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.

Georgia M. Allen Brown

Georgia M. Allen Brown died Sunday, Feb. 20, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. She was 56.

Mrs. Brown was a native of Warren County and graduate of Rosa A. Temple High School. She earned a bachelor of science degree in biology from Alcorn State University in 1970.

She began teaching science in Rolling Fork, but later joined the faculty at Warren Central Junior High School where she taught seventh-grade science for 30 years. She also founded and served as sponsor of the school’s Science and Math club.

She was a member of the Mississippi Teachers Association, National Educators Association and the National Teachers Association of Science. She was also a member of the Les Belle Amie Social and Civic Club and the Alcorn State University National Alumni Association.

She was a member of Bethel A.M.E. Church, where she served as trustee, official greeter and church reporter. She was a former member of the Girl Scouts and ACE League.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Smith, and her grandmother, Mary Jane Smith.

She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Allen of Vicksburg; a brother, William M. Smith of Atlanta; two sisters, Alice Kelly of Compton, Calif., and Alberta McMurray of Sacramento, Calif.; and nieces, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bethel A.M.E. Church, 805 Monroe St.

Family hour will be from 6 until 7 p.m. Friday at Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home.

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

Pallbearers will be the Rosa A. Temple High School Class of 1966.

Honorary pallbearers will be the board of Bethel A.M.E. Church.

Ola Frances Christopher

ROLLING FORK – Ola Frances Christopher died Monday, Feb. 21, 2005, at Sharkey-Issaquena Hospital in Rolling Fork. She was 92.

Mrs. Christopher was a longtime resident of Rolling Fork. She retired as a jailer for Sharkey County.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Odell Christopher, and a daughter, Helen Horn.

Survivors include two sons, Paul Christopher of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Charles Christopher of Rolling fork; two sisters, Beulah Lott of Magee and Essie Hallman of Raleigh; and six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Services were at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Glenwood Funeral Home in Rolling Fork with the Rev. Bob Ivy officiating. Burial followed at Mound Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Jerry Steed, Terry Smithhart, Johnny Smith, Joe Ford, Billy Nichols and Phillip Hester.

Robert Henry Cummings

Robert Henry Cummings died Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2005, at his home. He was 77.

Mr. Cummings was a veteran of the Navy, and he was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Basil Cummings Sr. and Bessie Mae Cummings, and a sister, Clara Ann Cummings.

He is survived by one brother, Basil T. Cummings Jr. of Vicksburg, and nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Ernestine Dobbs

Ernestine Dobbs died Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. Shee was 72.

A native and lifelong resident of Vicksburg, Mrs. Dobbs was the daughter of the late Jessie and Bertha West Dobbs. She was a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, three sisters and a son, William Worrell.

Mrs. Dobbs is survived by three sons, Ricky Hollowell Sr., Bruce Hollowell and Victor L. Worrell, all of Vicksburg; a sister, Geraldine D. Boone of Vicksburg; and six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Cedar Hill Cemetery with the Rev. James Hartley officiating. Burial will follow under the direction of Fisher Funeral Home.

Vada Spurgeon Grant

ROLLING FORK – Vada Spurgeon Grant died Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2005, at Mississippi Care Center in Greenville. She was 88.

A homemaker, Mrs. Grant was born in Waynesboro and had lived in Issaquena County for the past 63 years. She was a member of Sharon Chapel Assembly of God Church in Grace.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey Spurgeon Sr., and a daughter, Betty Ruth Wright.

Survivors include her husband, James Grant of Rolling Fork; one son, Harvey “Bubba” Spurgeon Jr. of Colorado Springs, Colo.; six daughters, Kathleen McDaniel and Alice Faye Adams, both of Greenville, Bunny Jean Richards of Searcy, Ark., Bobbye Jean Silver of Fort Smith, Ark., Joann Spurgeon of Columbus, Ind., and Mary Beckham of Marion, Ind.; a sister, Myrtle Foster of Nashville, Tenn.; and 24 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Sharon Chapel Assembly of God Church with the Rev. Tim Edwards officiating. Burial will follow at Greenfield Cemetery in Glen Allan.

Visitation will be from 5 until 7 tonight at Glenwood Funeral Home in Rolling Fork.

Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

Laura Herring

EDWARDS – Laura Herring died Monday, Feb. 21, 2005, at Central Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. She was 51.

Miss Herring was a resident of Edwards.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Bernice Herring, and her adopted parents, Charlie and Martha Herring.

Survivors include one sister, Louise Lewis of Miami, Fla.; and other relatives, including Norman and Jeanette Weeden of Edwards.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Vicksburg. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill M.B. Church Cemetery in Edwards.

Visitation will be from 1 until 6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Essie McAllister

Services for Essie McAllister will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Robbins Funeral Home with the Rev. R.L. Miller officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1 until 5 p.m. Friday and until the service Saturday at the funeral home.

Mrs. McAllister died Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2005, at her home. She was 71.

A longtime resident of St. Louis, Mo., Ms. McAllister had lived in Vicksburg for a number of years. She retired as a nursing assistant from Regency Medical Center in St. Louis. She was a veteran of the Air Force and a member of the Baptist faith.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry Rhodes and Josephine Anderson Rhodes; a brother, Victor Knox; and a stepbrother, Robert Lee Harris.

She is survived by a nephew and nieces, including her caretaker Verda Clark Nailor of Vicksburg; and other relatives, including Susie Matthews of Mayersville and members of the Rhodes, Miller, Mays, Cary and Knox families.

Charles A. Montague Sr.

Charles A. Montague Sr. died Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. He was 78.

Born in Hattiesburg, Mr. Montague had been a Vicksburg resident since 1943. He was the son of the late Charles C. and Ruby Odom Montague. He retired in 1983 as chief of Construction Services at Waterways Experiment Station after 38 years of service.

He was a member of Paxton Masonic Lodge. He was of the Baptist faith.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Boyce Montague and Charles Andrew Montague.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Lottie B. Montague; one daughter, Joyce Montague; one son, Charlie Montague Jr. and wife, Nancy; two grandchildren, Jeff and Megan; and one sister, Bonnie Fitch of Pass Christian. He also leaves several nieces and nephews, including Elizabeth Evans of Vicksburg.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Riles Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Brian Ivey, pastor of Highland Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be at Green Acres Memorial Park.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. Friday until the service.

Pallbearers will be Clint Hollingsworth, Payton Fulgham, Ron Branan, Ray Burroughs, Bennett Randman and Jeff Woleben.

Honorary pallbearers will be Carolyn Barnes, Helena Williams, Alice Daniels and Kim Fuller.

Memorials may be made to the Vicksburg-Warren Humane Society, P.O. Box 820171, Vicksburg, MS 39182 or to the American Cancer Society, 1380 Livingston Lane, Jackson, MS 39213.

Carrie Smith Stigall

DELTA CITY – Carrie Smith Stigall, 86, of Delta City died Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2005, at her home.

Services will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Delta City Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Vicklan Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 until 7 tonight at the church.

Ms. Stigall was born June 9, 1918, to the late Tom and Mary Smith in Catchings, Miss., where she resided all her life.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Russell Stigall Sr.

She was a housewife and dedicated mother.

She is survived by three sons, Robert Stigall and wife, Bobbye, and Russell “Bud” Stigall Jr. and wife, Sharron, all of Anguilla, and Thomas Stigall Sr. and wife, Brenda, of Delta City; six daughters, Mary Oltremari and husband, Henry, of Branson, Mo., Jean Sandifer and husband, Joel, of Lake Washington, Miss., Kathy Sanderford and husband, Vernon, of Delta City, Patsy Luke of Brandon, Sharon King of Straight Bayou, Miss., and Connie Chick and husband, Scott, of Rolling Fork; 16 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Frank Smith of Wallisville, Texas, and Don Smith of Houston, Texas.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons: Rob Stigall, Russ Stigall, Thomas Stigall, Rad Stigall, Wes Wood, Will Wood and Tripp Sandifer.

The service will be officiated by the Rev. Nick Smith and the Rev. Brad Moak.

Memorials may be made to Delta City Baptist Church.

Jayvona Renea Wright

Jayvona Renea Wright, infant daughter of Jeremy Wright and LaQuisha Washington of Vicksburg, died Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2005, at River Region Medical Center.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Edward Lee Wright Sr.

In addition to her parents, she is survived by a brother, Derrick Ramone Hall Jr. of Vicksburg; her maternal grandparents, Barbara Ann Washington and Leon Walker Sr. of Vicksburg; her paternal grandmother, Deloris Lacey of Vicksburg; and great-grandparents, Barbara Jean Washington of Aurora, Ill., and Willie Washington, Susie Lacey and George Lacey, all of Vicksburg.

Services will be at 1 p.m. today at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Burial will follow under the direction of W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home.

Burnice E. Yelverton

OAK GROVE – Burnice E. Yelverton died Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2005, at West Carroll Memorial Hospital. He was 80.

Mr. Yelverton was born in Laurel and was a resident of Oak Grove.

He was preceded in death by one son, Ernest Glen Yelverton; his parents, Haney Braxton Yelverton and Julia Louise Yelverton; two brothers, Toxi Yelverton and J.B. Yelverton; and three sisters, Eloise Socia, Jacolyn Bates and Louise Hammett.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth Yelverton of Oak Grove; a son, Jack Yelverton of San Diego, Calif.; a daughter, Judy Morrow of McCaskill, Ark.; one brother, William Franklin Yelverton of Orange, Texas; two sisters, Grace Socia of Carthage, Texas, and Billie Eldeene Malley of Groves, Texas; and eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Services were at 10 a.m. today at Cox Funeral Home in Oak Grove with the Rev. Keith Riley officiating. Burial followed at Oak Grove Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Ricky Riley, Ricky Ables, Gene McGaha, Mike Rosales, Jack Madden, Dewey Freeman, Dub Martin and Tom David Waters.

Honorary pallbearers will be Larry Jackson, David Acreman, Arther Harper Jr., J.B. Bush, Lamar Bush and Johnny Riley.