MARGARET BALLARD YOCHEM BOONE

TROY, S.C. Margaret Ballard Yochem Boone died Tuesday, July 2, 2002, at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood, S.C. She was 74.

Born in Newberry, S.C., Mrs. Boone was retired from Greenwood Mills where she was a member of the Quarter Century Club. She was a member of Bold Springs Baptist Church where she was a former member of the choir and a former Sunday school teacher.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Elvin Yochem; and her parents, Willie B. and Mattie Master Ballard.

She is survived by her husband, Hoyt Boone of Troy; four daughters, Sandra Burden and Harriet Wideman, both of Greenwood, Peggy Yochem of Ninety Six, S.C., and Janice Ashley of Vicksburg; her son, Gary L. Yochem of Mountville; her stepdaughter, Delores Melton of Greenwood; three stepsons, Marion Boone and Terry Boone, both of Greenwood, S.C., and Jerry Boone of Callison, S.C.; her brother, John Ballard of Ninety Six; two sisters, Ercel Kyzer of Greenwood and Mary Lomax of Ninety Six; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; 12 stepgrandchildren; and 11 stepgreat-grandchildren.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Harley Funeral Home in Greenwood with the Revs. Chris Garrison and Bennie Ridlehoover officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be from 7 until 9 tonight at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Bold Springs Baptist Church Family Life Center, 1321 Reedy Creek Road, Bradley, S.C. 29819; the Lupus Foundation of America, S.C. Chapter, P.O. Box 1427, Easley, S.C. 396441; or to a favorite charity.

JO MUIRHEAD CASTLEBERRY

Jo Muirhead Castleberry died Monday, July 1, 2002, at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland. She was 88.

A lifelong resident of Vicksburg, Mrs. Castleberry was the former owner and operator of Hillcrest Motel. She was a member of Gibson Memorial United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles K. Castleberry; and three sons, Charles Robert Castleberry, Frank W. Muirhead and Dan Muirhead; and a stepson, Charles K. Castleberry Jr.

She is survived by two sons, Preston Castleberry of Meridian and Bradley Castleberry of Fortson, Ga.; two daughters, Mary Sue Meadows of Vicksburg and Darlene Muirhead Roberts of Madison; her sister, Allene Stovall of Madison; 14 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Green Acres Memorial Park with the Rev. Ed Hightower officiating. Burial will follow under the direction of Glenwood Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m. Friday until the service at the funeral home.

WILLIE GRIFFIN SR.

Services for Willie “Fast Black” Griffin Sr. will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Mount Calvary M.B. Church. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

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

Mr. Griffin died Friday, June 28, 2002, at River Region Medical Center. He was 67.

Mr. Griffin was a self-employed carpenter.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Emma Nash and Wash Griffin, and two brothers.

He is survived by his wife, Mattie Cooper Griffin of Vicksburg; five sons, Willie Griffin Jr., Leroy Griffin, Rodney Griffin, Clarence Griffin and Tommy Curtis, all of Vicksburg; five daughters, Ingrid Winters and Sengrid Griffin, both of Vicksburg; Debora Walker and Mary Griffin, both of Orange, Texas, and Diane Washington of Los Angeles, Calif.; two sisters, Rosie Lee Griffin of Vicksburg and Charlene Nash of Detroit, Mich.; 26 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren; and friends and other relatives, including Louise Dorsey and Mary Bell, both of Vicksburg.

ELIZABETH O’NEIL HINDS

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Elizabeth “Beth” O’Neil Hinds died Monday, July 1, 2002, in Nashville. She was 67.

Born in Electric Mills, Kemper County, Mrs. Hinds was a former resident of Vicksburg and had lived in Huntsville for 35 years. She was an employee of The Parisian for more than 20 years. She was a member of First Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by two daughters, Mary Elizabeth Hinds of Nashville and Joy Hinds Robinette of Huntsville, Ala.; her son, Joseph Miller Hinds III of Williamston, S.C.; and five grandchildren.

Services were today at First United Methodist Church in Huntsville with the Rev. Coy Hallmark officiating. Burial followed at Maple Hill Cemetery under the direction of Laughlin Service Funeral Home in Huntsville.

Memorials may be made to Hospice Ministries or the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, 5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250, Dallas, Texas 75244.

CLARA ODELL JOHNSON

GREENWOOD Clara Odell Johnson died Monday, July 1, 2002, at Greenwood Leflore Hospital. She was 65.

Mrs. Johnson was born in Attala County and lived in Leflore County most of her life. She had been a resident of McCool for the past two months.

A homemaker, she was a member of the Vine Life Fellowship Church in Greenwood.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Benjamin Henry Johnson.

Survivors include five daughters, Judy King and Sue King, both of Hattiesburg, Jo Ann King of Vicksburg, Marie Wills of McCool and Lorena Wills of Mayflower, Ark.; five sons, Dale Johnson of Hattiesburg, Calvin Johnson of Greenwood, Richard Johnson of Houston, Texas, Thomas Johnson of Dallas and Jimmy Johnson of Chattanooga, Tenn.; two sisters, Mae Hamilton of Morton and Christine Kline of Graceland, La.; two brothers, Clifford Reynolds of Drew and Clyde Reynolds of Coppers Cove, Texas; and 20 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 4 p.m. today at Williams & Lord Funeral Home in Greenwood with the Rev. Dennis McKay officiating. Burial will follow at Mount Pisgah Cemetery in Teoc, Miss.

Pallbearers will be David King, Tony King, Jeramy King, James Dewayne King, A.J. Thornton and Jason Johnson.

HARRY WESLEY THIGPEN

Services for Harry Wesley Thigpen will be at 3 p.m. today at Fisher-Riles Funeral Home with the Revs. Dwight Sibley, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church and Kuhrman Cox, pastor of First Church of the Nazarene, officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 8:30 a.m. today until the service at the funeral home.

Mr. Thigpen died Monday, July 1, 2002, at University Medical Center. He was 21.

He was a native and resident of Vicksburg. He was a graduate of Warren Central High School and attended Hinds Community College. He was employed with LeTourneau Co. as an apprentice. He attended Calvary Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Harry and Maxine Stagg.

He is survived by his parents, William “Pewee” and Debra Thigpen of Vicksburg; two brothers, Eddie Thigpen and Britt Thigpen, both of Vicksburg; his paternal grandparents, William Thigpen of Redwood and Alice Ervin of Tallulah; his great-grandparents, Stanley and Faye Harman of Tallulah; and his great-great-grandmother, Bernice Phillips of Vicksburg.

Pallbearers will be James Gill, Bill McMullin, Trey Smith, Trey Martin, Colt Nichols, Harry Harton, Kyle Landers and Andy Rainey.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Hildon Sessums, Dr. Lee Giffin, Dr. Susan Chiarito, Dr. Michael Baker, Dr. Calvin Masterson, Dr. Bob Ford and staffs.