The Vicksburg Post prints obituaries for residents, former residents and residents’ immediate family members who resided elsewhere when notified by a family member or a funeral home. There is no charge for printing an obituary, but all are edited to meet the newspaper’s requirements.

MILTON HERLONG BRUCE

HERMANVILLE Milton Herlong Bruce died Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2002, at Hospice of Central Mississippi in Ridgeland. He was 81.

Born in Hermanville, Mr. Bruce graduated from Port Gibson High School in 1941. He attended Hinds Junior College. He was a longtime member of the Hermanville United Methodist Church and had been a member of Utica United Methodist Church for the past four years.

He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Asiatic Pacific American Theatre in the Navy from 1944 until 1946. He was decorated for his service as a Navy Fireman First Class.

Mr. Bruce retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 1987 after 10 years as a rural route letter carrier. He had also worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Soil Conservation Service in Port Gibson. He was a livestock, soybean and tree farmer.

Survivors include his wife, Daphne Middlebrook Bruce of Hermanville; three daughters, Cynthia Blackwell of Jackson, Barbara DeMatteis of Vicksburg and Jana Hoops of Ridgeland; one granddaughter, Suzy Hoops of Ridgeland; and nieces.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Utica United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Hermanville Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 3 until 6 p.m. Friday at Glenwood Funeral Home in Port Gibson.

Pallbearers will be Raymond Joyner, Steve Purvis, Tony Cox, Jerry Morgan, Jim Turnage and Don Price.

Memorials may be made to the Utica Christian Church.

ROBERT CAGE

Services for Robert Cage will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at New Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church with the Rev. Robert L. Miller officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be all day Friday at Robbins Funeral Home Chapel and from 10 a.m. until the service Saturday at the church.

Mr. Cage died Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2002, at River Region Medical Center. He was 84.

He was born in Oak Ridge and was a lifelong resident of Vicksburg.

He was a member of the 226th Engineering Regiment of the U.S. Army during World War II and was awarded numerous citations for combat.

He was a member of the China Grove Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Addie B. Wallace.

He is survived by four sons, Robert Cage Jr., of Long Beach and Earnest Cage Sr., Dujuan Cage and Demond Cage, all of Vicksburg; six daughters, Mable Jennings, Rosie Cage and Jennifer Cage, all of Vicksburg, Beverly Aikerson of Lorman, and Robbie Davis and Ida Torrey, both of Oxford; 20 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

RUFORD DENNIS CRAIN

OAK GROVE Ruford Dennis Crain died Monday, Dec. 2, 2002, at The Arbor in West Monroe, La. He was 79.

A resident of Oak Grove, Mr. Crain worked for LP&L Power Plant. He was a veteran of the Marine Corps serving in the South Pacific during World War II and a member of Beulah Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie Cleveland Crain and Cynthia Cornellea Crain.

Survivors include his wife, Margie Thomas Crain of Oak Grove; a son, William Dennis Crain of Monroe, La.; a daughter, Mary Crain Hannah of Oak Grove; a sister, Charlene Chapman of Dallas, Texas; seven grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 3 p.m. today at Beulah Baptist Church in Oak Grove with the Rev. Jule Thomas officiating. Burial will follow at Beulah Cemetery under the direction of Cox Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Dennis Dunn, Jimmy Hannah, Philip Crain, Adam Crain, Roman Rachal and Randy Hammett.

Honorary pallbearers will be workers from LP&L Power Plant.

BERNARD HYDER

PORT GIBSON Bernard Hyder died Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2002, at University Medical Center in Jackson. He was 57.

Mr. Hyder worked as an operator at Beesley’s Sawmill for a number of years. He was of the Baptist faith.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank Hyder and Mattie Simmons Hyder.

Survivors include his wife, Sherwyn G. Hyder of Jackson; three sons, Quintin Rhodes of Jackson and Elbert Hyder and Tommy Hyder, both of Port Gibson; a stepson, Terrence L. Linston of Houma, La.; three daughters, Joyce Ann Hyder of Port Gibson and Gloria Rhodes-Tornes and Kim Rhodes-Barber, both of Jackson; eight brothers, Eddie L. Hyder, Melvin Hyder, Alfred Simmons, Louis Hyder, Roosevelt Simmons, Henry Hyder, Isaac “Skipper” Hyder and Johnny Watson, all of Port Gibson; six sisters, Lillian Simmons, Mary Simmons, Mildred Simmons, Katie Branch, Susie Newsome and Willie B. Farmer, all of Port Gibson; 19 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and nieces, nephews and other relatives, including Geraldine Payne and Kelvin Wade, both of Port Gibson.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Magnolia M.B. Church in Port Gibson with the Rev. James Dorsey officiating. Burial will follow at Springhill M.B. Church Cemetery in Port Gibson.

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