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.

Cecil O. Bailey Sr.

FOREST Cecil O. Bailey Sr. died Saturday, July 19, 2003, at his home in Forest. He was 89.

A lifelong resident of Scott County, Mr. Bailey was a deacon at Clifton Baptist Church and a Gideon. He had been a builder for more than 40 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Esther Bailey; two brothers, J.L. Bailey and Sam Bailey; and a sister, Mamie Ruth Bailey.

Survivors include his wife, Edrie Bailey of Forest; two sons, Cecil Bailey Jr. of Richardson, Texas, and Richard Bailey of Vicksburg; four daughters, Barbara Marler of Clinton, Lois Harrelson of Jackson and Cathy Johnson and Pam Haralson, both of Forest; a brother, Buford Bailey of Forest; three grandchildren; and stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren.

Services were at 11 a.m. today at Clifton Baptist Church with the Revs. Billy Henry and Tommy Jones officiating. Burial followed at the church cemetery under the direction of Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Forest.

Pallbearers were Jeff Harrell, Vic Harrell, W.T. Harrell, Abe Morris, the Rev. Marshall Lum and Michael Worrell.

Honorary pallbearers were James Crain, Don Harrell, Billy Pope, Clyde Jarrell, Verner Ray Gatewood and Bobby Kirby.

Memorials may be made to Gideons International or Clifton Baptist Church.

William T. Collins Sr.

WEST MONROE William T. “Bill” Collins Sr., formerly of Vicksburg, died Saturday, July 19, 2003, at Glenwood Regional Medical Center in West Monroe. He was 68.

A resident of West Monroe, Mr. Collins was a retired special agent for the Air Force and Defense Investigative Services.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Bill Collins Jr. and Steven Collins.

He is survived by his wife, Doris Collins of West Monroe; two daughters, Cecelia Collins and Amanda Collins, both of West Monroe; a sister, Doris Jean Martin of West Monroe; a brother, Jerry D. Collins of Monroe; and nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in West Monroe with the Rev. Ray Adcock officiating. Burial will follow at Monroe Memorial Park Cemetery.

Rita Barley White Howell

Rita Barley White Howell died Sunday, July 20, 2003, at University Medical Center in Jackson. She was 43.

A native of Eudora, Ark., Mrs. Howell had been a Vicksburg resident for 26 years. She graduated from Eudora High School in 1977 and was a member of Northside Baptist Church in Eudora.

She had managed Bovina Grocery for two years and worked as a sales clerk at Ansa-All Nupage for three years.

She was preceded in death by her paternal and maternal grandparents.

Survivors include her husband, Jimmy “Andy” Howell of Vicksburg; one son, David Wayne White Jr. of Vicksburg; one daughter, Karen Renea White of Vicksburg; a stepson, John Anthony Howell of Vicksburg; a stepdaughter, Angela Howell of Vicksburg; her parents, Daniel “Bud” Jr. and Elizabeth G. Barley of Eudora; one brother, Richard Barley of Kilbourne, La.; two sisters, Rebecca Barley of Eudora and Ramona Breedlove of Chickasaw, La.; a grandson; and nieces, nephews and friends.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Fisher Funeral Home with Bud O’Neal, pastor of Northside Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Green Acres Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 until 8 tonight at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Eric Pell, Mike Kimble, Jimmy Harrison, Chris Oakman, Joe Wedgeworth and James Bancroft.

Honorary pallbearers will be Matt Harrison, Ricky Holdiness, Lee Jones, Mark Holdiness, Wesley Jones and Chuck Davis.

Memorials may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Center, 5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250, Dallas, TX 75244, or to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1193, Vicksburg, MS 39181-1193.

Elvyn Passmore Hoopes Spencer

PORT GIBSON Elvyn Passmore Hoopes Spencer died Sunday, July 20, 2003, at Hospice Ministries in Madison. He was 83.

Mr. Spencer was a native and lifelong resident of Port Gibson. He graduated as salutatorian from Chamberlain-Hunt Academy. He served as Claiborne County Hospital administrator and district governor of the Lions Club. He was the first commander of the Port Gibson National Guard and served on the Claiborne County Post Commission, Great River Road Commission and as a colonel of the Army.

Mr. Spencer was a member of St. James Episcopal Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Phoebe Cleve Abraham, and his parents, Meredith Jones and Lillie Mason Spencer.

He is survived by three sons, Meredith J. Spencer of Jackson, Jacob H. Spencer of Port Gibson and Elvyn P. Spencer Jr. of Warner Robins, Ga.; two daughters, Phoebe Loche Spencer of Jackson and Ginger Marsalis of Port Gibson; and 11 grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at St. James Episcopal Church in Port Gibson. Burial will follow at Wintergreen Cemetery under the direction of Glenwood Funeral Home in Port Gibson.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until the service at the church.

Pallbearers will be Floyd Salser Jr., James Trimble, Bill Abraham, Dr. Ralph Salser, Mike Abraham and Lee H. Abraham Jr.

Honorary pallbearers will be Johnny Baker, Dr. David Headley, Robert Gage, William Winter, Jimmie Person, John Noble and Russ Miller.