Jesse Cranford Jr.

ANGUILLA Jesse Cranford Jr. died Thursday, Dec. 9, 2004, at Sharkey Issaquena Hospital in Rolling Fork. He was 60.

Born in Humphreys County, Mr. Cranford lived most of his life in Anguilla. He attended St. Bayou Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his father, Jesse Cranford Sr.; and his mother, Omia Lee Self Cranford.

Survivors include a brother, Douglas Cranford of Anguilla; and a sister, Alma Sue Cranford of Anguilla.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Glenwood Funeral Home in Rolling Fork with the Rev. Michael Sumner officiating. Burial will follow at Vicklan Cemetery in Delta City.

Visitation will be from noon until the service today.

Henry Gaines

PORT GIBSON Henry Gaines died Thursday, Dec. 9, 2004, at Claiborne County Hospital. He was 89.

Mr. Gaines was a resident of Port Gibson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alex and Lizzie Gaines; four brothers, George Smith, David Nash, Louis Gaines and Robert Walker; and two sisters, Elizabeth McGee and Rosie Dotson.

Survivors include his wife, Maria Gaines of Port Gibson; six daughters, Mary Ann Thomas of Jackson, Rosetta Watts of Port Gibson, Dorothy J. Thompson of Bradenton, Fla., Cordelia Thornton of Jackson and Marie Turner and Glenda Peterson, both of Buffalo, N.Y.; two sons, George Thornton of Buffalo and Robert L. Gaines; a stepdaughter, Willie R. Green of Port Gibson; a stepson, Robert L. Barnes of Port Gibson; 16 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Jerusalem Baptist Church in Port Gibson with the Rev. Eddie Walls officiating. Burial will follow at the Gaines Family Cemetery under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 1 until 6 tonight at the funeral home and from 1 p.m. Sunday until the service at the church.

Arthur L. Wright

Services for Arthur L. “Art” Wright will be at 1 p.m. today at W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Mr. Wright died Saturday, Dec. 4, 2004, at his home in Utica. He was 67.

Born and reared in Vicksburg, Mr. Wright lived in Los Angeles for 47 years after graduating from Bowman High School. He was employed for more than 35 years at Los Angeles Water and Power Co. and Continental Graphics Corporation. He retired in 1998, moving to Utica in 2003.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Pearl Wright-Baxter, and a brother, Stanley E. Wright.

He is survived by his father and stepmother, Garfield Sr. and Francis Wright of Vicksburg; a daughter, Candice Gonzales of Los Angeles; two brothers, Garfield Wright Jr. of Vicksburg and James A. Wright of Duncanville, Texas; five sisters, Delores Hicks of Aurora, Ill., Mary Jimerson of Arlington, Texas, Margaret Singleton of Oak Park, Ill., Patricia A. McDougal of Greenbelt, Md., and Betty Carter of Baton Rouge; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Merold J. Smith

Services for Merold J. “Cottonpicker” Smith will be at 11 a.m. today at Colonial Funeral Home in Columbia with the Rev. Jackie Cook officiating. Burial will follow at Green’s Creek Cemetery under the direction of Colonial Funeral Home.

Mr. Smith died Thursday, Dec. 9, 2004 at his home in Vicksburg. He was 62.

A native of Jefferson Davis County, Mr. Smith was a millwright and a member of Eagle Lake Baptist Church. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Bertie Smith, and two brothers, Clyde Smith Jr. and Marcus R. Smith.

He is survived by three sisters, Varnetta Yates of Columbia, Bertie Zipfel of Red Bud, Ill., and Alphea Dykes of Vicksburg; six brothers, Gaston Smith of Wiggins, Sam Smith of Wiggins, Syvoid Smith of Spring, Texas, Schilean Smith of Columbia, Kelcie Smith of Purvis, and Louie Smith of Prentiss; and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Keith Yates, Mike Dykes, Karl Yates, Jamie Smith, Damon Smith, Tony Barnes, and Ike Barnes. Honorary pallbearers will be Milton Blair, B.J. Shows, and Johnny Price.