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.

Wendell Dean Downen

LAKE PROVIDENCE Wendell Dean Downen died Saturday, Aug. 7, 2004, at West Carroll Care Center in Oak Grove. He was 80.

Mr. Downen was born in Plainview, Ark., where he farmed cotton and corn. In 1948, he moved to East Carroll Parish, where he established a farm. He was a member of the Northside Church of Christ.

He served with the Soil Conservation Service for East Carroll Parish and four years on the East Carroll Parish Police Jury.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Troy Samuel and Ozie Cordelia Downen; two sisters, Billie Jane Hamilton and Dorothy “Bo” Phillips; and a daughter, Wendy Downen Harris.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ruth Downen of Lake Providence; two daughters, Sharon D. Snyder of John’s Island, S.C., and Becky D. Lensing of Lake Providence; and eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Services were at 10 a.m. today at Northside Church of Christ with V.W. Hayhurst officiating. Burial followed at Providence Memorial Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Danny Frith, Wayne Parker, Gary Parker, Julius Bariola, Ronald Crowe and Francis Lensing.

Bobby Gene Kennedy

BASTROP, La. Bobby Gene Kennedy died Saturday, Aug. 7, 2004, at Ashley County Memorial Hospital in Crossett, Ark. He was 62.

Born in Bastrop, La., Mr. Kennedy was a resident of Wisner, La.

He was preceded in death by his father, Bartley James “B.J.” Kennedy; a brother, James Kennedy; and a sister, Betty Lou Keiser.

He is survived by a son, James Bryant Kennedy of Empire, La.; three daughters, Donita Butler of St. Joseph, Angela Smith of Crossett and Samantha Maxwell of Haughton, La.; his mother, Audrey Mae Kennedy Brown of Minden, La.; two brothers, Gerald H. Kennedy of Little Rock and Johnny M. Kennedy of Bossier City, La.; two sisters, Fannie Mae Blackstock of Haughton and Mary Ruth Billingsley of Buras, La.; and eight grandchildren.

Services will be at 4 p.m. today at Cox Funeral Home in Bastrop with the Rev. Keith D. Butler officiating. Burial will follow at Christ Church Cemetery in Bastrop.

Jeff Wade

Jeff Wade died Saturday, Aug. 7, 2004, at Covenant Health and Rehab. He was 75.

Born in Lorman, Mr. Wade was a retired electrician for Southwest E.P.A. and was an Air Force veteran. He was of the Baptist faith.

He is survived by a daughter, Jeffera Lynn Gibson of Vicksburg; his mother, Helen Cupit of Utica; a sister, Rebecca Thompson of Port Gibson; and two grandchildren.

Services will be at Cane Ridge Cemetery in Lorman with the Rev. Rob Hill officiating. Burial will follow under the direction of Glenwood Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Patient’s Choice Hospice and Palliative Care, 1911 Mission 66, Suite C, Vicksburg, MS 39180.