LOUISE PECK SIMS

WOODVILLE, Miss. Louise Peck Sims died Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2002, at Field Memorial Hospital in Centreville, Miss. She was 87.

Mrs. Sims was a resident of Woodville, a church mother at Chapel Baptist Church and a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Wesley Sims; and her parents, Horace Peck and Emiline Woods.

Survivors include four sons, Donald Sims of Aurora, Colo., Ernest Sims of Stone Mountain, Ga., Larry Sims of Fairfield, Ala., and Alvin Sims of Gautie, Miss.; four daughters, Odessa Williams of Vicksburg, Marilyn Reynaud of Baton Rouge and Barbara Smith and Francis Wright, both of Muskegon, Mich.; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Chapel Baptist Church in Woodville with the Rev. Allen Scott officiating. Burial will follow at Mount Olive Cemetery under the direction of Williams and Williams Funeral Home in Natchez.

EDDIE THOMAS SR.

Eddie Thomas Sr. died Thursday, Nov. 14, 2002, in Birmingham, Ala. He was 73.

Mr. Thomas was born in Sharkey County to Frank and Everleen Thomas. In 1946, he moved to Vicksburg, where he owned and operated Palace Barber Shop for 55 years.

He joined St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and was a member of the NAACP, Barber and Beauticians Club, D.W. Simmons Brotherhood Relief Club and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Day Committee. He participated in the Civil Rights movement in Vicksburg, addressing Pleasant Green Baptist Church as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about the importance of voting.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Thomas, and three brothers, Eugene Lane Sr., Smith Thomas and John Lane.

He is survived by his wife, Louise Jones Thomas of Birmingham; one son, Eddie Thomas Jr. of Atlanta; one daughter, Vallery T. Lee of Birmingham; a sister, Earnestine Thomas of Denver; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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

MARCUS WALTMAN

Services for Marcus Waltman were at 11 a.m. today at Green Acres Memorial Park with Capt. Julie Showers officiating. Burial followed under the direction of Glenwood Funeral Home.

Mr. Waltman died Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2002, at River Region Medical Center. He was 97.

Born in Jones County, Mr. Waltman was a resident of Vicksburg for 31 years. He attended the Salvation Army, was a retired farmer and an Army veteran, serving during World War II.

He was preceded in death by two sons, John Waltman and Larry Waltman.

He is survived by his wife, Trudy Waltman; a son, Fred Waltman of Texarkana, Texas; two daughters, Pat Ozburn of Vicksburg and Linda Welch of Eudora, Ark.; 10 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Paul Barlow, Doug Barlow, Bob Marr, John Magruder, Rick Wilson and Vernon Plett.

GRACE PENLEY WRIGHT

Grace Penley Wright died Thursday, Nov. 14, 2002, at Vicksburg Medical Center. She was 83.

A lifelong resident of Vicksburg, Mrs. Wright was the daughter of the late Frank N. Penley and Leila E. Standford Penley. She was a lifelong member of First Christian Church, where she was in the choir.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by six siblings and her husband, Henry C. Wright.

Survivors include her daughter, Leila G. Moore of Vicksburg; two sisters, Vivian P. Hilderbrand and Sara P. McCaskill, both of Vicksburg; three grandchildren, Lindsey Wright, Ashley N. Moore and Justin W. Moore; and two great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Fisher Funeral Home with Hancell Bankester officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be from noon Saturday until the service at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be nephews: Mark Hilderbrand, Keith Penley Hilderbrand, Penley Sorrels, George Wright, Buck Penley and Buddy Baker.

Memorials may be made to First Christian Church of Vicksburg.