UTICA Elsie E. Thomas died Thursday, Sept. 2, 2004, at Holly Hill Nursing Home in Sulphur, La. She was 76.

A native of Claiborne County, Mrs. Thomas lived most of her life in the Utica area. She was a member of Midway Church of Christ.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Luther and Pearl Martin Sweeney; her husband, Don Thomas; a son, Ronnie Thomas; and a sister, Sybil Wright.

Survivors include one son, Donnie Thomas of Edwards, and one brother, Luther Sweeney Jr. of Sulphur.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Glenwood Funeral Home in Utica. Burial will follow at Carpenter Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. Saturday until the service at the funeral home.

Janie Clarice B. Waller

Janie Clarice B. Waller died Thursday, Sept. 2, 2004, at River Region Medical Center. She was 79.

Mrs. Waller was born and reared in Meridian. She lived a number of years in Laurel before moving to Vicksburg in 1971. She retired from the Vicksburg Warren School District, having taught math at Warren Junior High School. She was a member of First Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Waller; a son, Davie Waller; and her parents, Charles and Claudie Bancroft.

Survivors include two daughters, Deatra S. Bishop of Hattiesburg and Denise Hearn of Vicksburg; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Glenwood Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Green Acres Memorial Park.

Visitation will be from 2 p.m. Saturday until the service at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Nason Heldenbrand, John Bishop, Eric Meyer, Mike Stokes, Charlie Waller and Bobby Jobe.

Melvin L. Wells

PORT GIBSON Melvin L. Wells died Saturday, Aug. 28, 2004, at River Region Medical Center. He was 53.

Mr. Wells is survived by three sons, Melvin Wells Jr. and Kenneth R. Jackson, both of Vicksburg, and Kendrick Shelvy of Natchez; three daughters, Pamela Rankin-White and Trencia Johnson, both of Fayette, and Carol Wells-Nichols of Vicksburg; four brothers, Willie Wells Jr. of Lorman and Leonard Sanders, Eugene Wells and Washington Wells, all of New Orleans; one sister, Bessie Jenkins of Port Gibson; nine grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Services will be at noon Saturday at Rose Hill Christian Church in Russum with the Rev. Isaac Henderson officiating, assisted by Walter Chambers. Burial will follow at East Mount Olive M.B. Church Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1 until 5 today at Thompson Funeral Home in Port Gibson and from 11 a.m. Saturday until the service at the church.