Alice Jabour Abraham

Alice Jabour Abraham, age 90, died Tuesday, April 5, 2005, at her home in Vicksburg. Visitation is 5-7 tonight in the sanctuary of St. George Orthodox Church in Vicksburg with funeral services there at 11 a.m. on Friday. Graveside services will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery. The Very Rev. John Morris of St. George Orthodox Church will officiate. Fisher Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Mrs. Abraham was born April 10, 1914, in Vicksburg to the late John and Helen Jabour. She was a graduate of Carr Central High School. She was married on June 10, 1937, to Edward John Abraham, who preceded her in death. Together, they owned and operated Dixie Dress Shop on Washington Street until his death in 1977.

Mrs. Abraham was a kind and compassionate person endearing herself to all who knew her. She loved being around people and engaging in conversation. Her family was her passion and she instilled in them values of life that are reflected in them today.

Mrs. Abraham’s second love was entertaining and food preparation. Hosting tea parties was a favorite. She was a master in the art of Lebanese cuisine. Her Thanksgiving dressing was legendary. As a member of St. George Orthodox Church, she was active in The Women of St. George and the Cedars Ladies’ Club. She was a supporter of the public schools of Vicksburg as a member of the PTA, and she organized fund-raising projects. The YMCA honored her, her husband and family as “Family of the Year” on several occasions.

Mrs. Abraham is survived by five children: Robert E. Abraham and wife, Debbie, of Clinton, Eleanor A. Durst and husband, Joe, and Carla A. Leese and husband, David, all of Vicksburg, Gail A. Lee and husband, Tommy, of Forest; Lynn A. Middleton and husband, Scott, of Oxford; nine grandchildren: Delia Durst Simpson and husband, Sherman, David Durst and wife, Allison, Alice Tiffany Leese Luke and husband, Scott, all of Vicksburg; Dana Durst Pittman and husband, Ben, of Raymond; Jon Dray Lee of Forest; Marlene Alice Middleton of Oxford; J.J. Abraham and wife, Christa, of Irving, Calif., and Greg Abraham and wife, Jeannie, of Los Angeles; Lisa Abraham Dunkin and husband, Wade, of Verden, Okla.; four great-grandchildren: Lee Simpson and Sean Simpson of Vicksburg, Hailey Grace Pittman and Emily Claire Pittman of Raymond; one sister, Amelia Jabour Clark of Ridgeland; and nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by three sisters, Adele Jabour Joseph, Mary Jabour Louis and Josephine Jabour.

The family is forever grateful for the compassionate care given her by her caregivers: Jonell Bobo, Joann Burns, Paulette Darden, Katie Mott, Donna Elzie, Nadine Rozier, Nell Gill and the employees of Patient’s Choice Hospice, Charlotte Miller, Nancy Butler, Whitney Doiron, Toni Dickerson, Lori May, Cecilia Cobb, Rosemary Stamps, Andrea Freeman, Monique Hamlin and Denise Jackson.

Active pallbearers will be David Durst, Victor Cain, Jon Dray Lee, Johnny Louis, J.J. Abraham, Fred Joseph Jr., Greg Abraham and Mark Davis Clark.

Honorary pallbearers will be Carl Howard Fountain, Dr. Daniel Edney, Gene Underwood, George Habeeb, Ellis Koury, Ben Shaw, Bobby Thomas, Dr. Kurt Schrock, Matthew Martin, George Nasif, Elias Rantisi, Mike Baroudy, Roy Noble Lee Jr., Scott Luke, Grady Leese, Charles Hadad, Wayne Thornton, Dr. John Paul Lee, George Jabour Jr., Rick Hardy, Bob Saway, Rowdy Nosser, Charles Abraham, Harvey Smith, Sherman Simpson, Ben Pittman, Dobie Nosser, Jimmy Angelo, and nephews: Raymond Abraham, Dr. Tom Louis, George Ronald Abraham, Richard Monsour, Tommy Louis, Freddy Abraham, Alfred Joseph, and the men and women of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church.

Memorials may be made to St. George Orthodox Church, 2709 Washington St., Vicksburg, MS 39180; Patient’s Choice Hospice and Palliative Care, 1911 Mission 66, Suite A, Vicksburg, MS 39180; or to a favorite charity.

Martha J. Appleton

Services for Martha Appleton will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Rose Hill M.B. Church on Fisher Ferry Road.

Visitation will be from 1 until 6 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. until the hour of service at the funeral home.

Mrs. Appleton died Sunday, April 3, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. She was 92.

Mrs. Appleton was born in Port Gibson and later moved to Vicksburg.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Appleton; and one son, Leroy Parker.

Survivors include two sons, William Appleton Sr. and Charlie Appleton of Vicksburg; 15 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren, and other relatives including Lettie Parker of Port Gibson.

Katharine Harding Jones

Katharine Harding Jones died Tuesday, April 5, 2005, at River Region Medical Center after a long illness. She was 91 and had lived her entire life in Vicksburg.

Katharine, who was affectionately known as Kitty, was born Oct. 24, 1913. Her parents on both sides of the family were prominent in social, economic and political life of the city. Her maternal grandfather, Phillip M. Harding, was president of the Delta Trust and Savings Bank and served on the Board of Supervisors, as well as a term mayor of Vicksburg. On her paternal side, Capt. William S. Jones, a retired steamboat captain, was president of the Merchants Bank. An avid golfer, he was the first president of the Vicksburg Country Club.

Kitty graduated from All Saints’ Episcopal School in Vicksburg, after which she completed her education at the Warrenton Country School in Warrenton, Va. In 1943, she enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving as a lieutenant in the WACS until the end of the war.

After her services in the Army, Kitty was employed at the U.S. Engineers Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg. Her long, successful career there as Chief of the Report Section was rewarded with the meritorious Civilian Services Award and, after retirement in 1972, with a personal letter of appreciation from the chief of engineers in Washington.

After retirement, Kitty devoted herself to traveling, gardening and her book club. She engaged intensively in charitable work, especially the local chapters of the American Red Cross and the Meals on Wheels program. She was a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.

She is survived by a brother, Richard Jones Jr. of Key West, Fla.; numerous cousins; and many loving friends.

Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. Friday at Cedar Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Daniel McKee of Little Rock, Ark., officiating.

Visitation will be from 3 p.m. until the service under the direction of Frank J. Fisher Funeral Home.

Ardelia Patterson

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witnesses. Burial will follow at Shiloh M.B. Church Cemetery in Edwards.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. Friday at Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home and 10 a.m. Saturday until the hour of service at Kingdom Hall.

Ardelia Patterson died Sunday, April 3, 2005, at her home in Vicksburg. She was 79.

Mrs. Patterson was a lifelong resident of Vicksburg. She was a retired domestic and a member of Kingdom Hall Jehovah Witness.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Roosevelt Patterson; one son, James Davis; and two brothers, Louis Johnson and Willie Carter.

Survivors include three sons, Louis Davis Jr. and Leon Davis, both of Edwards, and Eddie Davis of Port Gibson; three daughters, Thelma Irving and Willie Mae McCroy, both of Vicksburg, and Leretha Ann Davis of Los Angeles; one brother, Eddie Johnson of Vicksburg; 12 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren, other relatives including Jorena Moore of Edwards.

Willie B. Richardson

UTICA – Willie B. Richardson died Thursday, March 31, 2005, at his home in Utica. He was 78.

Mr. Richardson was a farmer.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Westhaven Funeral Home of Utica. Burial will follow at Strawbridge Church Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Margaret Wilson

PORT GIBSON – Margaret Wilson died Monday, April 4, 2005, at her home in Port Gibson. She was 87.

She was a member of St. Luke Christian Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Nelson Green and Rebecca Green.

Survivors include four grandchildren, Earnestine Dotson of Vicksburg, Willie Dotson of Port Gibson, Zack Dotson of Beliot, Wis., and Erma Varnado of Lafayette, La.; eight great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Luke Christian Church with Elder T. Elias Harris officiating. Burial will follow at McCaa Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. Friday at Rollins Funeral Home in Port Gibson.