LORENE J. NICHOLS CRAFT

Lorene Nichols Craft died Monday, Oct. 15, 2001, at Vicksburg Convalescent Home. She was 74.

A native and lifelong resident of Warren County, Mrs. Craft was the daughter of the late Robert B. and Evelyn Tavener Johnston. She was a member of the Baptist faith.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Lee J. Nichols.

She is survived by two daughters, Joyce Vance and Pat Shiers, both of Vicksburg; four sisters, Marie Clayton of Denison, Texas, and Katie Johnston, Esther Ross and Wade House, all of Vicksburg; two brothers, R.B. “Bobby” Johnston and W.E. “Billy” Johnston, both of Vicksburg; four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and other relatives.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Fisher-Riles Funeral Home with Tony Winkler, pastor of the Vicksburg Church of God, and the Rev. Joseph Brisco officiating. Burial will follow at Green Acres Memorial Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5:30 until 7:30 tonight at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Ronnie Johnston, Michael Edwards, Mike Willoughby, Jim Hardy, Bill Johnston and Chris Dill.

Memorials may be made to a favorite charity.

GEORGE BENNIE SIMPSON

UTICA George Bennie Simpson died Thursday, Oct. 11, 2001, in Chicago. He was 56.

Mr. Simpson was a former resident of Utica and Edwards communities.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris Wallace Simpson; his son, Benard Simpson; his daughter, Sumatra Simpson; a granddaughter, LaKeisha Scott; his parents, Millie and Willie Simpson; two sisters, Lula M. Barnes and Willie A. Simpson; and a brother, Tommy Hart Jr.

Survivors include a sister, Amy Simpson Burks of Edwards; a brother, John H. Simpson; two stepdaughters, Lawanda Baylock of Chicago and Jeanetta McCurine of California; five grandchildren, seven stepgrandchildren and other relatives.

Westhaven Memorial Funeral Home of Jackson has charge of the arrangements.

ARTHUR LEE WASHINGTON

PORT GIBSON Arthur Lee Washington died Friday, Oct. 12, 2001, in Claiborne County. He was 53.

Mr. Washington is survived by four sons, Arthur Lee Washington, Rakeem Washington, Eric Johnson and Derrick Johnson, all of Port Gibson; his daughter, Britany Washington of Port Gibson; five brothers, James W. Washington Jr. of Fayette, Richard Brown of Stone Mountain, Ga., Billy Brown of Menden, La., and Albert Brown and Eddie Brown, both of Port Gibson; six sisters, Ada Williams, Claudia Washington, Christine Washington, Sadie Wilson, Mary Brown and Florene Derby, all of Port Gibson; five grandchildren and other relatives.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Magnolia M.B. Church in Port Gibson with the Rev. James Dorsey officiating. Burial will follow at Thompson Memorial Garden Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until 6 today at Thompson Funeral Home in Port Gibson and from 1 p.m. until the service Wednesday at the church.