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.

Lucille C. Hope

YAZOO CITY Lucille C. Hope died Sunday, May 4, 2003, at Yazoo Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was 83.

Born in Yazoo County, Mrs. Hope was a member of Center Ridge Baptist Church. She retired from the dietary department of the Care Inn.

She is survived by three sons, Kenneth Wayne Hope and Larry Carl Hope, both of Yazoo City, and Robert S. Hope Jr. of Vicksburg; two sisters, Florene May and Lillian Ables, both of Yazoo City; one brother, H.D. Hagen of Bastrop, La.; and four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert S. Hope.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Stricklin-King Funeral Home in Yazoo City with the Rev. Bryan Abel officiating. Burial will follow at Center Ridge Cemetery.

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

Lafayette Matthew Praetorius

OAK GROVE Lafayette Matthew “Fate” Praetorius, infant son of Shane M. and Leslie Coahoma Whorton Praetorius of Oak Grove, died Saturday, May 3, 2003, at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans.

He was preceded in death by a great-grandmother, Shirley Praetorius.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by a brother, Calvin Frederick Praetorius of Oak Grove; his maternal grandparents, Lester and Joan Whorton of Oak Grove; his paternal grandparents, Gerard Praetorius, Jacquelyn Ortalano and Don Seaton, all of New Orleans; his great-grandfather, Leo Praetorius of New Orleans; and other relatives.

Services were at 10 a.m. today at Goodwill Church of God in Goodwill, La., with the Rev. David Radford officiating. Burial followed at McGaha Memorial Cemetery in Red Wing, La., under the direction of Cox Funeral Home of Oak Grove.

Pallbearers were John Gustin and Shane Praetorius.

Nellie Melville Kitchens

Nellie Melville Kitchens died Sunday, May 4, 2003, at Vicksburg Convalescent Home. She was 98.

A Brookhaven native, Mrs. Kitchens was the daughter of Charles and Annie Jordan Melville. She was a former resident of Birmingham, Ala., and Jackson, and she had lived in Vicksburg for a number of years.

She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church of Jackson.

She is survived by a daughter, Faye M. Gaines of Vicksburg; three grandchildren, Robert M. Gaines of Jackson, Kathryn E. Gaines of Chicago and W. Jeffrey Gaines of Biloxi; and nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Rosehill Cemetery in Brookhaven. Burial will follow under the direction of Riles Funeral Home.