Howard “Noos Rat” or “Daddy Rat” Jones Jr. died Sunday, Dec. 29, 2002, at University Medical Center in Jackson. He was 54.

A Vicksburg native, Mr. Jones was the son of the late Howard and Selena Jones. He was a Vietnam veteran and member of American Legion Post No. 230.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Jackson and Margaret Harris; his paternal grandparents, John and Susie Jones; a brother, Willie Dumas; uncles and aunts, including Abbie Jackson, who reared him.

He is survived by five sisters, Pearl Jones, Gladys Jones and Rosemary Jones, all of Gary, Ind., and Deborah Padgett and Gwen Dumas, both of Minneapolis, Minn.; two brothers, Terion Jones and Jeffery Harris, both of Gary; six adopted sisters, Savannah Holmes, Mable Burks, Jean Jackson, Shirley Thompson and Jerry Jackson, all of Vicksburg, and Susie Jones of Grand Rapids, Mich.; four adopted brothers, Joe Jones, Willie Jones and Alton Jackson, all of Vicksburg, and Alonzo Jones of Morton; and nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives, including members of the Thomas, Strong, Brown and Harris families of Vicksburg.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Oak Chapel M.B. Church in Bovina. Burial will follow at Bethlehem Cemetery in Bovina.

Visitation will be from 1 until 8 p.m. Saturday at Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home.

Frank Matthews Jr.

TALLULAH Frank Matthews Jr. died Monday, Dec. 30, 2002, at Madison Parish Hospital in Tallulah. He was 75.

A resident of Tallulah, Mr. Matthews was a retired painter. He was of the Baptist faith.

Survivors include three brothers, George H. Matthews of Vicksburg, Robert N. Matthews of Metropolis, Ill., and Joe Matthews of Rayville, La.; two sisters, Fannie Sherman of Tallulah and Doris Frith of Lake Providence; nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Services were at 11 a.m. today at the Silver Cross Cemetery in Tallulah with the Rev. John Rushing officiating. Burial followed under the direction of Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home.

Johnie Mae Beadle Middleton

JACKSON Johnie Mae Beadle Middleton died Monday, Dec. 30, 2002, in Jackson. She was 89.

Born in Memphis, Mrs. Middleton lived in Jackson. She was a graduate of Jackson College and attended the Atlanta School of Social Work. She was a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church where she served as organist, Sunday school superintendent, Vestry member and teacher. She was retired from the Jackson Public School System and was a founding member of Tau Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and the LeFleur’s Bluff Chapter of the Links, Inc.

She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. Colonel Richard T. Middleton; and her parents, Richard Henry Beadle and Juanita Davis Beadle.

Survivors include three sons, Richard T. Middleton III of Vicksburg, Paul B. Middleton and Michael Middleton; a daughter, Jeanne Middleton-Hairston; two sisters, Anita Beadle Scott and Barbara Beadle Barber; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

Westhaven Memorial in Jackson has charge of arrangements.