DOROTHY G. DOWNEY

Dorothy G. Downey died Thursday, March 21, 2002, at River Region Medical Center. She was 69.

A native and lifelong resident of Vicksburg, Mrs. Downey was the daughter of the late Otto Bernard Gorsch. She graduated from St. Francis Xavier Academy in 1950. She was a chief budget analyst of the engineering department of the Waterways Experiment Station for 33 years. She was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church.

In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Vannoy Downey.

She is survived by her son, Ben Downey of Plano, Texas; her daughter, Joan Foster of Kansas City, Mo.; her mother, Ethel Mae Gorsch of Vicksburg; and two grandchildren, Vann Downey and Adrienne Downey.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Fisher-Riles Funeral Home with the Rev. Thomas McGing, pastor of St. Paul Catholic Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Green Acres Memorial Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 until 7 tonight at the funeral home with wake at 6:30.

Pallbearers will be Billy Glenn Downey, Todd Downey, Mike B. Latham, Tommy Pantoliano, Everett Harmon, Wayne Pitre, Billy Donahue and Wayne Nevels.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1193, Vicksburg, MS 39181-1193.

BESS SELTON GRIFFIN

PIONEER, La. Bess Selton Griffin died Thursday, March 21, 2002, at West Carroll Care Center in Oak Grove, La. He was 89.

Mr. Griffin was a lifelong resident of Pioneer, La. A farmer and cattleman, he was a member of the New Hope Church of God. He was a horse whisperer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William G. and Rachel Griffin; and five brothers, Clyde Griffin, Everett Griffin, Ester Griffin, Hubert Griffin and Carl Griffin.

Survivors include his wife, Sybil Ernestine Griffin of Pioneer; a daughter, Carleen Reeves of West Monroe, La.; and two granddaughters and a great-grandchild.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Cox Chapel in Oak Grove with Dr. James Parker and the Rev. Carvin Adams officiating. Burial will follow at Unity Cemetery in Pioneer.

Visitation will be from 6 until 9 tonight at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Scottie Tullis, Larry Welch, Adam Martin, Harvey Patton, Pete Philley, Gene Hale and Allen Morrison.

ISHAMEL MAURICE SINGLETON

Services for Ishamel Maurice Singleton will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Travelers Rest Baptist Church, 718 Bowmar Ave. Burial will follow at Green Acres Memorial Park.

Visitation will be from 1 until 8 p.m. today at Lakeover Funeral Home in Jackson and from 1 p.m. Saturday until the service at the church.

Mr. Singleton, formerly of Vicksburg, died Tuesday, March 19, 2002, in Decatur, Ga. He was 25.

He was born in Flint, Mich., and attended high school in Vicksburg.

He is survived by his parents, John and Marceline Singleton of Vicksburg; two brothers, Elrick Christian of Saginaw, Mich., and Shabozz Singleton of Flint; a sister, Tanna Nicole Singleton of Vicksburg; four daughters, Gabrielle Singleton, Jaerka Carr and Javia Lockett, all of Vicksburg, and Timoya Ware of Okolona; a son, Karl Michael Graves of Vicksburg; uncles; aunts; nieces; nephews; and other relatives and friends.

WILLIE THOMAS

Services for Willie “Dickee” Thomas will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Spring Hill M.B. Church. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 until 7 tonight at Williams Funeral Service.

Mr. Thomas died Sunday, March 17, 2002, at his home. He was 61.

Mr. Thomas was of the Baptist faith and a former employee of Anderson-Tully and Baxter-Wilson Entergy.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Thomas Sr. and Malinda Washington, and a sister, Rosa James.

He is survived by a daughter, Cora Clark of Vicksburg; two brothers, William Washington Jr. of Yazoo City and Michael Washington of Vicksburg; three sisters, Mildred Harris, Josie Williams and Linda Washington, all of Vicksburg; his stepfather, Preacher Washington of Vicksburg; a grandson, Bobby Clark Jr. of Vicksburg; and other relatives and friends.

DRENON ALVER WALL

LAKE PROVIDENCE Drenon Alver “Sonny” Wall died Wednesday, March 20, 2002, at East Carroll Parish Hospital in Lake Providence. He was 79.

Mr. Wall was born in Fryburg, La.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Allean and Tony Lamar Wall, and a sister, Nell Hoenke.

Survivors include his wife, Mildred Wall of Lake Providence; three sons, Tony Jack Wall of Lake Providence, Tommy Wall of Monroe and Gerald Wall of Birmingham, Ala.; five sisters, Grace Haddox and Nan Pace, both of Ruston, La., Beth Suggs of Shreveport, Beryl Wall of Cleveland, Miss., and Tona Hickman of Purvis; and six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Cox Chapel in Lake Providence with V.W. Hayhearst officiating. Burial will follow at Providence Memorial Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Keith Wall, Steven Wall, Benji Wall, Milton Roeder, Joey Russ and Robert Doland.

TRUDY ELIZABETH WILLIAMS

Services for Trudy Elizabeth Williams were at 10 a.m. today at Glenwood Funeral Home. Burial followed at Green Acres Memorial Park.

Mrs. Williams died Wednesday, March 20, 2002, at River Region Medical Center. She was 49.

Mrs. Williams was a native of Simmesport, La., and had lived most of her life in the Eagle Lake community. She worked as a school bus driver for the Vicksburg Warren School District.

She was a member of Eagle Lake Baptist Church and the Rockin’ Grandmothers Bowling League.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Ola Jane Roy.

Mrs. Williams is survived by her husband, Norman Williams of Eagle Lake; three sons, Kenny Williams, Johnnie Williams and Scott Williams, all of Vicksburg; one daughter, Shona Cook of Vicksburg; a brother, Dwayne Charles Roy of Vicksburg; a sister, Tonga Lee Vinson of Vicksburg; her father, Charlie Roy of Vicksburg; 10 grandchildren; and nephews.

Pallbearers were Jack Cooper, Mike Ouzts, James Brown, Tommy Gordon, Joshua Roy and Larry Vinson.

Honorary pallbearers were Francis Hedrick, Shirley Nevels, Angelina Garcia and the doctors and nursing staff of the fifth floor of River Region Medical Center.