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.

Winnie Mae Brown

OAK GROVE – Winnie Mae Brown died Monday, July 11, 2005, at West Carroll Memorial Hospital in Oak Grove. She was 73.

Mrs. Brown was born in West Carroll Parish, La.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leon F. Brown; and parents, Floyd Leroy Myers and Ollie Jeanette Myers.

Survivors include one son, Jerry Brown of Columbia, La.; one daughter, Gladys Farrington of Olla; one brother, Floyd Meyers of Oak Grove; six sisters, Mattie Huckaby, Gloria Randall and Mary Brumley, all of Oak Grove, Gussie Stinson and Judy Townsend, both of Farmerville, and Wanda Ainsworth of Bastrop; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 today at Beulah Baptist Church in Oak Grove with the Rev. Jimbo Herring officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery under the direction of Cox Funeral Home in Oak Grove.

Pallbearers will be Kent Hughes, Johnny Mack Brown, Michael Chapman, Darren Dannehl, Charles M. Brown and Johnny Erskine.

Patricia Beard Dotson

Patricia Beard Dotson died Saturday, July 9, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. She was 64.

A lifelong resident of Vicksburg, Mrs. Dotson was a former employee of Super Junior Food Mart. She was a member of Lighthouse Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clyde and Victoria Irene Beard.

She is survived by three sons, Mickey Manual, Rusty Gardner and Donnie Gardner, all of Vicksburg; a brother, Mike Beard of Philadelphia; a sister, Joni Matthews of Vicksburg; and five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Memorials services will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Glenwood Funeral Home with the Rev. E.L. Sharp officiating.

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

Honorary pallbearers will be Dale Wagner, Keith Browning, David Normand, John Thomas, Clay Brown, Jon Miller and Steven Ladd.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Pearl Lee Cooper Ellis

PORT GIBSON – Pearl Lee Cooper Ellis died Monday, July 11, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. She was 98.

A resident of Port Gibson, she was member of Tillman Chapel Christian Church. She was a missionary worker and a member of the Union Aid Society.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Elijah Ellis; one brother, Robert Cooper Sr.; and her parents, James Cooper and Deliah Cooper.

She is survived by four daughters, Jessie Thomas, Bobbie Rankin and Ethel Grady, all of Port Gibson, and Annie B. Hosey of Laurel; one son, Delta Henderson of Laurel; and nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.

Robbins Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Ivy James Furnace Sr.

HAZLEHURST – Ivy James Furnace Sr. died Monday, July 4, 2005, at his home in Hazlehurst. He was 86.

Mr. Furnace graduated from Alexander High School in Brookhaven and attended Alcorn College. He was a World War II Veteran and served with the U.S. Army from 1942 until 1946 with the Buffalo Soldiers. He retired from the Hazlehurst Box Factory and Hazlehurst City Schools District. He was a member of the Antioch M.B. Church in Hazlehurst.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Bernice Furnace; his parents, Albert “Love” and Hulda Furnace; two sisters, Clara Betts Johnson and Alma Hinnington; and two brothers, Albert Furnace and Charlie Furnace.

Survivors include two sons, Ivy J. Furnace Jr. of Copperas Cove, Texas, and Ardis James Furnace of Hazlehurst; three daughters, Judy Furnace of Hazlehurst, Shelia Alexander of Sontag and Janice Keys of Vicksburg; two sisters, Irene Brown and Carrie Lewis of Hazlehurst; 12 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and other relatives and friends.

Services were at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 7, 2005, at Antioch M.B. Church in Hazlehurst. Burial followed at White Bay Cemetery under the direction of the House of Peoples Incorporated in Hazlehurst.

Roy A. Johnson

Roy A. Johnson died Tuesday, July 12, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. He was 85.

Born in Seiper, La., Mr. Johnson had been a resident of Vicksburg for the past 58 years. He was the son of the late Augustus and Lelia Hoyt Johnson.

He was a veteran of World War II and, for a number of years, owned and managed Business and Professional Collection Service and EconoTax.

Mr. Johnson was a former member of the Jaycees and Vicksburg Optimist Club. He was a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

He was preceded in death by one son, Ronald Johnson; a sister, Vera Tarter; and a brother, Sam Johnson.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Genevieve W. Johnson of Vicksburg; a son, Rodney G. Johnson of Yazoo City; a stepson, Robert C. Woodman of Petal; a stepdaughter, Betty W. Smith of Vicksburg; 10 grandchildren; and a number of great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall, Boy Scout Road, with Kenneth W. Beard officiating. Burial will be at Green Acres Memorial Park.

Visitation will be from 5 until 7 p.m. Thursday at Riles Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the Watch Tower Bible Tract Society, 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, NY 11201-2483.