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.

A. Ray Brown

RED LICK – A. Ray Brown, died Monday, Sept. 12, 2005, at the Claiborne County Hospital following a lengthy illness. He was 83.

He was born on Sept. 6, 1922, the third son of the late Rupert R. Brown and Lela Mae Scott Brown. Preceding him in death were his wife, Ruth Marie Case Brown; three brothers, Rupert Anthony Brown, Jimmie S. Brown and Douglas Brown; and one sister, Rosalie Baldwin.

He is survived by two brothers, E.J. “Zeke” Brown and wife, Jeanette, of Atlanta, and Alric V. Brown and wife, Pauline, of Vicksburg; five sisters, Pauline Jenkins of Vicksburg, Christine Walters and husband, Mac, of Lorman, Magdaline Barrouse of Kenner, La., Flora Ann Frazier and husband, John Donald, of Lorman, and Frances Smith and husband, John P., of Pearl; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives among whom was his favorite hunting and fishing buddy and cousin, Wilton Brown. He is also survived by his devoted nephew, James E. “Little Jimmie” Brown, who was his constant care giver during his illness.

As a young man he joined the C.C.C.’s and served part of his enlistment in Death Valley, California. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II for three and a half years and participated in the campaign for the liberation of the Philippines. After his discharge from the military service, he worked for a short time in the Delta as a surveyor, but returned to Red Lick, the place of his birth, and worked at Southwest E.P.A. until he retired in 1984 after 35 years of service.

Services will be at 2 today at Spencer Funeral Home in Fayette with Monsignor Thaddeus Harkins officiating. Burial will follow in the Fayette City Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1 today until the time of service. The Rosary will be prayed at 6 p.m.

Pallbearers will be John Donald Frazier III, James “Jimmy” Frazier, Bert Brown, Mac Walters, James Wells, David Brown, Walter Brown and Burnie Brown.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Fayette City Cemetery Association, Box 424, Fayette, MS or the charity of your choice.

Jacqueline Fortson

DETROIT – Jacqueline “Jackie” Fortson died Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2005, at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. She was 57.

Mrs. Fortson was a native of Newellton and a lifelong resident of Detroit. She was a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Brutus Nolan Jackson Sr. and Beatrice Brooks.

Survivors include her husband, Walter J. Fortson of Detroit; two sons, Kelvin Hill and William Hill, both of Detroit; two daughters, Felicia Hill and Khayya Gotcher, both of Detroit; three brothers, Noland L. Smith of Vicksburg, Brutus N. Jackson Jr. of Houston and Tommy Tunson of Murrieta, Calif.; 14 grandchildren; and other relatives including Wade L. Jackson of Tallulah.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Christian Tabernacle Church of Detroit with the Rev. J.L. Morman officiating.

C.W. Morris Funeral Home in Detroit has charge of arrangements.

Sammie Lee Hall Sr.

Sammie Lee Hall Sr. died Monday, Sept. 12, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. He was 66.

Survivors include his wife, Annie Lee Hall of Vicksburg; two sons, Anthony Hall of Clinton and Sammie Lee Hall Jr. of Memphis; two daughters, Sharon Walton of Greenville and Tonya Perkins of Vicksburg; three brothers, A.D. Hall of Metcalf, Jimmy D. Hall of Belzoni and Daniel Hall of Davenport, Iowa; two sisters, Pinkie Brown of Saginaw, Mich., and Rosie Cole of Scott; five grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

Lakeview Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

John Birchett Miller Sr.

McINTOSH, Fla. – John Birchett Miller Sr. died Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2005, in Ocala, Fla. He was 73.

Born in Vicksburg, Mr. Miller moved to McIntosh, Fla., from Lake Asbury, Fla., in 2000. He served in the Marine Corps in the Korean era. He retired from AT&T in 1990 after 39 years of service.

He was a member of First Baptist Church in McIntosh and Park Lane Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla.

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Marion S. Miller of McIntosh; a daughter, Judy Miller Greenberg of McIntosh; two sons, John B. Miller Jr. of Orange Park, Fla., and William Joseph Miller of Greensboro, N.C.; and three granddaughters.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church of McIntosh with Pastor Larry Pearson officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Riverside Memorial Park in Jacksonville with the Rev. Grady Snowden Jr. officiating.

Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday at Hiers Funeral Home in Ocala.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Marion County, P.O. Box 4860, Ocala, FL 34470.

Mary Frances Shea

OKLAHOMA CITY – Mary Frances Shea died Friday, Sept. 9, 2005, in Oklahoma City, Okla. She was 90.

Ms. Shea was born in Fort Scott, Kan. She was a former resident of Vicksburg.

Survivors include two sons, John F. Shea of Mexico and William J. Shea of Bossier City, La.; two grandchildren; and other relatives including David Piper of Edmond, Okla., and Cherie Thompson of Ada, Okla. Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Ada.

John M. Ireland Funeral Home and Chapel in Moore, Okla., has charge of arrangements.

Garfield Wright Sr.

Garfield Wright Sr. died Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2005, at River Region Medical Center in Vicksburg. He was 89.

Mr. Wright retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after 37 years of service. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army after serving in the South Pacific in World War II. He was a deacon at New Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church. He was a past worshipful master of Sunshine Lodge No. 99.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony Wright Sr. and Catherine Johnson; two sons, Stanley Wright and Arthur Wright; three brothers, Anthony Wright Jr., Allen Wright and Freddie Shells; and three sisters, Doris Wright, Sammie Brown and Johnnie Taylor.

Survivors include his wife, Frances Wright of Vicksburg; two sons, Garfield Wright Jr. of Vicksburg and James Wright of Dallas; five daughters, Deloris Hicks of Aurora, Ill., Mary Jimmerson of Arlington, Texas, Margaret Singleton of Oak Park, Ill., Patricia McDougal of Landover, Md., and Betty Carter of Baton Rouge, La.; 24 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.