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.

James E. Clay Sr.

Services for James E. “Jack” Clay Sr. will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at King David M.B. Church No. 1 on Letitia Street with the Rev. A.L. Hines officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery under the direction of W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home.

Mr. Clay died Tuesday, June 10, 2003, at Vicksburg Trace Haven. He was 86.

Born in Percy to the late Rev. James Curtis Clay and Mary Robinson Clay, he was a lifelong resident of Vicksburg. He was a former employee of Anderson-Tully Co. and retired from McGraw-Edison and the City of Vicksburg. He served in the Army and was a veteran of World War II.

Mr. Clay was a member of King David M.B. Church No. 1, where he was former president of the Senior Choir. He was a member of St. John Grand Lodge AF&AM and was a past patron of Ada Chapter No. 1 Order of Easter Star. He sang bass with the Southern Gospel Singers for a number of years.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Howard Clay and Exmund Clay; two sisters, Ruby Hoye and Margie Clay; and a daughter, Linda Kaye Clay.

Survivors include his wife, Willie Mae Clay of Vicksburg; two sons, Bernard H. Clay of Las Vegas and James Edward Clay Jr. of Midland, Texas; seven daughters, Westine Houston and Joyce Clay Joiner, both of Vicksburg, Cinderetha M. Clay and Brenda M. Hunter, both of Inglewood, Calif., and Jean P. Byrd, Shirley A. Lowe and Wanda L. Clay, all of San Diego; 16 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews and other relatives, including Michael Clay of Rolling Fork, Andrea Brown Jackson of Jackson, Walter Carter, Sam Bowman and Eddie B. Williams.

Ada Wise Bassett

SHREVEPORT, La. Ada Wise Bassett died Sunday, June 15, 2003, in Shreveport, La. She was 86.

Born in Quimby, La., Mrs. Bassett lived most of her life in Vicksburg before moving to Shreveport five years ago. She was a member of Trinity Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Thomas Bassett; and her sister, Henrietta “Jo” Keithley.

Survivors include two daughters, Jeanette B. Messina of Shreveport and Mary Ruth Bassett of Monroe, La.; two grandchildren, Ashley Messina and Bill Messina, both of Shreveport; two great-grandchildren; a nephew; and other relatives.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Cedar Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Jerry Taylor officiating. Burial will follow under the direction of Fisher Funeral Home.

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

Pallbearers will be John Daniel, Lawrence Gibson Jr., Ron Pownall Jr., and Lionel Johnson.

Memorials may be made to a favorite charity.

Scott Lester Coy

Services for Scott Lester Coy were at noon today at W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home with the Rev. Frank Gardner officiating. Burial followed at Green Acres Memorial Cemetery.

Mr. Coy died Friday, June 13, 2003, at G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Veterans Administration Hospital in Jackson. He was 93.

Mr. Coy was born in Vicksburg and was a graduate of McIntyre High School.

Mr. Coy was a Navy veteran. He worked as a railroad clerk for New York City Transit, retiring in 1969 after 31 years of service. He returned to Vicksburg in 1988.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Florence Coy, and his grandmother, Rose Coy.

He is survived by his wife, Marion Coy of Vicksburg; five sons, Scotty Coy, Ernest Coy, Mark Coy and Sherwin Coy, all of New York City, and Evins Brown Jr. of Jackson; two daughters, Gladys Bryant of Vallejo, Calif., and Linda Ruth Brown Blocker of Tupelo; 12 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.