Willie Mae Durrell

Willie Mae Durrell died Thursday, May 5, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. She was 78.

Mrs. Durrell was a retired cook. She was a charter member of Traveler’s Rest Baptist Church and a former member of the adult choir.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Durrell Sr.; her parents, George Harris Sr. and Evelyn Harris; a brother, George Harris Jr.; a sister, Bertha Harris O’Neil; and a grandson, James Allen Williams.

Survivors, all of Vicksburg, include two sons, Elmer Durrell Jr. and George Durrell; two daughters, Evelyn Kay Jackson and Patricia Durrell Hunt; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.

Williams Funeral Service has charge of arrangements.

William McCutchen Raworth

William McCutchen Raworth died Wednesday, May 4, 2005, at his home in Vicksburg at the age of 78. Born Aug. 23, 1926, Mr. Raworth was a fourth-generation native of Vicksburg and a graduate of Carr Central High School. He attended the University of Texas and graduated from the University of Mississippi with a degree in business administration. While at Ole Miss, he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and also received his master’s degree in accounting.

During World War II, he served overseas with the American Field Service. Upon graduation from college, he worked for Silas P. Simmons Accounting in Natchez and earned his certification as a Certified Public Accountant. After moving back to Vicksburg he became a founding partner in Raworth and Halpin, then later in Raworth and Halford CPA. In December of 1986, he retired from Raworth, Halford, Bridgers & Drake to pursue other business interests.

Mr. Raworth served on the board of directors of Merchants National Bank and was active in local civic organizations including Y’s Men’s Club and Lions Club and was very supportive of the Palmer Home for Children in Columbus for many years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William McCutchen Raworth and Danella Deupree Wells Raworth.

He is survived by his wife, Katherine “Sister” Koestler Owen Raworth; three children, Pat Owen of Jackson, Katherine “Kitty” Owen Knoedler of Baltimore and John “Johnny” Owen of Vicksburg; seven grandchildren; Lee Owen, Layden Owen, O’Hara Owen Ezell, Eric Anderton, Craig Anderton, Jamie Baxter and Sarah Owen; four great-grandchildren, Addyson Ezell, Owen Ezell, Lizzie Anderton and Koestler Anderton; two sisters, Emily Raworth Compton and Danella Raworth Conway, both of Vicksburg, and numerous nieces and nephews including Eustace Conway III and Danella Compton Weatherly of Vicksburg.

A celebration of his life will be held at Riles Funeral Home at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 13, 2005.

Memorials may be made to the Vicksburg Catholic School Building Fund, 1200 Hayes St., Vicksburg, MS 39183 or to the Palmer House for Children, P.O. Box 746, Columbus, MS 39703-0746.

Earl Wilson Sr.

Earl B. Wilson Sr. died Friday May 6, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. He was 73.

Born in Warren County, Mr. Wilson lived most of his life in Bovina and was a member of Mount Alban Baptist church, where he was a member of the usher board for many years.

He retired in 1985 from Westinghouse.

Mr. Wilson was preceded in death by his parents, Anderson Parker Sr. and Annie B. Wilson; one sister, Willie B. Price; and two brothers, Anderson Parker Jr. and Ernest Parker.

He is survived by his wife, Annie Mae Wilson of Vicksburg; two sons, Earl Wilson Jr. of Atlanta and Jerry L. Wilson of Miramar, Fla.; three daughters, Lubertha Jenkins and Sandra D. Smith, both of Vicksburg, and Audrey A. Williams of Gainesville, Fla.; a stepdaughter, Shylinda A. McDonald of Quitman; two sisters, Rosetta London of Vicksburg and Jennie B. Hill of Buffalo, N.Y.; nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.

Robbins Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Shappy Wright

Services for Shappy Wright will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Word of Faith Christian Center with the Rev. Reginald Walker officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour before the service at Word of Faith.

Mrs. Wright died Thursday, May 5, 2005, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis. She was 47.

She was a member of Word of Faith Christian Center.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Judge Wright, and a sister, Barbara Ann Wright.

Survivors include a daughter, Targarette Boyd of Vicksburg; her parents, Hoover Younger and Roberta Wright, both of Vicksburg; one brother, Hoover Younger Jr. of Vallejo, Calif.; four sisters, Rochelle Lewis of Victorville, Calif., Roberta L. Polk of Vicksburg, Diann Bolton of Memphis and Rose Wright of Aurora, Ill.; one grandchild; and other relatives and friends.