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.

Georgia Phelps Gibson

HERMANVILLE – Georgia Phelps Gibson died Friday, June 24, 2005, at Claiborne County Nursing Center in Port Gibson. She was 73.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Annette Polk.

Survivors include her husband, George L. Gibson of Hermanville; six sons, Robert Polk, Melvin W. Polk and Dennis Smith, all of Port Gibson, Willie Polk of Vicksburg, Ronnie Polk of Carpenter and Maurice Polk of Sacramento, Calif.; one daughter, Doris Franklin of Port Gibson; four brothers, Joe Henderson of Gary, Ind., Leo Sayles of Chicago, Robert Phelps and Sharper Phelps, both of Vicksburg; six sisters, Lillian Hudson, Annie Castello and Cleo Rollins, all of Chicago, Christine Walker of Milwaukee, Bernice Dobbins and Dora Mae Phelps, both of Hermanville; 21 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Christian Church in Hermanville with the Rev. Anthony Berry officiating. Burial will follow at Hermanville Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1 until 6 this evening at Thompson Funeral Home in Port Gibson and from 10 a.m. Saturday until the hour of service at the church.

Jewel Matilda Howard

PATTISON – Jewel Matilda Howard died Tuesday, June 28, 2005, at her home in Pattison. She was 64.

Mrs. Howard was preceded in death by her father, Jeff Howard; a sister, Juanita Fisher; and two brothers, William Byrd and West Hedrick.

She is survived by her mother, Clara Wade of Jackson; five sons, Robert Howard, Willie Howard, David Howard, Percy Howard and Cedric Howard, all of Pattison; two daughters, Jewel Moore and Lavonne Howard, both of Pattison; four brothers, Albert Howard and Eddie Howard, both of Chicago, Thomas Jefferson of Champaign, Ill., and Hugh Byrd of Jackson; three sisters, Susan McFarland of Champaign, Rosie Pete of Chicago and Shirley Horton of Jackson; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at St. Peter M.B. Church in Pattison with the Rev. Troy L. Smith officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1 until 6 p.m. Saturday at Thompson Funeral Home and Sunday at the church from 1 p.m. until the service.

Lela Lawrence Howell

MONROE – Lela Lawrence Howell died Thursday, June 30, 2005, at North Monroe Medical Center. She was 96.

Mrs. Howell was a longtime resident of Jackson, where she was a member of First Baptist Church, and had lived in Monroe for the past three years. She was a retired school teacher and accountant.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Col. Wilmer Hudson Howell; and a daughter, Margaret Ellen Howell.

She is survived by two sisters, Margaret Beene of Tallulah and Lucille Yenni of Kenner, La.; and nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 3 p.m. today at Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home in Tallulah with the Rev. John Rushing officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 2 until the service at the funeral home.

Walter Lee Herby West

PORT GIBSON – Walter Lee Herby West died Friday, June 24, 2005, at River Region Medical Center in Vicksburg. He was 81.

Mr. West was a member of Greater St. Mark M.B. Church.

He was preceded in death by his son, James Henry West; a daughter, Peggy West-Warren; four brothers, Lonnie Ray, Earl Ray, Dump Ray and Crystal West; four sisters, Mary E. West, Aileen W. Marsaw, Juanita W. Butler and Hazel W. Martin; and two grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Mattie West of Port Gibson; four sons, Willie Goods Sr. of Pattison, Willie L. Crowner of Hattiesburg, Archie West and Crystal West, both of Port Gibson; eight daughters, Johnnie Farrow of Vicksburg, Mortickle Weaver of Hawaii, Daisy West and Veronica West, both of Port Gibson, Wanda Ellis of Clinton, Stephanie Keller and Juanita Price, both of Jackson, and Sharon Harris of Tupelo; 45 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and other relatives including Mackey Martin, Rockiese West and Jabias West, all of Port Gibson, and R.V. Barnes of Hermanville.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Greater St. Mark M.B. Church in Port Gibson with the Rev. Leon Howard officiating. Burial will follow at Barnes Family Cemetery in Hermanville.

Visitation will be from 1 until 6 this evening at Thompson Funeral Home in Port Gibson and from 2 p.m. Saturday until the hour of service at the church.