VALERIE SHELLEY JEFFERSON

Valerie Shelley “Val” Jefferson died Sunday, March 24, 2002, at her home. She was 43.

Mrs. Jefferson was a cashier at Wal-Mart SuperCenter. She was a member of Evergreen M.B. Church.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Alberta Rowster; her maternal grandmother, Olivia Barnes; and her paternal grandmother, Leeretta O. Woodland.

She is survived by her husband, James Jefferson Sr. of Vicksburg; two sons, Aaron Jefferson and James Jefferson Jr., both of Vicksburg; her daughter, Beletra Jefferson of Vicksburg; her father, Charlie Woodland of Vicksburg; five brothers, Timothy Rowster, William Rowster and Lamar Shelley, all of Vicksburg, Lee Shelley of Dallas, Texas, and Jimmy Rowster of Milwaukee, Wis.; six sisters, Celestine Bynum of Redwood, Gail Gleese, Joann Atlas, Linda Barnett and Doristine Rowster, all of Vicksburg, and Jacqueline Fields of Memphis; her maternal grandfather, Thomas Barnes Jr. of Onward; her paternal grandfather, Danny Woodland of Vicksburg; nieces; nephews; and other relatives.

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

GRADY FRANK KOWEN SR.

Grady Frank Kowen Sr. died Saturday, March 23, 2002, at River Region Medical Center West Campus. He was 85.

Mr. Kowen was a native of Baton Rouge and had lived in Vicksburg since 1944. He had built houses for 40 years. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church where he was a deacon.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Margie Lee Tingle Kowen; his parents, Joe and Maggie Rouse Kowen; two sons, Tommy G. Kowen and Robert G. Kowen.

He is survived by his daughter, Betty Diane McLeod of Vicksburg; a son, Grady Frank Kowen Jr. of Vicksburg; a brother, Clifford “Lon” Rodgers of Oberlin, La.; and five grandchildren, Toni Renee Miller, Heather Eileen Bivins, Robert Kelly Kowen, Terry Karnes and Bobby Kowen; seven great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; and other relatives.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Calvary Baptist Church with the Revs. Dwight Sibley and Ray Spence officiating. Burial will follow at Green Acres Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Fisher-Riles Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the church,

Pallbearers will be Jerry Bailey, Bill Downey, Willie Woodrick, Leo Townsend, Mickey Simmons and Fred Tingle.

Honorary pallbearers will be Shane Miller, John Mauck, Cecil Crosby, Russell Barnes, Charles Bland and Dr. John R. Ford.

Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 2878 Old Highway 27, Vicksburg, Miss. 39180.

RUTH MITCHELL MASSAD

MILLINGTON, Tenn. Ruth Mitchell Massad died Thursday, March 21, 2002, in Memphis. She was 85.

Mrs. Massad was a lifelong resident of Vicksburg. She and her husband, the late Dick M. Massad, owned Wayne’s Apparel for Women in Marshall, Texas, and Duncan, Okla., for 21 years. She was a Realtor associate with Wayne Thornton Realty for 17 years. She had lived in Millington, Tenn., since 1994. She was a member of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church and was affiliated with St. John Antiochian Orthodox Church in Memphis.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, M.J. Mitchell and Watfa Monsour Mitchell; and a grandson, David C. Scott.

She is survived by her daughter, Raenell Massad Scott of Memphis; her son, Wayne A. Massad of Millington; her sister, Marie Mitchell Crow of Huntsville, Ala.; two brothers, George M. Mitchell of Vicksburg and Paul M. Mitchell of Jackson; three grandchildren, Michael Scott, Michelle Massad and Melanie Massad; one great-grandchild; and other relatives.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church with the Rev. Peter Smith, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery under the direction of Fisher-Riles Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. Tuesday until the service at the church.

Pallbearers will be Victor Modsy, Mark Mitchell, Joey Mitchell, Ricky Mitchell, Jeff Mitchell, Dane Mitchell, Michael Mitchell, Mickey Mitchell, Brian Mitchell and David Mitchell.

Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Moses, Wayne Thornton, Lee Thomas, M.J. Nosser, Fred Najour, Freddy Abraham, Moses Moses Jr., Ellis Koury, Albert Moss, George Habeeb, George Nasif, E.J. Nosser, Rainey Scott, Dr. Woody Abraham Jr., Bilbo Mitchell Jr., Manny Mitchell, Dr. Ralph Abraham and the men and women of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church.

Memorials may be made to the David Charles Scott Memorial Scholarship Fund, Rhodes College Development Office, 2000 North Parkway, Memphis, Tenn. 38112.

GORDON LEE MONTGOMERY

MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. Gordon Lee Montgomery died Saturday, March 23, 2002, at Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home. He was 73.

Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Mr. Montgomery was employed as a sales representative for a wholesale paper company. He lived in Edwards for several years before moving to Mountain Home in 1998.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul M. Montgomery and Charlotte Morgan Thompson Montgomery.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Montgomery of Mountain Home; his sister, Shirley Williams of Sun City Center, Fla.; five nephews, Monty Williams, Jimmy Williams, Mark Williams, Mike Thompson and Lynn Thompson; and a niece, Alana Jean Duvall.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Roller Funeral Home in Mountain Home with Kent Goodall officiating.

Memorials may be made to the Gamma House in Mountain Home.