William T. “Bill” Sheffield Sr. died Thursday, Dec. 16, 2004, at Covenant Health and Rehab of Vicksburg. He was 92.

Born in Ruleville, Mr. Sheffield had been a Vicksburg resident most of his life. He was a member of Stevens Lodge No. 121 F&AM, Vicksburg Chapter No. 3 Royal and Select Masons, Magnolia Commandary No. 2, Magnolia Legion No. 67 of Vicksburg and the York Rite. He was a Shriner and Noble of the Wahabi Temple, a charter member of Moose Lodge No. 1581 and past chancellor of the Knights of Phythias of the State of Mississippi.

He was a life member of the BPOE Elks Lodge No. 95, where he was named Elk of the Year. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps at Camp No. 469 of Vicksburg. He owned and operated Sheffield-McKay Motor Co. before owning Sheffield’s Conoco on Cherry Street and Sheffield’s Garage on Warrenton Road.

He retired following his ownership of Sheffield’s Portable Buildings and Portable Toilet Co. in New Orleans.

Mr. Sheffield is survived by his wife, Frances Wilson Sheffield of Vicksburg; a son, William T. “Billy” Sheffield Jr. of Vicksburg; two stepsons, Frank E. Wilson Jr. of Kensington, Md., and John W. Wilson of St. Mary’s, Ga.; two daughters, Mary Lois Ragland of Vicksburg and Kay Henderson of Oakland, Tenn.; three brothers, Robert Sheffield of Jackson, Harry Sheffield of Temple, Texas, and Sidney Sheffield of Bogalusa, La.; three sisters, Eunice S. Phillips of Vicksburg, Delores Bain of Temple and Minnie Binson of Durham, N.C.; and 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Riles Funeral Home with the Rev. Sylvia Baylot, pastor of Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church in Yazoo City and Thornton United Methodist Church of Tchula, officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 until 7 tonight at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be William T. Sheffield III, Adam Frost, Jeff Taylor, John Heggins, Ray Raybon, Mike Chaney, Mike Cook and Ralph Landers.

Honorary pallbearers will be R.W. Hollingsworth Sr., Jack Hollingsworth, Russell Barnes and members of the Elks Lodge No. 95, Moose Lodge No. 1581 and Vicksburg Shrine Club.

Memorials may be made to the Shreveport Shriners Hospital, 3100 Samford Ave., Shreveport, LA 71103.

Helen White

Services for Helen White will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Jackson Street M.B. Church with the Rev. John Carroll officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery under the direction of W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. Saturday until the service at the church.

Ms. White died Monday, Dec. 13, 2004, at River Region Medical Center. She was 77.

Ms. White was a resident of Vicksburg. She was retired from the Vicksburg Hospital and was a member of Jackson Street M.B. Church.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Albert Gibbs; a son, Matthew White; and her mother, Addie Gibbs.

Survivors include three sons, Alfred White of Jackson, Anderson White of Vicksburg and Ronnie White of Richland; three daughters, Addie Mae Brown of Chicago, Alfreda White of Vicksburg and Connie White of Washington; 21 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.