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.

Shirley Uth Blackwell Jacobson

FOREST, Miss. Shirley Uth Blackwell Jacobson died Sunday, Jan. 25, 2004, at Lackey Memorial Hospital in Forest, Miss. She was 77.

A native of Oxford, Mrs. Jacobson was a resident of Forest. She was a member of the T.E.L. Sunday School Class and was a charter member of Body Recall at Forest Baptist Church.

Mrs. Jacobson received a master’s degree in education from Ole Miss. She retired from teaching in 1989 after 17 years of service at Forest Middle School. She served as president and state life member of the Forest Garden Club.

She was preceded in death by a husband, Hulon Blackwell.

Survivors include her husband, Wallace Jacobson, formerly of Vicksburg; two sons, Leslie Blackwell of Carthage, Miss., and William “Bill” Blackwell of Cornwall, N.Y.; a brother, A.C. “Buddy” Uth of West Monroe, La.; and two grandchildren.

Services will be at 9 a.m. Thursday at Forest Baptist Church with Dr. Gordon Sansing officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m. at St. Peters Cemetery in Oxford under the direction of Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Forest.

Visitation will be from 4 until 7 tonight at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be James Autry, Gary Risher, John Garey, Lee Emerson, Ronald Jacobson, Gerald Cooper and Mike Martin.

Honorary pallbearers will be Mary Catherine Hadaway and former students and the members of Body Recall.

Memorials may be made to Forest Baptist Church.

Katherine Drager Piazza

Katherine Drager Piazza died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004, at her home. She was 88.

A native of New Orleans, Mrs. Piazza had lived in Vicksburg since 1947. She retired after 25 years as a legal secretary for Dent, Ward, Martin & Terry attorneys. She was a former co-owner of Shady Lawn Nursing Home.

She was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church and the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Julia Duffy Drager; her husband, Vincent J. Piazza; and her brother, Henry Drager.

Survivors include four daughters, Cynthia P. Strawn, Debby P. George and Pam Piazza, all of Vicksburg, and Kathleen P. Patterson of Pearland, Texas; a sister, Helen Blanke of Florence, Ala.; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews, including Lonnie Wilson of Vicksburg.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Michael Catholic Church with the Revs. Patrick Farrell and P.J. Curley officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 until 7 p.m. Thursday at Riles Funeral Home with rosary at 7 and from 9 a.m. Friday until the service at the church.

Pallbearers will be Tiffany Strawn, Cappy Strawn, Aaron George, Taylor George, Greg Patterson, Vince Patterson and Brad Patterson.

Honorary pallbearers will be Gerde Sumrall, Christine Jackson, Georgia Lee, Dr. Daniel Edney, Whitney Doiron and Abbrica Smith.

Memorials may be made to Vicksburg Catholic School, 1900 Grove St., Vicksburg, MS 39183 or to Patient’s Choice Hospice, 1900 Mission 66, Suite C, Vicksburg, MS 39180.