June 5, 2003

Published 12:00 am Thursday, June 5, 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.

Paul Wilbur Boyd Sr.

HOMEWOOD, Ala. Paul Wilbur Boyd Sr. died Tuesday, June 3, 2003, at his home in Homewood, Ala. He was 83.

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Born in Cairo, Ill., to John T. and Pearl Gall Boyd, Mr. Boyd graduated from Cairo High School in 1937. He attended Southern Illinois University and the University of Illinois.

He was a longtime Vicksburg resident before moving to Birmingham, Ala., in 1964. He was employed by the 87th Maneuver Area Command, retiring in 1979 with the rank of colonel. He was a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Homewood.

He was preceded in death by his son, Paul Wilbur Boyd Jr.

Survivors include his wife, Lorraine Boyd; two daughters, Nalda Davidson of Prattville, Ala., and Gina Lovett of Hoover, Ala.; a son, Dr. Gary Boyd of Homewood; one sister, Elizabeth Hoigaard of Carlsbad, Calif.; and 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5:30 until 8 tonight with rosary at 7 at Ridout’s Valley Chapel in Homewood.

Memorials may be made to the Brookwood Hospice Program, 2010 Brookwood Medical Center Drive, Homewood, AL 35209.

Staff Sgt. Kenneth Ray Bradley

UTICA Staff Sgt. Kenneth Ray Bradley died Wednesday, May 28, 2003. He was 39.

Sgt. Bradley was born in Utica and graduated from Hinds Agriculture High School, where he was a member of the band. He completed basic training for the Army at Fort Leonardwood, Mo., and was assigned to Fort Lewis, Wash., as a combat engineer. He served in Germany, Colorado, South Korea and Fort Hood, Texas, receiving a number of commendations.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Earline Williams; a son, Kenneth Bradley; and a sister.

He is survived by his wife, Claudia Bradley of Killeen, Texas; a son, Brian Bradley of Killeen; a stepdaughter, Sandra Coleman of Killeen; his father, Johnnie F. Williams of Jackson; four sisters, Linda Bradley Hopkins and Stacy Bradley, both of Mount Holly, N.J., Cassandra Williams of Jackson and Barbara Stimage of Columbus, Ohio; three brothers, Cory Bradley and Keon Bradley, both of Jackson, and Gregory Williams of Mount Holly; and nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Services were to be today at 4 p.m. at the Westhaven Funeral Home Chapel in Jackson. Burial will be in Killeen.

James Buchanon

Services for James “Buck” Buchanon will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Jones Chapel M.B. Church. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery under the direction of W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 6 until 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Mr. Buchanon died Monday, June 2, 2003, at Vicksburg Trace Haven. He was 88.

He was a retired, self-employed shoe repairman. He was a native of Pelahatchie and a member and deacon at Jones Chapel M.B. Church in Flora.

He served in the Army in World War II and was a member of Sunshine Lodge No. 99 AF&AM.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Vatie Lee Ellis Buchanon; two brothers, Vertis Buchanon and Manuel Buchanon; five sisters, Melissa Holmes, Topsy Smith, Mary Braxton, Maggie Cosey and Minnie Turpin; his grandmother, Betty Edwards; and his parents, Walter Buchanon and Milria E.B. Brown.

Survivors include a sister, Lula J. Brown of Vicksburg; a sister-in-law, Christine Buchanon of Vicksburg; and nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Veola S. Burks

Veola S. Burks died Wednesday, June 4, 2003, at Central Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. She was 75.

She is survived by three sons, Tommy Burks Jr. and Michael Burks, both of Edwards, and Donald Ray Burks of San Bernardino, Calif.; five daughters, Patricia Burks of Jackson and Bertie Mae Burks, Almeta Burks, Maggie Burks and Lottie Burks, all of Edwards; one sister, Jessie B. Nichols of Edwards; 38 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Rose Hill M.B. Church in Bolton. Burial will follow at Brownsville M.B. Church cemetery in Bolton.

Visitation will be from noon until 8 p.m. Friday at Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home.

Tessie Belle Creed

TALLULAH Tessie Belle Creed died Tuesday, June 3, 2003, at Colonial Manor Guest Home in Rayville. She was 84.

Mrs. Creed was born in Ardmore, Okla., and had lived in Madison Parish for 70 years. She worked as a beautician and owned a beauty salon. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Tallulah.

She was preceded in death by her father, John Will Goss; her mother, Dora McAdams Goss; her brother, Curtiss Goss; and her sister, Pauline Williams.

Survivors include one son, David A. Creed of Monroe, La.; one daughter, Connie Creed Parker of Marietta, Ga.; a sister, Verna Mae Bishop; and five grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tallulah with the Rev. John Rushing officiating. Burial will follow under the direction of Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home.

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

Pallbearers will be Johnny Goss, Malcolm Bishop, Andy Vining, David Creed Jr., Jason Parker, Sean Parker and Tommy Bishop.

William P. Dumas

William P. “Bill” Dumas died Monday, June 2, 2003, at Bethany House in Auburn, Ala. He was 84.

A native of Franklin, Mass., Mr. Dumas lived in Port Gibson and Vicksburg before moving to Alabama. He was a graduate of Hill College in Rhode Island and retired from American Paper Tube Co. with more than 30 years of service.

He served in the Air Force in World War II, assigned to the 8th Air Force 355th Fighter Group in England. He served with the Reserves until 1968, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

He served as post commander of American Legion Post No. 54. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club and a race walker.

He was a former member of St. Michael Catholic Church in Vicksburg and St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Opelika, Ala.

Mr. Dumas was preceded in death by his wife, Pearl Lambert Dumas, and a number of siblings.

He is survived by a daughter-in-law, Betty Wingo; a son, William T. Dumas; and two grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the EAMC Foundation, Adult Day Center, 2000 Pepperell Parkway, Opelika, AL 36802-3201 or to a favorite Alzheimer’s charity.

Fisher Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.