The Rev. Billy E. Roby died Monday, Jan. 13, 2003, at Jackson Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, Tenn. He was 71.

The son of the late S.D. and Gertrude Bankston Roby, Rev. Roby was a native of Attala County. He received his bachelor’s degree from Mississippi College and a master of divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. He pastored churches in Kentucky, Arkansas, Ohio and Mississippi, including Bowmar Baptist Church in Vicksburg, and held interim positions in Tennessee during his retirement.

He had served as a member of the Board of Associates at Cumberland College and was a former member of the Board of Trustees of Mid-Western Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo.

He was a member of First Baptist Church, where he served as teacher of the Emmanuel Sunday school class.

Survivors include his wife, Bobbie Gatewood Roby of Jackson; two sons, Dr. Billy Andrew Roby of Shelby, N.C., and Paul Stephen Roby of Fort Worth, Texas; two sisters, Faye Keown of Vicksburg and Linda Groff of Fort Myers, Fla.; four grandchildren; and nieces, nephews and friends.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Arrington Funeral Directors chapel with Dr. Herbert Higdon and the Rev. Dan Bruce officiating and at 2 p.m. Friday at Breeland Funeral Home in Canton. Burial will follow the Friday service at Canton City Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 until 8 tonight at Arrington Funeral Directors and from 10 a.m. until noon Friday at Breeland Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 1627 N. Highland Ave., Jackson, TN 38305.

Robert Michael Southall

Robert Michael “Mike” Southall died Monday, Jan. 13, 2003, in Beaumont, Texas. He was 52.

A native of Vicksburg, Mr. Southall was a graduate of Warren Central High School and attended Hinds Junior College. He was self-employed and a member of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church.

He is survived by Nell Southall of Vicksburg; two daughters, Missy Southall Broome of Vicksburg and Jennifer Southall of Birmingham, Ala.; one son, Michael Southall of Hattiesburg; a sister, Barbara Applewhite of Florence; one granddaughter, Macy Ryan Broome of Vicksburg; and other relatives.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Fisher Funeral Home with the Rev. Brian Ivey, pastor of Highland Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 until 7 tonight at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be J.C. Conerly Jr., Paul Conerly, David Conerly, Mark Conerly, Bodie Conerly and Barry Shelton.

Honorary pallbearers will be J.C. Conerly Sr., Jimmy Crout, Barry Bagby, Joey Mitchell, Larry Rocconi, Chuck Schneider, Cecil Simmons, Jeff Southall, Scottie Southall, Butch Spivey, Randy Thorne, Eddie Smith, Joe Neely, Ben Turbeville, Brad Turbeville and Luther Turbeville.

Memorials may be made to Warren Central High School, c/o the Eric Smith Foundation, 1000 Highway 27, Vicksburg, MS 39180; the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1193, Vicksburg, MS 39181-1193; or to the American Heart Association, 3 Forest Hill Circle, Vicksburg, MS 39180.