May 29, 2003

Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 29, 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.

Dr. Felix Marcel Brown

Dr. Felix Marcel Brown died Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at his home in Dedham, Mass. He was 36.

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A Vicksburg native, Dr. Brown lived in Jamaica Plain, Mass., for eight years before moving to Dedham a year ago. He graduated as co-valedictorian from Vicksburg High School, where he was president of the Student Council and Key Club and served as editor of the yearbook.

He received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Oklahoma and his doctor of medicine from Yale University. He served as student body president for the Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City Campus, and was awarded the Letzeiser Award, the highest honor given to a graduating senior at the University of Oklahoma for scholarship and service.

He completed his residency in pathology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard University’s primary teaching hospital, where he was hired as the first African-American to join the department. He specialized in cytology and served as chief of the endocrine pathology service. He was also appointed associate director of surgical pathology.

Dr. Brown was a former member of Mount Carmel M.B. Church in Vicksburg, serving as pianist and soloist in gospel choirs for a number of years.

He is survived by Thomas M. Landy of Dedham; his parents, Eunice “Charlie” and Estella M. Brown of Vicksburg; a brother, Charles E. Brown of Vicksburg; a sister, Vern V. Brown Covington of Naperville, Ill.; nieces and nephews; and aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Williams Funeral Service has charge of local arrangements.

Walter E. Butler Sr.

TALLULAH Walter E. Butler Sr. died Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at Olive Branch Senior Care Center in Tallulah. He was 100.

Born in Kilbourne, La., Mr. Butler was a veteran of World War I. He was a blacksmith and a welder and a member of First Baptist Church in Tallulah.

Survivors include his wife, Helen Boykin Butler of Tallulah; a son, Walter E. Butler Jr. of Lafayette, La.; a daughter, Bessie O. McLeod of Vivian, La.; a nephew, Albert Butler of Mobile, Ala.; a niece, Jeanette Warren of San Francisco, Calif.; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.

Private services will be at Silver Cross Cemetery under the direction of Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home in Tallulah.

Mary Frances Dunlap

CLEVELAND Mary Frances Dunlap died Wednesday, May 28, 2003, at Bolivar Medical Center in Cleveland, Miss. She was 66.

Born in Port Gibson to the late Charles and Katherine Gladwell, Mrs. Dunlap was a resident of Cleveland. She was a member of Waxsaw Baptist Church.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Dunlap was preceded in death by two brothers, Jimmy Gladwell and Edward Eugene Gladwell.

Survivors include her husband, Thomas E. Dunlap of Cleveland; two sons, William H. Byrd Jr. of Vicksburg and John E. Byrd of Long Beach, Miss.; two daughters, Geraldine Hollings of Rosedale and Janet Butler of Long Beach, Miss.; a stepson, Thomas Dunlap Jr. of Horn Lake; two stepdaughters, Mildred Mitchell and Louise Birnberg, both of Houston, Texas; four brothers, Robert Gladwell, Willie Gladwell and Charles Gladwell, all of Vicksburg, and William Earl Cage of Port Gibson; five sisters, Dot Melton of Vicksburg, Nell Bunch of Benoit, Shirley Stephens, Betty Joe Hunter and Josephine Dampier, all of Vicksburg; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Ray Funeral Home with the Rev. John Thomas officiating. Burial will follow at Beulah Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 until 8 tonight at Ray Funeral Home in Cleveland.

Pallbearers will be Robert Fraize, Matt Eaton, Russell Melton, John Hollings, Jason Hatcher and Matthew Hamilton.

Honorary pallbearers will be Robert Anthony, Richard Anthony and James Bunch.

Hazel Hannis Ellis

PORT GIBSON Hazel Hannis Ellis died Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at Claiborne County Hospital. She was 77.

Mrs. Ellis was a retired bookkeeper for Port Gibson Water Department and was a lifelong member of Pattison Baptist Church. She was a member of the Port Gibson Chapter No. 337 Order of the Eastern Star, serving as worthy matron; page to Robert Sanders Grand Sentinel Associate grand patron; grand representative to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island for three years; district deputy grand matron for two years; and was a member of several state office committees.

She is survived by a son, David Ray Ellis of Marksville, La.; a daughter, Deborah Kay Vinson of Pattison; one brother, W.T. Hannis of Jackson; one sister, Norma Jean DiVittorio of Independence, La.; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services were at 11 a.m. today at Glenwood Funeral Home in Port Gibson. Burial followed at Wintergreen Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Pat Bearden, Jerry Johnson, Clayton Johnson, Danny DiVittorio, Jimmy Hannis and Donnie Hannis.

Honorary pallbearers were Melissa McCaa, Barbara Reynolds, the staff of Sta-Home Health Care, the Rev. Ed Hightower, Bobby Sanders, David Headley, Edgar Cain, Edgar Cain Jr. and Ronald Brown.

Margaret Schlosser Hanks

Margaret Schlosser Hanks died Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at Heritage House. She was 88.

A native of Canton, Mrs. Hanks was the daughter of the late Michael and Annie Koestler Schlosser. She had been a resident of Vicksburg since 1936. She was a dental assistant for six years for Dr. Frank Schlosser and retired from Peoples Drug Store after twenty years of service. She was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church, the Altar Society, Our Lady of Sodality and the Old Court House Museum.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Hanks was preceded in death by her husband, Pete C. Hanks; a son, Robert Patrick Hanks; and a brother, Dr. Frank Schlosser.

Survivors include a daughter, Kathryne Uzzle of Vicksburg; two sons, Richard L. Hanks of Vicksburg and Peter W. Hanks of Hattiesburg; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be said at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Paul Catholic Church with the Rev. Patrick Farrell officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 until 7 tonight at Fisher Funeral Home. A wake will follow at 7.

Pallbearers will be Jerry Uzzle Jr., Richard Thomas Hanks, Johnny Uzzle, Caleb Hanks, David Blasseal, John Schlosser and David Biedenharn.

Honorary pallbearers will be John Bove, Wilsey Kelly, Henry Ring, Robert Koestler, Charles Koestler and Dr. Daniel Edney.

Memorials may be made to the Mississippi Chapter Ataxia Foundation, 103 Timberton Drive, Hattiesburg, MS 39401.