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.

Phillip R. Crothers

TALLULAH Phillip R. Crothers died Monday, May 3, 2004, at his home. He was 70.

Born in Natchez, Mr. Crothers had lived in Tallulah for more than 60 years. He was an Air Force veteran, having served in the Korean War.

He graduated from Northeast Louisiana State College. He was a former medical technology teacher at Mercy Hospital, a funeral director, cemetery owner, lab technician, hospital administrator and ambulance driver.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mac and Mary Crothers.

Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Rabb Crothers of Tallulah; two sons, Douglas M. Crothers of Monroe and Jerry L. Crothers of Tallulah; two daughters, Dana Kay Crothers Hasbrouck of Shreveport, La., and Karen Crothers Scott of Tallulah; a brother, I.T. Crothers of Tallulah; two sisters, Sarah Crothers Paxton of Sugar Hill, Ga., and Melanie Crothers Todd of Tallulah; three grandchildren; four stepgreat-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home with the Revs. John Rushing and Ferr D’Cruz officiating. Burial will follow at Silver Cross Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. today until the service at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Glen Weems, Joe Jobe, Steve Gustafson, Randy Lisonbee, Mike Rabb and Dr. Tom Sligh.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of American Legion Post No. 100.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Hospital or to a favorite charity.

Geneva S. Newton

OAK GROVE Geneva S. Newton died Monday, May 3, 2004, at West Carroll Care Center in Oak Grove. She was 87.

Born in Nacogdoches, Texas, Mrs. Newton was a longtime resident of Oak Grove and a member of First Baptist Church of Oak Grove.

She worked as a telephone operator in Oak Grove and later as a clerk for West Carroll Hardware and Thompson Hardware.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Newton; her parents, Delbert L. and Janie Sykes; and three brothers, Leon Sykes, Alfred Sykes and Louis Martin.

Survivors include three sisters, Vesta Puckett of Oak Grove, Georgette Bell of Orlando, Fla., and Winnie Baker of Del Ray Beach, Fla.; a brother, Leonard Sykes of Bossier City, La.; nieces and nephews, including Sheila Crosby of Oak Grove; and cousins and other relatives.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Cox Funeral Home in Oak Grove with the Revs. Milton Pray and Gayle Riles officiating. Burial will follow at the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Kevin Crosby, Kevin Neathery, Greg Manley, Millard Sykes, Gary Puckett and Butler Hampton.

Rev. Linda Rhodman Straughter

The Rev. Linda Rhodman Straughter died Monday, May 3, 2004, at Central Mississippi Medical Center. She was 51.

Rev. Straughter was born in Gary, Ind., and was a lifelong resident of Vicksburg. She retired from Wal-Mart SuperCenter after 12 years of service and was the assistant pastor of Standfield M.B. Church.

She was preceded in death by her father, George Rhodman; and her grandmother, Mary Lou Rhodman.

Survivors include her husband, Lemmie Tyler Straughter Jr. of Vicksburg; a son, George Tyler Straughter of Atlanta, Ga.; three stepchildren, Pamela Anderson and Lemmie Tyler Straughter, both of Pensacola, Fla., and Deborah Straughter of Vicksburg; her mother, Naomi J. Rhodman of Vicksburg; a sister, the Rev. Lora R. Williams of Edwards; two grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives, including Eddie C. Rhodman Sr. and Mary Helen Franklin, both of Vicksburg.

W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Lucy Mae Williams

Lucy Mae Williams died Friday, April 30, 2004, in Seaside, Calif. She was 81.

Born in Vicksburg to the late Ben and Sarah Priestley, Mrs. Williams was a resident of Seaside.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Francis Edwards and Clara Jones; a brother, Richard Priestley; a son, Tommy Newton; and a daughter, Mary Ann Brown.

Survivors include eight sons, Amos Griffin of North Carolina, Matthew Williams of Vicksburg, Melvin Williams, Michael Williams, Johnny Williams, Jacob Williams and Earl Williams, all of Seaside, and Buck Williams of Bossier City, La.; two daughters, Augustine Matthew of Vicksburg and Mattie Franklin of Seaside; six brothers, David Bass and Willie Bass, both of Detroit, Andrew Davis of Memphis, and Eli Priestley, Otis Priestley and Ben Priestley, all of Greenville, Miss.; a sister, Genevie Tate of Naperville, Ill.; 31 grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.