The Vicksburg Post prints 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.

Larry Brown

Larry Brown died Sunday, May 22, 2005, at Vicksburg Convalescent Home. He was 45.

Mr. Brown was a former construction worker.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Lee Brown Sr.

He is survived by a son, Julius Hamberlin of Memphis; two daughters, Angela Carson and Crystal Hamberlin, both of Vicksburg; his mother, Julia Lee Brown of Vicksburg; three brothers, Robert Lee Brown Jr., Jackie Brown and Herman Butler, all of Vicksburg; and one sister, Betty Strong of Vicksburg.

W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Pat Cowan

Pat Cowan died Friday, May 13, 2005, at River Region Medical Center in Vicksburg. He was 74.

He was born in Tyler, Texas and moved to Vicksburg in 1998.

He was a member of the Vicksburg ACBL Bridge Club.

A celebration of life will be at the City of Vicksburg Senior Center at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Thomas Edwin Embry Jr.

Thomas Edwin Embry Jr. died Saturday, May 21, 2005, at River Region Medical Center in Vicksburg. He was 83.

Mr. Embry was born in Lorman and moved to Vicksburg in 1946. He was a veteran of the World War II, serving in the Navy, and was a retired dry kiln operator for Anderson-Tully Lumber Company. He was a member of the W.H. Stevens Masonic Lodge, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Highland Baptist Church and the Lawrence Payne Sunday School class.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Edwin Embry Sr. and Pearlie Ottilee Walters Embry; three sisters, Maggie Lee Embry Montgomery, Pearl Beatrice Embry Smith and Thursa Laverne Embry; and three brothers, John Joseph Embry, George Lawrence Embry and Bernice Clark Embry.

Survivors include his wife, Pearl Marie Bonds Embry of Vicksburg; one daughter, Faye Embry Ross of Vicksburg; one son, Ray Embry of Vicksburg; three sisters, Mary Lois Embry Smith of Lorman, Esther Edna Embry Sanders of Gonzales, La., and Tiny Ruth Embry Lott of Jackson; one brother, James Neal Embry of Lorman; three grandchildren; one great-grandchild; nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Riles Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Brian Ivey officiating. Burial will follow at Green Acres Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. Tuesday until the hour of service at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Lee Embry, Richard Embry, David Temple, Tommy Embry, Joe Embry, James Winstead, John Alex Bonds and Larry Lynn Halford.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Walter Johnston and the Lawrence Payne Sunday School Class of Highland Baptist Church.

Memorials may be made to the Highland Baptist Church Building Fund, 3518 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180.

John London Gayles

John London “Plucky” Gayles died Saturday, May 21, 2005, at his home. He was 83.

Mr. Gayles was born in Houston, Texas, to John Wesley Gayles and Willie Mae Meadows. He attended Washington Elementary in Keithville, La., and Cannon Land Elementary in Shreveport, La. He relocated in 1933 to Chicago, where he attended Rogers Elementary. He graduated as salutatorian and class president from Medill High School in 1939.

He joined Tercentenary A.M.E. Church, where he was a member of the choir and male quartet. He later joined St. Stephen A.M.E. Church, serving as steward. He moved to Vicksburg in 1989 and attended Bethel A.M.E. Church.

Mr. Gayles joined the 8th Infantry Regiment of the Illinois National Guard and was called to active duty in 1941. He served in the 92nd Infantry Division during the Italian Campaign and the Army occupation of West Germany. He attended the USAREUR School, becoming an interrogator in 1952. He retired with the rank of major.

He received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1964 from Chicago Teachers College and a master of arts degree in geography in 1970 from Chicago State College. He worked in the Chicago Public School System, teaching social studies at Dyett Upper Grade Center and later serving as district supervisor of the Junior ROTC. He was an adjunct instructor in geography at Chicago State University and retired after 25 years of service.

After moving to Vicksburg, Mr. Gayles worked in soft count for the casino industry. He also tutored GED students at Good Shepherd Community Center.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Mildred Gayles; and one grandson, William Todd Wallace.

Survivors include his wife of 36 years, Dr. Allene Demby Gayles of Vicksburg; one daughter, Dr. Yolanda Deane Gayles Wallace of Chicago; one son, Reginald Roger Gayles of Chicago; a stepson, Michael Demby-Cain of Mahwah, N.J.; three grandchildren; a niece he reared, Aisha Chane Demby of Vicksburg; and friends and other relatives, including Judy Holland of Los Angeles.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Stephen A.M.E. Church, 2248 Washington Blvd. in Chicago, under the direction of Griffin Funeral Home of Chicago.

Visitation will be from 1 until 7 p.m. Tuesday at Lakeview Funeral Home in Vicksburg.

Memorials may be made to Bethel A.M.E. Church Restoration Project, 805 Monroe St., Vicksburg, MS 39183.

Thelma Odessa Reagan McDaniel

NEWELLTON – Thelma Odessa Reagan McDaniel died Sunday, May 22, 2005, at Franklin Medical Center in Winnsboro. She was 93.

A homemaker, Mrs. McDaniel was born in Baskin, La., and had lived in Tensas Parish for more than 60 years. She was a past member of Flowers Landing Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Newellton. She was also a past member of the Eastern Star and completed her late husband’s unexpired term as police juryman of Tensas Parish.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Vester V. “Dink” McDaniel; a son, Alton McDaniel; a daughter, Helon Evon McDaniel; and a grandson, Harold David McDaniel.

Survivors include one son, Harold V. McDaniel of St. Joseph; two brothers, Herbert Reagan of Columbia, Md., and Louis Reagan of Fortuna, Calif.; three grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Legion Cemetery in Newellton with the Rev. Todd Sumrall officiating. Burial will follow under the direction of Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home.

Doris Pullin

OAK GROVE – Doris Pullin died Saturday, May 21, 2005, at West Carroll Memorial Hospital in Oak Grove. She was 75.

Mrs. Pullin was a native of Terry, La.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jessie Myrt Pullin; her parents, James Pearl and Sally Elizabeth Robinson; and six brothers, Milford Robinson, Horace Robinson, James Robinson, J.P. Robinson, Cecil Robinson and Becil Robinson.

Survivors include two daughters, Kathy Lewis of Oak Grove and Sylvia Elaine Bolton of Rodgers, Ark.; three sons, Michael Pullin and Mark Pullin, both of Monroe, and Timothy Pullin of San Antonio, Texas; a sister, Minnie Beard of Oak Grove; and nine grandchildren.

Services will be at 4 p.m. today at Macedonia Baptist Church in Oak Grove with the Rev. Mike Howard officiating. Burial will follow at Macedonia Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Marshall Crain, Keith Crain, Tony Hill, Willie Thames, Eddie Allen and Ronald Bowman.

Johnie R. Ross

Johnie R. Ross died Saturday, May 21, 2005, at West Carroll Care Center in Oak Grove. He was 77.

Mr. Ross was born in West Carroll Parish to Clifton Richard and John Noah “Tenie Lee” Ross. He worked 11 years in the oil field before returning to Oak Grove in 1962. He operated a bulldozer as a land clearer and farmed until 1978, when he opened the Country Store in Fiske Union.

He also drove a school bus for the West Carroll Parish Schools for 12 years.

He is survived by his wife, Madge Whitney Ross of Oak Grove; three daughters, Donna Kay Dartlon, Darlene Raymond and Theresa Newton, all of Oak Grove; one sister, Ola Mae Marsh of Rayville, La.; and seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Cox Funeral Home in Oak Grove with the Rev. Bill Bearden officiating. Burial will follow at New Forest Cemetery in Forest, La.

Pallbearers will be Pete Raymond, Brad Raymond, Dusty Raymond, Scott Brantley, Darryl Williams and Larry Drurey.

Sadie Lozell Williams

Sadie Lozell Williams died Sunday, May 22, 2005, at Vicksburg Convalescent home. She was 90.

Mrs. Williams was a homemaker. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post No. 213 and Jackson Street M.B. Church, where she was in the senior choir.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Dan and Martha Smith Braxton; her husband, Sammie Williams; six brothers, J.D. Braxton, Earl Braxton, Dan Braxton Jr., Rucher Braxton, Cullen Braxton and Ellis Braxton; and two sisters, Elizabeth B. O’Quin and Martha Nell Perkins.

Survivors include one son, Melvin E. Redmond Sr. of Vicksburg; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.