March 24, 2005

Published 12:00 am Thursday, March 24, 2005

Randall Anthony Baker

HOUSTON, Texas – Randall Anthony “Randy” Baker died Wednesday, March 23, 2005, in Houston, Texas. He was 65.

Mr. Baker was a former resident of Vicksburg. He served in the Navy and worked in the gas and oil business as an accountant. He was a member of Woodlands Christian Church in Houston.

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He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl Edward Baker and Eulanie Baker, and a sister, Beverly Jeanette Baker Holcomb.

He is survived by his wife, Carol Baker; two sons, Michael Wade Baker and Anthony Benard “Tony” Baker; two daughters, Karen Lynn Baker McKay and Beverly Ann Baker Hambright; a stepson, James E. Peeler; a stepdaughter, Ellen Peeler Couch; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and other relatives and friends, including Sara Baker.

Veterans Funeral Home of Houston has charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to a favorite charity.

Sam Barnes

UTICA – Services for Sam Barnes will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Second Union M.B. Church with Dr. Michael R. Reed officiating. Burial will follow at Second Union Cemetery under the direction of W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home.

Mr. Barnes died Monday, March 21, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. He was 90.

Mr. Barnes, a native of Claiborne County, was retired and had served in the Army in World War II. A resident of Utica, he was a member of Second Union M.B. Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary M. Barnes; four brothers, Booker T. Barnes, Judge Barnes, George Thomas and Ike Barnes; one sister, Merk Barnes; and his parents, Sam Barnes Sr. and Cora Jasper.

Survivors include two sons, Sammie Barnes and Robert Barnes, both of Utica; four daughters, Dorothy Barnes, Charlene Barnes, Kalean Barnes and Rita Shorter, all of Utica; eight grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.

Sarah Parson Bell

Services for Sarah Parson Bell will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Cedar Grove M.B. Church with the Rev. Antoine Eakins officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 until 7 p.m. Friday at W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home and from 10 a.m. Saturday until the service at the church.

Mrs. Bell died Tuesday, March 22, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. She was 100.

Mrs. Bell was born in Calmeda, Miss., and had been a Vicksburg resident for 90 years. With her husband, she operated Bell’s Cafe in Marcus Bottom in the 1950s and ’60s.

She was a lifelong member and mother of Cedar Grove M.B. Church, Grange Hall community.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George Parson and Cora Russel Parson; her husband, Leonard Bell; her daughter, Lillian Bertha Clark; and two brothers, James Parson Sr. and George Parson.

Survivors include four grandchildren, Carl L. Horne and Carolyn Horne Bradford, both of Vicksburg, Robert Lee Brown Jr. of Dallas and Lynette E. Brown of College Park, Ga.; 12 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives, including Mary Helen Hall and members of the Parson, Horne, Burns, Bradford, Harris and Coleman families of Vicksburg.

Pallbearers will be John L. Parson, Willie L. Parson, Joe Parson, Jamal Bradford, Carlton Bradford, Carl Frederick Horne, Robert Cox, Sherman Logan and Gene Logan Jr.

Honorary pallbearers will be deacons of Cedar Grove M.B. Church.

Rev. Chester A. Ross Sr.

Services for the Rev. Chester A. Ross Sr. will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Vicksburg City Auditorium with Casey Fisher officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1 until 7 p.m. Friday at Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home; family will be present from 5 until 7.

A repast will be at the auditorium.

Rev. Ross died Friday, March 18, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. He was 75.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Ross Sr. and Caldonia Ross; nine brothers, Benton Ross, Clinton Ross, Cornelius Ross, Jessie Ross, John Henry Ross, Lieutenant Ross, Prentiss Ross, Sam Ross and Willie Ross Jr.; and three sisters, Beatrice Ross Young, Cariola Ross Williams and Josephine Ross Mayfield.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Robertstean Ross; five sons, Chester Ross Jr., Spencer L. Ross, Joe R. Ross, Eddie L. Ross and Kenny B. Ross, all of Vicksburg; 13 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Annie Thompson

PORT GIBSON – Annie “Nina” Thompson died Sunday, March 20, 2005, at her home in Port Gibson. She was 79.

Mrs. Thompson was a member and mother of Ashland M.B. Church, where she was in the choir.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Briscoe and Pearlia Thomas-Robinson; a daughter, Ruth McNeil; a son, Billy R. Thompson; one brother, Louis Robinson; and two sisters, Lutisha Brown and May Anna Robinson.

Survivors include her husband, Walter L. Thompson Jr. of Port Gibson; three sons, Freddie Davis, Charles Trevillion and Owen Thompson, all of Boston, Mass.; five daughters, Gustina Jackson, Claudine Leatherberry, Presandra Thompson-Butler and Norma Thompson, all of Port Gibson, and Tonnie Miller of Boston; a brother, Johnnie Brisco Robinson of Port Gibson; a sister, Florene Davis of Port Gibson; 14 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Ashland M.B. Church with the Rev. James Dorsey officiating. Burial will follow at Springhill Baptist Church Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1 until 6 today at Thompson Funeral Home of Port Gibson, followed by family hour from 6 until 7 p.m., and at the church Friday from noon until the service.