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.

Willie Monroe Brown Sr.

Willie Monroe Brown Sr. died Thursday, June 9, 2005, at his home in Vicksburg. He was 57.

Mr. Brown was a head supervisor at Anderson-Tully Lumber Co. He was of the Baptist faith.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, John Henry Williams, Joe Curtis Brown and Walker Eugene Williams.

He is survived by two sons, Willie Monroe Brown Jr. and Wansley Eugene Brown, both of Vicksburg; six daughters, Camille Brown, Josephine Pinkney, Gloriastine Brown, Catrice Pinkney, Merlina Pinkney and LaKeisha Pinkney, all of Jackson; a stepdaughter, Patricia Anderson of Jackson; a brother, Willie James Williams of Vicksburg; two sisters, Vera Washington and Brenda Brown, both of Vicksburg; six grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.

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

David Castle Sr.

MAYERSVILLE – David Castle Sr. died Sunday, June 5, 2005, at his home in Mayersville. He was 75.

Mr. Castle is survived by three sons, David Castle Jr. and Freddie Knox, both of Grace, and Jimmie Castle of Mayersville; six daughters, Linda Peterson, Darlene Montgomery and Virda Knox, all of Vicksburg, Betty Carroll of Rolling Fork, Torrie Stewart of Mayersville and Geraldine Jones of Chicago; one sister, Mary Jane Herman of Champaign, Ill.; 34 grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Moon Lake Church in Mayersville with Pastor Jeff Wallace officiating. Burial will follow at New Bethel Cemetery under the direction of Walker Funeral Home of Rolling Fork.

Joe Curro Jr.

Joe Curro Jr. died Thursday, June 9, 2005, at his home in Vicksburg. He was 64.

Born in Greenville, Mr. Curro had been a Vicksburg resident for the past 20 years. He was a retired chef and musician. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

He is survived by cousins, including Albert Wolfe, Perry Wolfe and Danny Wolfe, all of Vicksburg, and Jimmy Allan Wolfe of Yazoo City.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Cedar Hill Cemetery with Mike Erickson officiating and Glenwood Funeral Home handling arrangements.

Visitation will be Saturday from 9 a.m. until the service at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Gary Sharp, Scott Wolfe, Danny Wolfe, Albert Wolfe, Gary Holmes and Verl Beck.

Abe Franklin Jr.

UTICA – Services for Abe Franklin Jr. will be at noon Sunday at Water Valley M.B. Church in Utica. Burial will follow at Little Rock Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1 until 6 p.m. Saturday at Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home of Vicksburg.

Mr. Franklin died Saturday, June 4, 2005, at Vicksburg Convalescent Home. He was 67.

Born in Utica, Mr. Franklin attended Hinds County Public Schools before moving to Chicago. He worked for a number of years for American Linen Co. and returned to Utica in 2002. He was a member of Water Valley M.B. Church.

He is survived by his wife, Annie Pearl Franklin; two daughters, Loletha Franklin and Tenesha Franklin; a son, Abe Franklin; two brothers, Eddie Parker Franklin of Chicago and Willie Myles of Houston, Texas; and aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Lynelle H. Harrell

MERIDIAN – Lynelle H. Harrell died Wednesday, June 8, 2005, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian. She was 56.

Survivors include one daughter, Melanie Enzor of Meridian; her mother, Clarice Warrington of Meridian; one sister, Dianne Mason of Charlotte, N.C.; one brother, Stephen Humphries of Vicksburg; two grandchildren; and nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Visitation will be from 5 until 8 this evening at Barham Funeral Home in Meridian.

Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.

Capt. Ernst H. Hirt

Capt. Ernst H. Hirt died Wednesday, June 8, 2005, at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson. He was 76.

Capt. Hirt was born in Zurich, Switzerland, to the late Walter and Monica Hubert Hirt. He worked as a ship’s mate on the River Rhine during World War II. After years of training, he became at 29 one of the youngest sea captains in Europe.

He moved to New Orleans in 1960 and served as port captain with the New Orleans Dock System. He retired in 1998 after becoming CEO of a major shipping company.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Walter Hirt; and a sister, Heidi Hirt.

Survivors include his daughter, Heidi Hirt Kroptavich of Port Gibson; his son, Ernst M. Hirt of Yuma, Ariz.; a granddaughter; and a nephew.

A celebration of life will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Riles Funeral Home with the Rev. Randy Burge, pastor of New Christian Fellowship of Port Gibson, officiating.

Memorials may be made to Christian Volunteer Services, P.O. Box 1001, Port Gibson, MS 39150.

Robert Murray Hynum Sr.

GREENVILLE – Robert Murray “Bobby” Hynum Sr. died Tuesday, June 7, 2005, at Delta Regional Medical Center. He was 53.

Mr. Hynum was employed at Industrial Services of Greenville. He was a member of Steele Bayou Hunting Club and the NRA.

He is survived by his wife, Brenda Trainer Hynum of Greenville; a son, Robert Murray Hynum Jr. of Vicksburg; a stepson, Allen Trainer of Greenville; a stepdaughter, Tiffany Hughes; one sister, Kim Hynum Thomas of Seattle, Wash.; six grandchildren, Colden Tyler Hynum, Austin Alderman, Colby Alderman, Mikey Hughes, Jackson Hughes and Haley Morrisette; aunts, Dorothy Thomas of Winona and Marjorie Guiney of Vicksburg; and 12 first cousins.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mortimer Funeral Home in Greenville. Burial will follow at Lakeview Gardens.

Visitation will be Saturday from 11 a.m. until the service at the funeral home.

Velton Queen Sr.

LAS VEGAS – Velton Queen Sr. died Thursday, June 2, 2005, at Valley Hospital in Las Vegas. He was 79.

Mr. Queen was born in Vicksburg where he received his education at Magnolia Elementary School. He was a retired veteran of the United States Army. He was a member of the Golden Valley Apostolic Church and served as a deacon for Mountain Faith Ministries in Las Vegas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Farrell and Rosa Queen; two brothers, Robert Queen and James Queen; five sisters, Ida Benson, Ruby Gibson, Fallie Copeland, Olea D. Smith and Nona Cook.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Queen of Las Vegas; one son, Velton Queen Jr. of Las Vegas; two sisters, Margaret Williams and Mary Taylor, both of Los Angeles; one brother, Elder Charles Queen of Los Angeles; and nieces, nephews and other relatives including the McKnight, Copeland, Coleman, Gibson and Williams families of Vicksburg.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Mountain Faith Ministries in Las Vegas with the Rev. Clinton House officiating. Burial will follow at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nev., with Palm Mortuary Funeral Home in charge.

Emma Riggs Sanders

FAYETTE – Emma Riggs Sanders died Tuesday, June 7, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. She was 90.

A homemaker, Mrs. Sanders was a resident of Fayette. She was a member of Fountain Chapel A.M.E. Church, where she served as a church mother and treasurer.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ambus and Annie Riggs, and 12 siblings.

Survivors include Eula Hall and Johnny Anderson, both of Houston, Texas; Claudette Hunter and Lillie Rankin, both of Fayette; and other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Fountain Chapel A.M.E. Church with the Rev. John Quinn officiating. Burial will follow at Fountain Chapel Cemetery.

Visitation will be until 7 tonight at Rollins Funeral Home in Fayette.

Lloyd Davis Shelton

TALLULAH – Lloyd Davis Shelton died Wednesday, June 8, 2005, at North Monroe Medical Center. He was 87.

Born in Morgan City, Mr. Shelton had lived in Tallulah for almost 60 years. He was retired owner and operator of Shelton’s Clothing Store and was a member of First Baptist Church.

He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of the American Legion and Disabled Veterans of America.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mattie Sherrill Shelton.

Survivors include a son, Frank A. Shelton of Tallulah; a daughter, Sherrill Kelly of Monroe; two sisters, Inez Smith of Ridgeland and Eloise Arline of Greenwood; and three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Tallulah with the Rev. John Rushing officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 until 7 tonight at Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home.