February 21, 2003
Published 12:00 am Friday, February 21, 2003
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.
Clara Funches Berry
LOS ANGELES Clara Funches Berry, a former Vicksburg resident, died Monday, Feb. 17, 2003, at Daniel Freeman Hospital in Hawthorne, Calif. She was 65.
Mrs. Berry was retired from the Vicksburg Warren School District and was a former employee of Electronic System Programming in Los Angeles. She was a member of Rock of Ages M.B. Church.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Judith Marie Coleman; her parents, George and Mary Funches; a brother, George Funches Jr.; and three sisters, Hydinia Ross, Katherine Hubbard and Verlean Funches.
Survivors include her husband, James Charles Berry of Los Angeles; one daughter, Diane Ridge of Los Angeles; three stepdaughters, Diane Thomas of Memphis, Birda Ann Amos of Vicksburg and Terry Berry of Los Angeles; two stepsons, Charles Berry Jr. and Carl Berry, both of Los Angeles; two brothers, Robert Funches and Carl Berry, both of Los Angeles; three sisters, Ardella Wall and Burtee Hunt, both of Los Angeles, and Patricia Wright of Vicksburg; 14 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, friends and other relatives, including Hilliard Berry of Vicksburg.
Services will be at noon Monday at Atherton M.B. Church with the Rev. Elbert Cotton officiating.
Angelus Funeral Home in Los Angeles has charge of arrangements.
Robert Butler Jr.
PORT GIBSON Robert Butler Jr. died Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2003, at River Region Medical Center. He was 80.
Mr. Butler was a member of Magnolia M.B. Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Willie L. Butler; a son, Dunnie Ray White; and his parents.
He is survived by nine sons, Robert L. Butler and Albert Butler, both of Port Gibson, Edward Butler and Larry Butler, both of Kenner, La., Percy Butler of New Orleans, Charles Butler of Jackson, Calvin Butler of Birmingham, Ala., and Dale Butler and James Butler, both of Stone Mountain, Ga.; five daughters, Annie Archer and Gale Butler, both of Port Gibson, Mary Rose Washington of New Orleans and Avis Turner and Lula Woodint, both of Monticello; a brother, George Butler of Brandon; a sister, Cloteal Butler of Chicago; 46 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Port Gibson with the Rev. James Dorsey officiating. Burial will follow at Thompson Memorial Garden Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 1 until 6 today at Thompson Funeral Home in Port Gibson and from 1:30 p.m. Saturday until the service at the church. Family hour will be from 7 until 8 tonight.
Jimmy Lee Jr.
RIALTO, Calif. Jimmy “Manson” Lee Jr. died Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2003, in Rialto, Calif. He was 39.
Mr. Lee was born in Hollandale to Jimmy Sr. and Jean Lavern Lee. He graduated in 1982 from Glen Allan High School and attended a number of colleges, receiving several awards and honors. He was employed with California’s Social Services Department in Los Angeles.
He was a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church in San Bernardino, where he served as co-pastor.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon Lee of Rialto; one son, Kevion Lee of Rialto; four sisters, Alma Jean Lee of Greenville and Kathy Lee, Felicia Lee and Kimberly Lee, all of Glen Allan; aunts, including Emma Dora Smith of Jackson; uncles; and other relatives and friends.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Glen Allan Elementary School auditorium with Melton Evans officiating. Burial will follow at Glen Allan Cemetery under the direction of Walker Funeral Home of Rolling Fork.
E.T. Neal
MEMPHIS Services for E.T. Neal will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Greater Adelaide Baptist Church in Memphis. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Monday at West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery under the direction of Harrison’s Funeral Home in Memphis.
Mr. Neal died Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2003, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis. He was 56.
A former resident of Champaign, Ill., Mr. Neal lived in Memphis. He was an Air Force veteran.
He was preceded in death by his father, Jimmie Neal Sr., and two sisters, Dorothy White and Jessie Neal.
Survivors include his wife, Willa Williams Neal of Memphis; a daughter, Chandra Faye Neal of Joliet, Ill.; a son, Donnie Neal of Joliet; his mother, Georgia Neal of Vicksburg; five sisters, Victora N. Thomas, Zelmarie Neal and Gloria N. Ivy, all of Vicksburg, Shirley Mollette of Chicago and Avion Lee of Zion, Ill.; three brothers, Jimmie Neal Jr., Phillip Neal and Dwayne Neal, all of Memphis; five stepdaughters, Valerie Williams, Brenda Williams, Gayla Williams, Carla Williams and Maria Williams, all of Champaign; four stepsons, Alvin Williams of Memphis and Joe Williams, Douglas Williams and Carlos Williams, all of Champaign; a grandson whom he reared, Devon Williams of Memphis; seven grandchildren; and the Pettis family of Vicksburg.