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.

James Odis Bankston

OAK GROVE – James Odis Bankston died Saturday, June 25, 2005, at Carroll Nursing Home in Oak Grove. He was 89.

Mr. Bankston was born in Raleigh and was a resident of Oak Grove.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruby Sims Bankston; a son, Douglas Randall Bankston; his parents, Nora and John Wesley Bankston; three sisters, Erma Hill, Liddie Mae Williams and Willie Pearl Layton; and four brothers, Earl Bankston, Wylie Bankston, Wallace Olyer Bankston and Ed Bankston.

Survivors include five sons, Donald Ray Bankston and Emmitt Wayne Bankston, both of Oak Grove, Lee Otis Bankston of West Monroe, Gary Bankston of Tioga, La., and James Oyde Bankston of Willis, Calif.; two daughters, Dorothy Katherine Talley of Shreveport and Shirley Gaye Hodges of Oak Grove; and 30 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren and 35 great-great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Cox Funeral Home in Oak Grove with the Rev. Jason Strong officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Corner Cemetery in Forest, La.

Visitation will be until 9 tonight at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Todd Hires, Chris Young, Mickey Young, Cameron Madden, Carl Madden and Damon Cox.

Claudie Lee Johnson

LAKE PROVIDENCE – Claudie Lee Johnson died Sunday, June 26, 2005, at West Carroll Memorial Hospital in Oak Grove. She was 85.

Mrs. Johnson was born in Laurel and was a resident of Lake Providence.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Felton Johnson; her parents, Thomas and Leona Williamson McHenry; a son, Jerry Darrell Johnson Sr.; a daughter, Marcia Joan Hammons; and a granddaughter, Brandi Hammons.

She is survived by a son, Roy Johnson of Oak Grove; two sisters, Tommie Lou Pierce of Orange, Texas, and Jean McCool of Gilmer, Texas; five grandchildren; and other relatives and friends, including Mildred Mercer and Novie Jean Johnson, both of Lake Providence, and Jean Zagar of Oak Grove.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Cox Funeral Home in Lake Providence with the Rev. Leslie Yates officiating. Burial will follow at Providence Memorial Cemetery.

Visitation will be until 9 tonight at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be James Bruce, Carlos Lyons, James Ruffin, Randall Thornhill, Johnny Johnson and Jeff Russell.