Mary Harris Durham

FLOWER MOUND, Texas Mary Harris Durham died Thursday, June 5, 2003, at Select Specialty Hospital in Flower Mound, Texas. She was 86.

Born in Barland, Miss., to the late Rev. Austin Harris and Mary Harris, Mrs. Durham was a resident of Flower Mound. She attended public school in Claiborne County and was a member of Springfield M.B. Church for more than 50 years where she served as a church mother. After moving to Flower Mound, she became a member of The Potter’s House Church.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Durham was preceded in death by her husband, Johnnie Frank Durham; and a daughter, DeEtta Durham.

Survivors include five daughters, Cleo Bradley and Elmarie Coleman, both of Los Angeles, Ida Dixon of Irving, Texas, Elaine Magee of Raymond and Josie Dixon of Flower Mound; three sons, Archie Lee Durham and Johnnie Frank Durham, both of Los Angeles, and Rodell Durham of Gardena, Calif.; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Evergreen Memorial Funeral Home in Dallas, Texas has charge of arrangements.

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 Kiwani3s 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, 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.

Billy Joe Gunn

Billy Joe Gunn died Friday, June 6, 2003, at River Region Medical Center. He was 73.

A lifelong resident of Vicksburg, Mr. Gunn was a graduate of Carr Central High School and an Air Force veteran having served during the Korean Conflict. He was employed by the Spencer and Gulf Chemical Co., and was a retired production and operations superintendent for Vicksburg Chemical Co. He was a member of the W.G. Paxton Masonic Lodge and First Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jeff and Blanche Gunn.

Survivors include his wife, Gloria Gunn of Vicksburg; a son, William J. Gunn of San Francisco, Calif.; a daughter, Susan Harris of Germantown, Tenn.; and three grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Glenwood Funeral Home with Dr. John G. McCall officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 3 until 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Tommy Johnson, Sonny Keen, Lonnie Breithaupt, Otto Logue, Glen Ward and Max Triplett.

Honorary pallbearers will be John Wayne Jabour, Fred Ahlers, Travis Wayne Vance, Pat Ryan Sr., Earl Batchelor, Don Biedenharn, Perry Young and George Cain.

Beatrice “Bea” Ross Ratcliff

COLUMBUS, Miss. Beatrice “Bea” Ross Ratcliff died Friday, June 6, 2003, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Columbus, Miss. She was 97.

Born in Kemper County, Miss., to the late William Joseph and Susan Beatrice Bounds Ross, Mrs. Ratcliff lived in Columbus. She was a graduate of Mississippi State College for Women and taught home economics in Macon, Miss., for nine years and in Newellton, La., for 32 years.

Mrs. Ratcliff was a 50-year member of Newellton Union Church where she sang in the choir. She was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary and First United Methodist Church in Columbus.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Douglas Horton Ratcliff; and a grandson, Dudley Hutchinson III.

Survivors include a daughter, Betty Clyde Jones of Columbus; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. today in the chapel at Gunter and Peel Funeral Home in Columbus with the Rev. Glenn Miller officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Legion Memorial Cemetery in Newellton with the Rev. Clyde Ray Webber officiating.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the service today at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Sonny Kifer, Glen Capdepon, Paul Capdepon, Warren Ratcliff, Charles Everette Ratcliff, Andy Atkins, Tim Herrington and Delone Wilson.

Honorary pallbearers will be the staff of Homeplace Nursing Home, Johnny Dale and Drs. Jay Wiygul, Jason Waller and Ramon Lott.

Memorials may be made to Newellton Union Church, Newellton, LA 71357; First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 32, Columbus, MS 39703; or Palmer Home for Children, P.O. Box 746, Columbus, MS 39703.

Calvin Coolidge Rogers

Services for Calvin Coolidge Rogers will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Bright Morning Star M.B. Church with the Rev. Joseph Briscoe officiating. Burial will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Mr. Rogers died Monday, May 26, 2003, at River Region Medical Center. He was 75.

He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army, a member of Bright Morning Star M.B. Church and a retired truck driver.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Lubertha Rogers.

He is survived by his wife, Geraldine Rogers of Vicksburg; two sons, Woodly D. Rogers of Gary, Ind., and David Miller of Vicksburg; one daughter, Cynthia Miller of Vicksburg; and three brothers, Louis Rogers, Solomon Rogers and Robert Rogers, all of Gary.