, Everlena Shakelford of Houston, Texas, and Pearlena Johnson of Edwards.

W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements.

MATTIE DEE WILLIAMSON

TALLULAH Mattie Dee Williamson died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2001, at Glenwood Medical Center in West Monroe. She was 77.

Mrs. Williamson was born in Magee and had lived in Tallulah for 70 years. She was a bookkeeper and a member of First Baptist Church in Tallulah.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Chester Williamson; a son, Wayne Williamson; and a sister, Myrtis Williams.

She is survived by a son, Alan Williamson of Lafayette, La.; two brothers, Billy Ray Arender and Donald Wayne Arender, both of Tallulah; three sisters, Irene Piper of Tallulah, Shirley Baker of Wiggins, and Ulma Clement of Transylvania; and a granddaughter.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home with the Rev. John Rushing officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tallulah.

Visitation will be from 5 until 7 Tuesday night at the funeral home.