January 12, 2004

Published 12:00 am Monday, January 12, 2004

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.

Dr. James Prewett Guerriero

Dr. James Prewett Guerriero died Sunday, Jan. 11, 2004, at River Region Medical Center. He was 84.

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Dr. Gurriero practiced medicine at The Street Clinic in Vicksburg for many years and worked at the Good Shepherd Community Center after his retirement.

“If I had to describe his life, it would be one of making an enormous contribution to the health care of this community,” said longtime friend Grey Ferris, a Warren County farmer and former member of the Mississippi Senate.

Ferris said Dr. Guerriero’s contributions were personified after his 1990 retirement from The Street Clinic, when he volunteered at Good Shepherd, a free clinic for people with no insurance, money or benefits.

“He continued to work with a small group of physicians … He gave his time, his energy and his expertise to continue to serve this community several days a week,” Ferris said. “To me that is more of an indication of his love and affection for this community … almost more than his medical career.”

Jerry Derivaux, an insurance executive, said he really got to know Dr. Guerriero well about 30 years ago when Derivaux’s wife, Jane, was ill.

“He was a wonderful person, a true friend and a dedicated doctor,” Derivaux said.

Dr. Tom Mitchell practiced with Dr. Guerriero at The Street Clinic. “His most important quality was the time he spent with his patients,” Mitchell said. “He listened to them, empathized with them, and they just loved him.”

Born in Monroe, La., Dr. Guerriero was the son of the late Anthony and Marguerite Prewett Guerriero. He received a bachelor of science degree from Louisiana Polytechnic Institute in Ruston and did postgraduate work at Loyola University of the South in New Orleans. He received medical training at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, the Faculty of Medicine in Edinburgh, Scotland and the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, Ireland.

He returned to Charity Hospital of Louisiana in New Orleans to serve his internship and received his resident training in general practice at Bethesda, Md., and Mercy Hospital-Street Memorial in Vicksburg.

Dr. Guerriero was a decorated veteran of the Navy, serving in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. He was discharged as a lieutenant from the Naval Reserve in 1956.

He was a member of the American Medical Association, the Mississippi State Medical Association, the West Mississippi Medical Association and the American Academy of Family Practice. He was a communicant of St. Paul Catholic Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Webb Guerriero, and a brother, Louis A. Guerriero.

Survivors include three nieces, Dianne Webb Roper of Dalkeith Plantation in Tallulah and Peggy Webb Smith and Patricia Webb Robinson, both of New Roads, La.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be said at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Paul Catholic Church with the Rev. Patrick Farrell officiating. Burial will follow at Silver Cross Cemetery in Tallulah.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. Tuesday until the service at Riles Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Raymond May, Audley Smith, Paul Robinson, Pete Roper, Grey Ferris and Robert Kirst.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Gene Ferris, Dr. Tom Mitchell and Jerry Derivaux.

Memorials may be made to a favorite charity.

Donnell Ellis

Donnell Ellis died Sunday, Jan. 11, 2004, at River Region Medical Center. He was 54.

A member of Locust Grove M.B. Church, Mr. Ellis served as chairman of the trustee board, president of the Senior Choir and Sunday school superintendent. He was a 1968 graduate of Rosa A. Temple High School and a graduate of Jackson State University.

He was a 33rd-degree Mason, having served as worshipful master of Sunshine Lodge No. 99 AF&AM and worthy patron of Rainbow Chapter No. 51 O.E.S. and King Hiram Grand Lodge O.E.S. He retired from the Vicksburg Warren School District, having served as principal of Grove Street and Dana Road elementary schools.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Edith Ellis Johnson.

Survivors include two brothers, Jack Ellis Jr. of Indianola, Miss., and Rufus Ellis of Vicksburg; a sister, Carrie Mae McWay of Gary, Ind.; and other relatives, including the Walker family of Vicksburg.

Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Rena T. Harper

Rena T. Harper died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2004, at St. Dominic Medical Center in Jackson. She was 88.

Born in Epps, La., Mrs. Harper had lived in Vicksburg for 57 years. She was a homemaker and a member of Gibson Memorial Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, H.O. Harper; and a grandson, Harper Phillips.

Survivors include a son, Herbert Harper of Mize, Miss.; a daughter, Martha Hamilton of Jackson; a sister, Evelyn Vick of Gilbert, La.; three grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Green Acres Memorial Park with the Rev. Ed Hightower officiating. Burial will follow under the direction of Glenwood Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. Tuesday until the service at the funeral home.

Ethel Louise Hicks

LAKE PROVIDENCE Ethel Louise Hicks died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2004, at Carroll Nursing Home in Oak Grove. She was 68.

Mrs. Hicks was born in Lepanto, Ark., was a former resident of Elmwood in East Carroll Parish and had lived in Lake Providence for a number of years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clyde and Marie Hicks; three brothers, J.M. Hicks, Leo Hicks and John L. Hicks; and three sisters, Ruth Hollingshead, Tracey Hollingshead and Viola Hollingshead.

She is survived by seven brothers, Robert Earl Hicks, Marvin Hicks and Budd R. Hicks, all of Lake Providence, Jerry Hicks, Henry Hicks and Gene R. Hicks, all of Tallulah, and Harvey Hicks of Raymoore, Mo.; two sisters, Inez Smith and Sandra Marsh, both of Lake Providence; and nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Cox Funeral Home in Lake Providence with the Rev. V. L. Dickson officiating. Burial will follow at Herringville Cemetery in Monticello, La.

Pallbearers will be Bradley J. Smith, Gregory V. Smith, Robert Stakes, Christopher Hicks, Forrest E. Hicks, Billy W. Hicks, Clyde A. Hicks and Heath R. Hicks.