June 11, 2004

Published 12:00 am Friday, June 11, 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.

Robert Lee Erves Sr.

Services for Robert Lee “Coon” Erves Sr. will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Traveler’s Rest M.B. Church with the Rev. Elzie O’Neal officiating. Burial will follow at Hickory Tree Cemetery under the direction of W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home.

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Visitation will be from 7 until 8 tonight at the funeral home.

Mr. Erves died Saturday, June 5, 2004, at University Medical Center in Jackson. He was 67.

He was a lifelong resident of Vicksburg and a member of Hickory Tree Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred Erves Sr. and Hazel Carson Erves, and one sister, Georgia Ann Erves.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Jean Erves; six sons, Robert Erves Jr., James Erves Sr., and Steve Erves, all of Vicksburg, Larry Erves of Atlanta, Dale Erves of Dallas, Texas, and Timothy Erves of Crockett, Calif.; two daughters, Cheryl Erves Steele of Vicksburg and Hazel Diane Leonard of Houston, Texas; one brother, Alfred Erves Jr. of Aurora, Ill.; one sister, Gladys Reed of Vicksburg; 19 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and other relatives including the Carson, Williams and Jones families of Vicksburg.

Ethel Lavon Elsea

CORDOVA, Tenn. Ethel Lavon Elsea died Wednesday, June 9, 2004, at St. Francis Hospital in Bartlett, Tenn. She was 93.

A resident of Cordova, Tenn., Mrs. Elsea was born in Warsaw, Mo., and was a graduate of Sweet Springs (Mo.) High School. In 1954 she moved to Vicksburg and was a member of Highland Baptist Church for 26 years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Leslie Elsea; her parents, Anderson and Maude Hurd Johnson; two sisters, Leona Winston and Lueva Forbes; and a brother, Albert Johnson.

Survivors include a son, Darrell Elsea of Biggsville, Ill.; a daughter, Wanda Gray of Cordova; two grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and other relatives.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home in Sweet Springs. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m. Saturday until the service at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Highland Baptist Church, 3518 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180.

Wilson Rush Jr.

Wilson Rush Jr. died Tuesday, June 8, 2004, at River Region West. He was 84.

A native of Warren County, Mr. Rush was retired from Presley Wrecker and was a member of Mount Alban M.B. Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilson Sr. and Viola Williams Rush; ten sisters; and two brothers.

Survivors include a son, Wilson Jerry Rush of Sacramento, Calif.; three daughters, Pamela Rush, Debra Rush and Melissa Rush, all of Vicksburg; and 11 grandchildren.

Robbins Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Cleveland Scott Sr.

ROLLING FORK Cleveland “Bud” Scott Sr. died Sunday, June 6, 2004, as a result of a car accident in Valley Park. He was 49.

Mr. Scott was a resident of Rolling Fork and was a farm worker.

He is survived by his wife, Blanche H. Scott of Rolling Fork; three sons, Cleveland Scott Jr. of Whidbey Island, Wash., Robert Moore of Japan and Michael Moore of Rockford, Ill.; two daughters, Shrunda Scott and Tamekie Scott of Rolling Fork; his mother, Martha Scott of Anguilla; four brothers, Robert Scott and James Scott, both of Chicago, and Leroy Scott and Willie Scott, both of Anguilla; three sisters, Pealie M. Scott and Martha Scott Harris, both of Anguilla, and Emma J. Brown of Chicago; a granddaughter; and other relatives.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Christian Light M.B. Church in Anguilla with Elijah Eason officiating. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Rolling Fork under the direction of Walker Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 6 until 7 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Willie Clifton Sledge

VALLEY PARK Willie Clifton Sledge died Monday, June 7, 2004, at Vicksburg Convalescent Home. He was 75.

Mr. Sledge was retired and was a member of St. Anthony Lodge No. 3. He was a resident of Valley Park.

He is survived by a son, Willie Sledge Jr. of Hazlehurst; three sisters, Emma Miller of Valley Park, Claudine Brown of Las Vegas and Hazel Cooper; and five grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Mount Eden M.B. Church in Valley Park with F.W. Wilson officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery under the direction of Walker Funeral Home.