The Vicksburg Post publishes obituaries in news form for area residents, their family members and for former residents at no charge. Families wishing to publish additional information or to use specific wording have the option of a paid obituary.

Parker Hall

Parker Hall died Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2005, at his home. He was 88.

Mr. Hall was born in Tunica to the late Parker and Ruth Schultz Hall. He was a graduate of Tunica High School and the University of Mississippi, where he was honored as an All-American in football. In 1938, he led the nation in six categories – scoring, rushing, average, kickoff and punt return averages, touchdowns responsible and all-purpose yards.

After college, he moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he played in the National Football League for the Cleveland Rams and was a first-round draft choice in 1939. While in Cleveland, he was named NFL Rookie of the Year and the NFL’s Most Valuable Player of 1939.

Mr. Hall served in the Navy in World War II and, after his discharge, played quarterback for the first San Francisco 49ers football team. He moved to Memphis in 1947, where he worked for Anderson-Tully Co. and retired as its vice president in 1984. He served on the board of directors for a number of years.

He was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1971 and the University of Mississippi Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1991. He was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a wife, Josephine Tully Hall.

Survivors include his wife, Lorraine Ammon Hall of Vicksburg; four sons, Parker Hall III, Tully Hall, Chris Hall and Peter Hall, all of Vicksburg; a sister, Ruth Jones of Canton; and seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be said at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Paul Catholic Church with the Rev. Patrick Farrell, pastor, officiating. A private, family burial will follow.

Visitation will be from 6 until 8 tonight at the funeral home with a wake/prayer service at 7:30.

Pallbearers will be Ken Hicks, Alvin Stimage, Jeff Morrow, Bobby Robinson, Scott Jones, Skip Guizerix, John Hennessey and Clyde “Chuck” Jones.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul Catholic Church, 713 Crawford St., Vicksburg, MS 39180; All Saints’ Episcopal School, 2717 Confederate Ave., Vicksburg, MS 39180; or to the YMCA, 267 YMCA Place, Vicksburg, MS 39183.

James Hand III

ROLLING FORK – James Hand III died Thursday, Feb. 3, 2005, in Nashville. He was 82.

Born in Egremont, Mr. Hand spent most of his life in the Mississippi Delta. For the past nine years he made his home in Nashville.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Theresa Moore Hand; his father, James Hand Jr.; and a brother, Charles Moore Hand.

Mr. Hand graduated from Riverside Military Academy and attended the University of Alabama. He served in World War II in the 357th Infantry Regiment, landing on Utah Beach on D-Day Plus 2. In 1946, he returned to Rolling Fork to join his father in farming operations. Through the next 50 years Mr. Hand served as town alderman, a member of the Rotary Club, board member of Merchants Bank and president of Delta Council in 1968-69.

He was a member of Rolling Fork United Methodist Church.

Survivors include a sister, Kathleen Hand Carter; two daughters, Nancy Hand Williams and Karen Hand Stevens; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Rolling Fork United Methodist Church.

Visitation with the family will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

Memorials may be made to the James Hand III Fund at Rolling Fork Methodist Church, P.O. Box 3245, Rolling Fork MS 39159; Mississippi Christian Family Services; Riverside Military Academy, 2001 Riverside Drive, Gainesville, GA 30501; Siloam Family Health Center, P.O. Box 41687, Nashville, TN 37204; or Alive Hospice, 1718 Patterson St., Nashville 37203.

Catherine A. Hannah

RIDGELAND – Catherine A. Hannah died Sunday, Feb. 6, 2005, at her home in Ridgeland. She was 73.

Mrs. Hannah was born in Rockaway Beach, N.Y., and lived in Biloxi for 32 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Stephen and Catherine Revay Gondek, and a brother, John Gondek.

She is survived by three daughters, Joanne Hannah Allen of Vicksburg, Cathy Hannah and Lynda Hannah of Ridgeland; five sons, John Hannah and Jimmy Hannah, both of Ridgeland, Scott Hannah of Biloxi, Karry Hannah of Cape Coral, Fla., and Tom Hannah of Satellite Beach, Fla.; and 10 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends, including Caroline Kennedy.

Private memorial services will be under the direction of Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home.

Keith Knudsen

SAN FRANCISCO – Keith Knudsen, the longtime Doobie Brothers drummer who played with the band on a string of hits including “Taking It to the Streets” and “Black Water,” died Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2005. He was 56.

Knudsen, who was married to former Vicksburg resident Kathy Koury Knudsen, for 23 years, began drumming in eighth grade and joined the Doobie Brothers in 1974. “After a week’s rehearsal, I went on the road with the band,” Knudsen said in his biography on the band’s Web site.

The Doobies were known for incorporating gospel and jazz stylings into popular hit songs. They also were well-regarded for their live performances. Their other hits included “China Grove” and “Jesus is Just Alright.”

Knudsen played with the Doobies until the band’s 1982 farewell tour. During the band’s hiatus, Knudsen and bandmate John McFee formed the country rock group Southern Pacific, which released four albums and had several hits.

He rejoined the band full-time in 1993.

The Knudsens lived in Glen Ellen, Calif., in the Sonoma Valley.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Knudsen is survived by his daughter, Dayna Keyes.

J.C. Lighter

J.C. Lighter died Monday, Feb. 7, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. He was 92.

Mr. Lighter was born in Utica. He retired from the Corps of Engineers’ Government Fleet Division.

He was a member of Sunshine Lodge No. 99 and was of the Baptist faith.

He was preceded in death by his father, Claude “Bud” Lighter; his mother, Rosie Myles Lighter; a son, J.B. Lighter; two sisters, Ella Mae Lighter and Laura Lighter; and three brothers, R.C. Lighter, Ruben Lighter and Nathan Lighter.

He is survived by his wife, Carrie Marley Lighter of Vicksburg; one son, Willie K. Childress of Wichita, Kan.; one daughter, Ruth Lewis of Vicksburg; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Robbins Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Thomas W. Williams Jr.

Thomas W. Williams Jr. died Saturday, Feb. 5, 2005, in Hampton, Va. He was 56.

Mr. Williams was a veteran of the Vietnam War.

He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas Williams Sr.; a sister, Connie Evelyn Williams; and a brother, Dwight Williams Sr.

He is survived by his mother, Susie H. Williams of Vicksburg; a daughter, Xzavier Phillips of Vicksburg; a son, Jason Blunt of Hampton; two brothers, Michael A. Williams of Hampton and Joe Samuel Williams of Vicksburg; four sisters, Doris M. Jones of Austin, Texas, Pamela R. Ned of St. Louis, Mo., and Gwendolyn J. Strong and Linda S. Sims, both of Vicksburg; two grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends, including Barbara Dunn and members of the Evers, Hughes and Crump families.

Williams Funeral Service has charge of arrangements.