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.

Bessie Mae Thomas Brown

Bessie Mae Thomas Brown died Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2003, at River Region Medical Center. She was 73.

Mrs. Brown was a member and mother at Grove Street Baptist Church. She was a member of Christian Home Society No. 1.

She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. Edward J. Brown Sr., and her parents, Ceasar and Rosie Lee Thomas.

Survivors include five sons, James Brown, Charlie Brown, Herbert Brown and Darrell Brown, all of Vicksburg, and Edward J. Brown Jr. of New Orleans; four daughters, Mary Brown Marshall of Vicksburg, Patricia Brown Hayes of Mobile, Ala., Sadie Brown Holland of Calumet City, Ill., and Rose Brown Sims of Albion, Mich.; one brother, Ceasar Thomas Jr. of Vicksburg; 24 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and other relatives.

Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Henry L. Hilton

UTICA Henry L. Hilton died Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2003, at Clinton Care Center. He was 91.

Mr. Hilton was born in Claiborne County and had been a Hinds County resident for the past 54 years. A member of Faithway Baptist Church, he retired from the Hinds County Road Works Department.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Eunice Butler.

Survivors include two daughters, Eloise McMullin of Clinton and Shirley Gaines of Jackson; a sister, Julia Maggie Davis of Tupelo; 10 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Glenwood Funeral Home in Utica with the Rev. Ricky Sherman officiating. Burial will follow at Utica Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 until 7 tonight at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Guy Butler, Ray Butler, John Butler, Joe Butler, Stacy McMullin and Michael Jones.

Gail Thomas Simmons

STURGIS, Miss. Gail Thomas Simmons died Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2003, at his home in Sturgis, Miss. He was 81.

Mr. Simmons was born in Cartersville, Ga., and retired from plant protection with Lockheed Georgia Company in Marietta. He served on the Board of Trustees at Acworth United Methodist Church and was a member of Toastmasters, the Methodist Men’s Club, VFW, Acworth Lake Authority and Big Creek United Methodist Church in Stirgus.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Eris Quinn Simmons of Sturgis; four daughters, Diana Abernathy of Acworth, Ga., Susan Harris of Ranger, Ga., Karen Allred of Vicksburg and Katrina Doss of Oxford; one sister, Sarah Jane Skinner of Hopkins, Mich.; one brother, Jack Simmons of Cartersville; and six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 3 p.m. today at Big Creek United Methodist Church with the Rev. Lavelle Woodrick officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Big Creek United Methodist Church.