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.

Clara Beverett Atkins

Clara Beverett Atkins died Wednesday, June 18, 2003, at River Region Medical Center. She was 84.

A resident of Vicksburg, Mrs. Atkins was a member of St. Peter M.B. Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Elijah Atkins; and her parents, Mary Ella Marshall and George Madden.

Survivors include nieces, Wanda Clark, Albertha Ivy and Clara Jones, all of Vicksburg; nephews, Robert Clark, Donald Johnson and Richard Clark, all of Vicksburg; and other relatives, including Yulonda Clark, Angie Neal, Walter Jones and the Franklin, Brown, Clark and Beverett families.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at St. Peter M.B. Church with the Rev. Melvin Bolden officiating. Burial will follow at Green Acres Memorial Park under the direction of Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 2 p.m. until the service Saturday at the church.

Alma Giles PORT GIBSON Alma Giles died Monday, June 16, 2003, at River Region Medical Center. She was 82.

A resident of Port Gibson, Ms. Giles was a mother, deacon wife and member of the choir at Magnolia M.B. Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William Wyatt and Georgia Parker; two brothers, Percy France and Mildred Morris; and two grandsons, Columbus Richardson and Fitzgerald Giles.

Survivors include five sons, John Giles III of New Carrolton, Md.; Daniel Giles of North Augusta, S.C.; Colonel Giles and James Giles, both of Upper Marlborough, Md.; and Carl Giles of Washington, D.C.; 10 daughters, Catherine Curtis, Erma J. Walker and Delbra L. Jones, all of Port Gibson, Loretta Easter of South Holland, Ill.; Johnnie R. Newsome of Lanham, Md.; Georgia Giles, Lillie M. Giles and Alma I. Giles, all of Washington, D.C., Veda A. Giles of Cherry Hill, Md., and Barbara Newsome of Sea Pleasant, Md.; two brothers, Will Parker III of California and George Parker of Denver, Colo.; five sisters, Vera Jones, Bertha Walls and Ruth Harris, all of Port Gibson, and Jessie Walker and Juliette Parker, both of Los Angeles; 33 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends, including Harry Parker of Port Gibson.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Magnolia M.B. Church in Port Gibson with the Rev. James Dorsey officiating. Burial will follow at Mercy Seat M.B. Church Cemetery under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home Inc. in Port Gibson.

Visitation will be from 1 until 6 tonight at the funeral home and from 10 a.m. until the service Saturday at the church.

Hattie Mae Smith

Services for Hattie Mae Smith were at 1 p.m. Thursday at Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home. Burial followed at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Mrs. Smith died Tuesday, June 10, 2003, at River Region Medical Center. She was 88.

A domestic worker, Mrs. Smith was a member of Progressive Baptist Church in Gulfport, where she was on the mother board.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jimmy and Lula Besters; three sisters, Classie Thompson, Mary Terrell and Lucy Besters; three brothers, Willie Besters, Buddy Besters and Hosey Besters; a son, Thomas B. Johnson; and her husband, James Smith.

She is survived by Grace Gamble of Gulfport and a son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Gloria Johnson of Vicksburg.