JOHN F. BAKER

The Rev. John F. Baker died Friday, Feb. 8, 2002, at ParkView Regional Medical Center. He was 79.

The Rev. Baker was born in Athens, Ala. He lived in Vicksburg for 17 years. He served with the Army during World War II, achieving the rank of sergeant. He worked as a farmer and as a pastor for several churches in Louisiana. He was a member of Pioneer Assembly of God Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Eupha Mae Baker.

He is survived by two sons, John E. Baker of Forsyth, Mo., and Roger F. Baker of West Monroe, La.; one daughter, Jo Ann Mannon of Harrisonburg, La.; one brother, Vaughan Baker of Blytheville, Ark.; eight sisters, Edna Scott of Humble, Texas, Sarah Adams of Assumption, Ill., Maxine Ray of Line Oak, Fla., Earline Nash of Dudley, Mo., Doris Oxford of Blytheville, Ark., Carolyn Walker and Emma Jean Eubanks, both of Kennette, Mo. and Rita Sliger of Southaven; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Eagle Lake Baptist Church with the Rev. Chris Dupree, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. at Providence Memorial Gardens near Winnsboro, La.

Visitation will be at Eagle Lake Baptist Church from 3 p.m. Sunday until 5.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.

Pallbearers will be Darryl Baker, Eugene Baker, Jim Mannon, Jonathan Mannon, Seth Baker, Parker Leon, Todd Savage and Chris Walker.

RODERICK EARL EASTMAN

Roderick Earl Eastman died Monday, Feb. 4, 2002, at St. Therese Medical Center in North Chicago, Ill. He was 34.

Mr. Eastman was a factory worker in Illinois. He was of the Baptist faith.

He is survived by Janice Franklin of Waukegan, Ill.; one son, Roderick E. Eastman, Jr. of Waukegan, Ill.; two daughters, Ra’Shenique Eastman of Waukegan, Ill., and Ieasha Eastman of Jackson; his father, William Eastman of Vicksburg; his mother, Betty Wilson Eastman of Vicksburg; three brothers, Edward Pettis and William Eastman, Jr., both of Vicksburg, and Fabian Eastman, of Waukegan, Ill.; and four sisters, Anita Eastman, Tikeasha Eastman, Angela Eastman and Pam Eastman, all of Vicksburg.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the chapel of W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home with the Rev. E.W. Cosey officiating. Burial will follow at the Mt. Givens M.B. Church Cemetery in Yokena.

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

HAZEL HAMILTON

PORT GIBSON Hazel Hamilton died Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2002, at University Medical Center in Jackson. She was 59.

Mrs. Hamilton was a Port Gibson resident.

She was preceded in death by a son, Daron Hamilton; a sister, Mary Liza Thomas; and two brothers, Fred Keif and Jessie Shorter.

She is survived by three daughters, Maple Blount of Houston, Texas, and Debra Thornton and Sharon King, both of Port Gibson; four brothers, Willie Shorter, Charlie Shorter and Johnnie Shorter, all of Port Gibson, and Lee Earnest Shorter of Syracuse, N.Y.; 13 grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, friends and other relatives, including Jessie Bruce of Rolling Fork.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Ashland M.B. Church with the Rev. James Dorsey officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

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

ROBERT M. HUFFMAN

HATTIESBURG The Rev. Robert M. Huffman died Friday, Feb. 8, 2002, at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg. He was 65.

The Rev. Huffman served as a minister with the United Methodist Church for 40 years at 22 different churches. He served on several district and conference boards. He was a member of Court Street United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Imogene Pickett Huffman of Hattiesburg; his mother, Lucy Huffman of Pelahatchie; three sons, Steve Huffman of Forrest, Mike Huffman of Sumrall and Davis Huffman of Mt. Olive; one daughter, Marsha Bishop of Long Beach; one brother, Gerald Huffman of Brandon; and one sister, Betty Bowman of Pelahatchie.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Court Street United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery.

Visitation will be at Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home from 4 p.m. Sunday until 6.

Memorials may be made to churches that Huffman served or the church of the donor’s choice.

Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home has charge of services.

EDDIE SCOTT

Eddie “Papa” Scott died Friday, Feb. 8, 2002, at his home. He was 76.

Mr. Scott was a retired cafe owner and operator. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served during World War II. He was a member of the Baptist faith.

He is survived by his son, John Perkins of Vicksburg; two daughters, Anna Perkins and Viola Perkins, both of Vicksburg; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

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

VIOLA WILLIAMS WARD

PORT GIBSON Viola Williams Ward died Monday, Feb. 4, 2002, at her home in Port Gibson. She was 101.

Mrs. Ward was a member of Jerusalem Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Janie Williams; her husband, Randolph Ward; three daughters, Mattie Sawyer, Josie B. Ward and Susie Weathersby; five sisters; three brothers; and a granddaughter, Willie Gibson Davis.

She is survived by a daughter, Teola Currie of Pittsburgh, Calif.; 10 grandchildren, including Ollie Wells of Port Gibson and Leola Sidney of Pittsburgh; 33 great-grandchildren, including Carla Sawyer of Port Gibson; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Springhill Baptist Church in Port Gibson with the Rev. Eddie Walls officiating, assisted by the Rev. Jonathan amlin.

Visitation will be from 1 until 6 p.m. Sunday at Thompson Funeral Home in Port Gibson and from 10 a.m. Monday until the service at the church.

CLARA WINSTON

Clara Winston died Friday, Feb. 8, 2002, at ParkView Regional Medical Center. She was 88.

Mrs. Winston was a homemaker and member of Mount Calvary M.B. Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Winston; her parents, George and Esther Mace; two sisters, Velma Burks and Lue Vester Hayes; and two brothers, Stafford Mace and Virgil Mace.

Survivors include a daughter, Lynette W. O’Neal of Edwards; three brothers, Huey Mace Sr. of Vicksburg, Robert Mace of Chicago and Roscoe Mace of Stone Mountain, Ga.; four sisters, Queen Esther Jackson of Edwards, Mynetta Smith of Jackson, Allien Moore of Oakland, Calif., and Ethel Mace of Indianapolis, Ind.; and one grandchildren, one great-grandchild, friends and other relatives, including Jeff O’Neal, Roosevelt Mace and George William Mace, all of Edwards.

Williams Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.