Ann S. Melton died Friday, Dec. 20, 2002, at the Heritage House Nursing Center. She was 78.

Mrs. Melton was a member of the First Baptist Church in Clinton and the Joymakers Senior Choir.

Survivors include two daughters, Kay Given of Clinton and Shirley Cummins of Vicksburg; two sons, Charles Melton of Pearl and James Harvey Melton of Vicksburg; three sisters, Clarice Young of Viola, Ark., Georgia Mae “Mickey” Barbarotto of Evening Shade, Ark., and Betty Hales of Monticello, Ark.; 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Riles Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. John G. McCall officiating. Burial will follow at Green Acres Cemetery.

Visitation will be at Rile Funeral Home from 2 until 5 p.m. today.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1900 Dunbarton Drive, Suite 1, Jackson, MS 39216 or the American Cancer Society, 1380 Livingston Lane, Jackson, MS 39213.

Pallbearers will be Steve Given, Chris Melton, Jason Cummings, Charles Melton, Jr., Justin Abernathy, Jimmy Hales and Ricky Hales.

JOSEPH E. PERKINS SR.

Joseph E. Perkins Sr. died Saturday, Dec. 21, 2002, in Southfield, Mich. He was 89.

Mr. Perkins retired from Valley Mill as a truck driver and was a member of Christ of Mount Heroden Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Nell Perkins; his parents, Horace Perkins and Ellen Carr Perkins and a son, Joseph E. Perkins Jr.

Survivors include six grandchildren, Pamela Perkins Smith of Southfield, Mich., Jacquelyn Perkins and Michelle Howard both of Chicago, Ill., Sheryl Perkins and Kimberly Perkins Heywood both of Bronx, New York State, Crystal Perkins of Ravena, New York State; two grandsons, Henry Perkins of Livonia, Mich. and Marshal Brown of Chicago, Ill; and other relatives.

Williams Funeral Service has charge of arrangements.

December 21, 2002

SAM DYKES JR.

Sam Dykes Jr. died Friday, Dec. 20, 2002, at River Region Medical Center. He was 72.

Mr. Dykes was formerly employed with Aden Brothers Farms.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Cornelia Dykes; a stepson, Jessie Hughes; a stepdaughter, Emma Lee White; and his parents.

Survivors include a stepdaughter, Alice Bailey of Vicksburg; two grandchildren, David Lee Burden Jr. and Patricia Bailey of Vicksburg; and two stepgrandsons, Co-wayne Dykes and Joe Dykes, both of Vicksburg; and other relatives and friends.

Williams Funeral Service has charge of arrangements.

HENRY ALDRED LaRUE

BELL ACRES, Pa. Henry Aldred “Hank” LaRue died Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2002, in Pennsylvania. He was 75.

Born in Denver, Colo., Mr. LaRue was a former Vicksburg resident and had lived in Bell Acres for 28 years. He was in the Navy and attended the University of Kansas, where he received a degree in business administration.

He had worked for Spencer Chemical Co. in Vicksburg, later serving as president of Pacific Gulf Oil Co. in Tokyo, executive vice president of Gulf Oil Middle East Co. and president of the Gulf Research and Development Co. in Pittsburgh.

He served six years on the Bell Acres Planning Commission and 10 years on the Bell Acres borough council.

He served on the board of directors at Gulf Oil, the R. Franklin Research Center of Philadelphia, Colorado School of Mines, the Research Institute in Golden, Colo., and the Salvation Army of Greater Pittsburgh.

Mr. LaRue received an achievement award in research at Slippery Rock University and was a member of the American Petroleum Institute, the American Chamber of Commerce in Seoul, Korea, Beta Theta Pi and Delta Sigma Pi.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Hughes LaRue and Leona Spencer Wood LaRue.

Survivors include his wife, Marion Klein LaRue of Bell Acres; a sister, Virginia Nolan of Tulsa, Okla.; two brothers, William LaRue of Overland Park, Kan., and Robert LaRue Jr. of Tulsa; and nieces and nephews.

Memorial services were held Dec. 9 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Sewickley, Pa.

Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army, 424 Third Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15219.