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.

James Burns III

HARTFORD, Conn. James “Pop” Burns III died Sunday, Feb. 16, 2003, at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, Conn. He was 58.

Mr. Burns was a native of Vicksburg and a longtime resident of Connecticut.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Burns; one son, Christopher Burns; two daughters, LaKeisha Burns and Karemia Burns; six sisters, Hattie Jackson of California and Phalena Tyler Lewis, Helen Burns Howard, Millie Burns Lewis, JoAnn Burns Ragan and Ella Lee James, all of Vicksburg; six brothers, Donald Burns of Illinois and John Tyler, Lee Burns, Willie James Burns, Charles Burns and Cedric Burns, all of California; and other relatives, including members of the Wilson, Jackson, Cokley, Neal and Tyler families.

Services were at Sunday at Fuga Funeral Home in Hartford.

Vaughn E. Fields

Vaughn E. Fields died Sunday, Feb. 23, 2003, in Covington, La. He was 62.

A native of Monroe, Mr. Fields was the son of Vaughn E. and Lucy McLaurin Fields. Formerly of Vicksburg, he had been a Clinton resident for 38 years. He graduated in 1958 from Carr Central High School and in 1962 from the University of Mississippi, where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order.

He served in the Mississippi National Guard. He was a salesman for Davis, Geck and Cedaco Computers and was formerly affiliated with Stamm Advertising Co.

Mr. Fields was a charter member and president of Clinton Sertoma Club and helped found the Clinton Tee Ball and Soccer Club. He was a founding member of the Episcopal Church of the Creator, serving two terms as senior warden and as a member of the Vestry.

He is survived by his wife, Janie Selby Fields of Clinton; three daughters, Lucy Spangler of Vicksburg and Katherine Rhodes Fields and Lauchlin McLaurin Fields, both of Oxford; two sons, Vaughn E. Fields Jr. of Laurel and Talbot Selby Fields of Memphis; and a sister, Laurin Fields Stamm of Vicksburg.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Episcopal Church of the Creator, 1445 Clinton-Raymond Road in Clinton with the Revs. Luther Ott and Clifton McInnis officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery under the direction of Riles Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 until 7 p.m. Tuesday and from 10 a.m. Wednesday until the service at the church.

Pallbearers will be Bob Smith, Wyatt Newman, George Hoff, Joe Mellon, Lee Russell, Mike Barnes, Robert Thornton, Paul George, Carter Stamm and Craig Stamm.

Memorials may be made to the Episcopal Church of the Creator Building Fund, 1445 Clinton-Raymond Road, Clinton, MS 39056; Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research, 5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250, Dallas, TX 75244; or the American Cancer Society, 1380 Livingston Lane, Jackson, MS 39213.

Effie Harps

Effie Harps died Friday, Feb. 21, 2003, at River Region West. She was 80.

A native of Yokena, Mrs. Harps was a resident of Vicksburg. She was a homemaker and a member of Mount Givens M.B. Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Cornelius Harps; two daughters; six sisters; and four brothers.

Survivors include four sons, Freddie Harps and Claude Harps, both of Philadelphia, Penn., Robert Harps of Chicago and George Harps of Manassas, Va.; three daughters, Cornelia L. Harps Rodgers of Gary, Ind., Vivian Lee Harps Wells of New Orleans and Laeequ Ahmad of Waukegan, Ill.; a sister, Maude Drake of Vicksburg; 28 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; and other relatives.

Robbins Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Gene H. Hill

Gene H. Hill died Saturday, Feb. 22, 2003, at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson. He was 74.

Mr. Hill was a native of South Carolina and had lived in Utica before moving to Shubuta three years ago. He was an Army veteran of the Korean Conflict and worked as a civil engineer for 35 years for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He was of the Methodist faith.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Hill of Shubuta; a daughter, Deborah K. Lott of Jackson; four sons, Allen Hill of Vicksburg, Harry Hill of Gluckstadt, Tony Hill of Pelahatchie and Dale Hill of Shubuta; one sister, Ann Bostwick of St. Augustine, Fla.; one brother, Michael R. Hill of Mobile, Ala.; and 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 6 tonight at Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Brandon with the Rev. Ted Giordano officiating.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until the service at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, Mississippi Division, 1380 Livingston Lane, Jackson, MS 39213.