February 28, 2005

Published 12:00 am Monday, February 28, 2005

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.

Jeff B. Bowen Sr.

Jeff B. Bowen Sr. died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. He was 83.

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Born in Grenada, Mr. Bowen had been a Vicksburg resident since 1964. He was retired from the Vicksburg District Corps of Engineers as Chief of the Geodesy Section of the Surveying Branch.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in World War II. He was a member of the Paxton Masonic Lodge, where he was a past master. He was a member of the York Rite Body and KYCH. He was a member of Accacia Chapter of the Eastern Star and Demolay Capital of Preceptory Legion of Honor.

Mr. Bowen was a member of Highland Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by a wife, Emma Grace Bowen.

He is survived by his wife, Martha C. Bowen of Vicksburg; two daughters, Betty M. Bowen of Beaverton, Ore., and Julie A. Nosser of Vicksburg; a son, Jeff Bowen Jr. of Winona; a stepson, Lamar Moore of North Hampton, Mass., and a stepdaughter, Lynda Young of Meridian; four sisters, Bonnie Hemphill and Betty Branscone, both of Grenada, Faye James of Montgomery, Ala., and Christine Hales of Vicksburg; two brothers, John W. Bowen III of Edwards and Harold R. Bowen of Greenwood; six grandchildren, Joseph Nosser, Lauren Nosser and Jennifer Bennett, all of Vicksburg, David Young Jr. and Krystal Young, both of Meridian, and Caylx Moore of North Hampton; and one great-grandchild, Jaylon Pruitt of Meridian.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Glenwood Funeral Home with the Revs. Brian Ivy and Ed Hightower officiating. Burial will follow at Green Acres Memorial Park.

Visitation will be from 5 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Harold Hollingsworth, Joe Lyons, Jimmy Harrison, David Young, John W. Bowen IV and Robert J. Sykes Jr.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of Accacia Chapter of the Eastern Star, members of Paxton and Stevens lodges, and members of the York Rite and Shriners of Vicksburg.

Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospital, c/o Wahabi Shriners Center, P.O. Box 2750, Jackson, MS 39207.

Tonia Rae Easterling

Tonia Rae Easterling died Thursday, Feb. 24, 2005, as the result of a motor vehicle accident. She was 49.

Born in Monroe, Mrs. Easterling was a resident of Vicksburg. She worked as a cashier.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Waldon Gipson Bridges and Floy Mae Evans Bridges.

She is survived by a son, Christopher Easterling of Oak Grove; a daughter, Angela Garner of Oak Grove; four brothers, Arthur Bridges and Mark Bridges, both of Vicksburg, Carlton Bridges of Grenada and Curtis Bridges of Oak Grove; five sisters, Peggy Hill and Hilda Anderson, both of Oak Grove, and Kate Montgomery, Linda Deere and Iris Hogg, all of Vicksburg; and five grandchildren.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Cox Funeral Home in Oak Grove with the Rev. Jimmy Herring officiating.

Burial will follow at Kilbourne Cemetery in Kilbourne, La.

Pallbearers will be Jimmy Deere, Everett Deere, Johnny Easterling, Mike Thompson, Bradley Hicks and Dewayne Nevels.

Calvin Funches

Calvin “Dick” Funches died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. He was 53.

A native of Warren County, Mr. Funches attended Vicksburg Public Schools. He played football at Jefferson Junior High and Rosa A. Temple High schools. He worked for the Vicksburg Warren School District, serving 19 years at Beechwood Elementary.

He was a member of House of Peace Worship Church.

Mr. Funches was preceded in death by Alfred Dillard Jr. and his parents, Warren and Love Lee Funches.

He is survived by his wife, Bessie Dillard Funches of Vicksburg; two daughters, Chandra White and Catina White, both of Vicksburg, and Calvert White of the Army, Watertown, N.Y.; three grandchildren; and other relatives, including Bessie Dillard and members of the Funches and Richardson families of Vicksburg.

Robbins Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Ernest Lafayette Wilson Jr.

LAKE PROVIDENCE – Ernest Lafayette Wilson Jr. died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2005, at West Carroll Memorial Hospital. He was 68.

Mr. Wilson was a lifelong resident of Lake Providence.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest L. Sr. and Dorothy Caroline Womack Wilson.

He is survived by three daughters, Denise Staten of New Albany, Shandra Wilson of Tupelo and Heather Brown of Ridgeland; one sister, Shirley Rae Wilson Jones of Houston, Texas; and three grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Cox Funeral Home in Lake Providence with the Rev. Mike Howard officiating. Burial will follow at Lake Providence City Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Kent Wagley, Ted Parker, Robert Neal, Bobby Heflin, Dan Staten and David Brown.

Honorary pallbearers will be Billbo Wilson and Billy Womack.