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.

Christy La’Shae Allen

Christy La’Shae Allen, infant daughter of Fred Allen and Dillette Howard of Vicksburg, died Monday, Jan. 20, 2003, at River Region Medical Center.

In addition to her parents, she is survived by her maternal grandparents, Willette Howard and Willie Howard, both of Vicksburg; paternal grandparents, Christine Thomas and James Allen, both of Vicksburg; and uncles, aunts and cousins.

Services will be at 9 a.m. Saturday at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Burial will follow under the direction of W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home.

Willie Daisy Bland

Services for Willie Daisy Bland will be at 11 a.m Saturday at Triumph M.B. Church with the Rev. Larry A. Nicks officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 until 7 tonight at W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home.

Mrs. Bland died Saturday, Jan. 18, 2003, at River Region Medical Center. She was 89.

A resident of Vicksburg, she was a homemaker. She was a member of the Adult Choir at Triumph M.B. Church, the Willing Worker’s Club and the Cool Spring Burial Society.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ollie Bland; her parents, Archie Jones Sr. and Clara Sanders; three brothers, Archie Jones Jr., Jerry Jones and Isaac Jones; and two sisters, Melva Gatewood and Mary Jones.

Survivors include two sons, Willie L. Bland and Curtis B. Bland, both of Vicksburg; four daughters, Ollye Johnson, Jeanette Patterson and Tempie Bland, all of Vicksburg, and Bertha Olliver of Southaven; two brothers, Woodrow Jones of Jackson and Eddie P. Jones of St. Louis, Mo.; a sister, Alma Jackson of Chicago; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Leslie Excelle Davis

Leslie Excelle Davis died Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2003, at River Region Medical Center. He was 79.

Mr. Davis was born in Allen, Miss. He was a veteran of the Army, serving from 1943 until his retirement in 1963. He also retired from Marathon-LeTourneau after 20 years of service.

He was a lifetime member of the Non-Commissioned Officers Association and a member of American Legion Post No. 91, VFW and Goodrum Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Bobbie Kim Davis of Vicksburg; four daughters, Carol Ford, Becky Thornton and Lisa Anderson, all of Vicksburg, and Mary Ellen Sumrall of Columbus; two sisters, Janie Stapp of Wesson and Velma Alford of Jackson; and seven grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Glenwood Funeral Home with the Rev. Ray Spence officiating. Burial will follow at Green Acres Memorial Park.

Visitation will be from 5 until 8 tonight at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Terry Jobe, Tim Wright, Chris Jennings, Charles Katzenmeyer, Vince Welch and Mike Herrington.

Honorary pallbearers will be Randy Ford, Chuck Thornton, Doyle Sumrall and Kyle Anderson.

Brenda Beard Gayton

Brenda Beard Gayton died Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2003, at River Region Medical Center. She was 43.

A resident of Vicksburg, Ms. Gayton was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She worked in the Vicksburg Warren School District.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Asberry Beard Sr. and Annie Lee Beard; and a brother, Asberry Beard Jr.

Survivors include a son, Cory Lynn Beard of Vicksburg; two daughters, Courtney Etta Beard and Christy Eliticia Beard, both of Vicksburg; five brothers, Michael Lee Beard of Colorado Springs, Co., Donald Lee Beard and Gregory Vincent Beard, both of Vicksburg, Frank Gerald Davis of Augusta, Ga., and Joslyn Stanford Davis of Biloxi; three sisters, Cynthia Odeal Simpson of Hepizibah, Ga., and Rita Ann Beard and Maria Michelle Beard, both of Augusta; a granddaughter; and other relatives.

Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.