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.

Lydia Bryant

Lydia Bryant died Sunday, March 2, 2003, at River Region Medical Center. She was 78.

A native of Natchez, Mrs. Bryant was the daughter of Benjamin F. and Ethel Shaw Gilbert. Shortly after World War II, Mrs. Bryant came to Vicksburg to complete training to be a registered nurse. She worked at Vicksburg Hospital, Vicksburg Infirmary and Kuhn Memorial Hospital, where she retired in 1987.

She was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church.

Mrs. Bryant is survived by her husband, Kelly Bryant Sr. of Vicksburg; three sons, James F. Bryant, Kelly Bryant Jr. and Stan Bryant, all of Vicksburg; a brother, Clarence Gilbert of McComb; and five grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Natchez City Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 10 until 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Riles Funeral Home in Vicksburg.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul Catholic Church, P.O. Box 646, Vicksburg, MS 39181, or to Catholic Charities, P.O. Box 2248, Jackson, MS 39225.

Mary L. Penix

Mary L. Penix died Saturday, March 1, 2003, at Heritage House Nursing Home in Vicksburg. She was 78.

Born in Vicksburg, Mrs. Penix lived a number of years in Texas before returning to Vicksburg 20 years ago. She was retired from Southwestern Insurance Company in Dallas, Texas, and was a member of Gibson Memorial United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry O. Penix; her parents, Robert Lee and Mary Alice Miller Hallberg; and a brother, Robert C. Hallberg.

Survivors include aunts, uncles and cousins.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Green Acres Memorial Park with the Rev. Jim Williams officiating. Burial will follow under the direction of Glenwood Funeral Homes.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the service Tuesday at the funeral home.

Elbert Smith

Services for Elbert “Red” Smith will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Porters Chapel Baptist Church with the Rev. Henry Williams officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be Tuesday at Robbins Funeral Home and from noon until the service Wednesday at the church.

Mr. Smith died Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003, at River Region Medical Center. He was 93.

A native of Yazoo County, Mr. Smith lived in Vicksburg and was retired from Anderson-Tully Co.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Rush Smith; a daughter; three sisters, and six brothers.

Survivors include two sons, Willie James Smith of Delta Junction, Ala., and John Shelton of Vicksburg; three daughters, Evelyn Byrd, Pearlie Twilley and Dorothy Shelby, all of Vicksburg; a sister, Marie Bowman of Yazoo City; a brother, Ned Smith of Yazoo City; 18 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; and other relatives.