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.

Julia Marie Simmons Ellis

CANTON – Julia Marie Simmons Ellis died Wednesday, May 25, 2005, at Central Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. She was 82.

Mrs. Ellis lived most of her life in Vicksburg before moving to Canton after she married. She was a member of Bethel A.M.E. Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Dan and Jessie B. Simmons, and a brother, D.W. Simmons.

Survivors include a niece whom she reared, Ruby Chinn; great-nieces; cousins; and other relatives and friends, including Alyce and Fred Shields.

Services were Saturday in Canton.

Johnnie Flaggs

Johnnie Flaggs died Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at Shady Lawn Nursing Home. She was 94.

A resident of Vicksburg, Mrs. Flaggs was a member of Mount Zion No. 4 Baptist Church. She was a member of the Eastern Star and Willing Workers Club.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Johnny Anderson and Alberta Jenkins Lumpkins; her husband, Pearliss Flaggs; a daughter, Emma Susie Smith; four sisters, Bastie Turner, Fannie James, Rosie Lloyd and Georgia Douglas; and two brothers, Monroe Anderson and Ollie Lumpkins.

She is survived by four grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, eight great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other relatives, including members of the Anderson, Lumpkins, Regan, Moore and Williams families.

Robbins Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Ruby Geneva Frith

OAK GROVE – Ruby Geneva Frith died Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe. She was 66.

Mrs. Frith was born in Forest, La., and was a resident of Oak Grove.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Shade and Ernie Creel Easterling.

She is survived by her husband, Floyd Frith of Oak Grove; a daughter, Debbie Frith Prine of Epps; three brothers, Joe Easterling and Ray Easterling, both of Oak Grove, and Ervin Easterling of Lake Providence; three sisters, Maggie Ratcliff, Ruth Johnson and Nell Adams, all of Oak Grove; and two grandsons.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Cox Funeral Home in Oak Grove with the Rev. Donnie Lensing officiating. Burial will follow at New Forest Cemetery.

Visitation will be until the service Friday at the funeral home.

Brenda Montague Gary

GREENVILLE – Brenda Montague Gary died Tuesday, May 31, 2005, at Delta Regional Medical Center in Greenville. She was 54.

Mrs. Gary was a native of and attended school in Cleveland. She retired from the Department of Human Services for the State of Mississippi.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard Milton Lee and Lurline Sumrall Lee.

Survivors include her husband, Ricky Gary of Greenville; one son, Mark Montague of Fayetteville, N.C.; one daughter, Kimberly Montague Storm of Madison; one stepson, J.R. Gary of Greenville; two sisters, Linda Mason of Tallulah and Sandra Dixon of Kosciusko; and three grandchildren.

Services were this morning at Smith Funeral Home in Greenville with burial at New Cleveland Cemetery in Cleveland.

Robert Barry Hall

PORT GIBSON – Robert Barry Hall died Monday, May 30, 2005, at his home in Port Gibson. He was 55.

Mr. Hall is survived by his wife, Williametta Hall of Port Gibson; a daughter, Vanessa Bell of Port Gibson; two stepdaughters, Stephanie Thomas of Snellville, Ga., and Alanna Cotton of Richardson, Texas; two stepsons, Roderick Red and Frederick Red, both of Jackson; two brothers, Emmerick Ray Hall and Willie L. Hall, both of Port Gibson; seven grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, friends and other relatives.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Second Baptist Church in Port Gibson. Burial will follow at Thompson Memorial Garden Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1 until 6 p.m. Friday at Thompson Funeral Home in Port Gibson and Saturday at the church from 10 a.m. until the service.

Lucille Harris

Services for Lucille Harris will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Shiloh M.B. Church. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery under the direction of W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home.

Ms. Harris died Wednesday, May 25, 2005, at her home. She was 82.

Born in Tensas Parish, Ms. Harris was a presser for United Cleaners. She was a member of Shiloh M.B. Church, where she was president of the senior choir. She was a member of the Home Relief Society of Waterproof, La.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Virginia Jones Harris; six brothers, Lee Harris, Joseph Harris Sr., Marshall Harris, Ralph Harris, Sullivan Harris and Willie Harris; and two sisters, Sophia Kennedy and Matteal Harris.

She is survived by two sons, Freddie Lee Harris Sr. and Eric Morris Harris, both of Vicksburg; one daughter, Mary Lee Singleton Sally of Los Angeles; a sister, Camille H. Cox of Vicksburg; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and other relatives, including members of the Kennedy, Cox, Bell, Harris, Jones and Williams families of Vicksburg.

Leon P. Patton

LORMAN – Leon P. Patton died Saturday, May 28, 2005, in Lorman. He was 53.

Mr. Patton was born in Jefferson County. He was a social worker.

He was preceded in death by his father, Woodrow Patton; his mother, Rosie Lee Brown; and his sister, Ethel Reed.

He is survived by three daughters, Latoya Patton, LaShunda Patton and Lucretia Patton, all of Ozark, Ala.; one son, Steven Pitts of Humble, Texas; two brothers, Lewis Patton and Jessie Patton, both of Lorman; a sister, Anna Mae Hatchett of Vicksburg; seven grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Rollins Funeral Home Chapel in Port Gibson with the Rev. James Archer officiating.

Savannah Wheatley

Services for Savannah Wheatley will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Standfield New Life Christian Center with the Rev. John Henry Williams officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 until 7 tonight at Williams Funeral Home Chapel.

Mrs. Wheatley died Friday, May 26, 2005, at Promise Specialty Hospital. She was 85.

She was a retired private-duty sitter.

Mrs. Wheatley was preceded in death by her parents, Caesar Edwards and Mary Daniel Edwards; one stepson, Herman Wheatley; a sister, Ellen “Toe Bell” Fuller; and one brother, Peter James Edwards.

Survivors include two sons, Richard Wheatley of Monroe, La., and Reginald Wheatley of Houston; five daughters, Gladys Ellis of Chicago, Ernestine Allen, Robbie Hebron and Mary Calvin, all of Vicksburg, and Bernice Harrison of Houston, Texas; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; great-great grandchildren and other relatives and friends including Lewis Bailey and Robert Wheatley, both of Vicksburg.