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.

Sadie Cobb Hosea

DELHI – Sadie Cobb Hosea died Monday, Oct. 10, 2005, at Richland Parish Hospital in Delhi. She was 88.

Mrs. Hosea was a Delhi native. She was valedictorian of the final 11th-grade graduating class from Delhi High School. She was a longtime member of Newton Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lonnie Coleman Hosea; her parents, William Cobb and Letha Mae Rushing Cobb; two sons, Clyde M. and Lonnie Shelton Hosea; a brother, James Mitchell Cobb; two sisters, Ada Erwin and Ruby Barnes; three grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

She is survived by four sons, Sonny Hosea of Delhi, Thomas &#8221Tombo“ Hosea of Clarksville, Tenn., Howard R. Hosea of Monroe and Robert E. Hosea of Olla, La.; three daughters, Lorraine Hosea House of Delhi, Shirley Hosea Reece of Meridian and Sharon Hosea Dendy of Bernice, La.; one sister, Lizzie French of Natchez; and grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Services were at 10 a.m. today at the Newton Baptist Church near Delhi with the Revs. Charles Best, Paul Lipe and Eddy Shoemaker officiating. Burial followed at Newton Cemetery under the direction of Cox Funeral Home in Delhi.

Pallbearers were sons and sons-in-law.

Honorary pallbearers were grandsons.

Joseph Daniel Purvis

CAVE CITY, Ark. – Joseph Daniel Purvis died Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2005, at his home in Cave City, Ark. He was 68.

Mr. Purvis was a retired city engineer for the Louisiana Highway Department, where he worked for 37 years. He served in Korea and Germany during the 1950s in the Air Force.

He was preceded in death by one son, David Purvis.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara Moore Purvis of Cave City; three sons, Kevin Purvis of Tallulah, Edgar Purvis of Delhi and Don Evans of Cave City; four daughters, Penny Razer of Blytheville, Ark., Kathy Hankins of Strawberry, Ark., Karen Lanch of Pearl, Texas, and Angel Hogard of Cave City; one brother, Charlie Purvis of Tallulah; two sisters, Lois Machen of Tallulah and Romer Martin of Mendenhall; 16 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church of Tallulah with the Rev. Robert Randolph officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home in Tallulah. Visitation will be from 5 until 8 tonight at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be grandsons.

Honorary pallbearers will be Crystal Fontenot, Danielle Purvis and Jessica Purvis.

Walter C. Strong Jr.

Walter C. Strong Jr. died Friday, Oct. 7, 2005, in Hattiesburg. He was 60.

Mr. Strong was a retired teacher and administrator of 34 years with the Laurel School District. He taught building trades at Oak Park High School and at R.H. Watkins Vocational Center. He served as assistant principal at R.H. Watkins High School and as vocational director at R.H. Watkins Vocational Center. He was also the district vocational director and the tech prep coordinator for the Laurel School District. He was an assistant football coach and basketball coach at Oak Park High School and girls’ softball coach at Watkins.

He was head adviser for Vocational Industrial Clubs of America, which was named the Mississippi outstanding chapter for three years.

A native of Vicksburg, Mr. Strong graduated in 1963 from Rosa A. Temple High School. He received an associate of arts degree in industrial arts education from T.J. Harris Junior College, a bachelor of science degree in industrial arts education from Mississippi Valley State University and a master of education degree in industrial education from Mississippi State University. He was also certified in building construction and education administration.

Mr. Strong was a member of the Laurel Association of Educators, Mississippi Association of Educators, National Education Association, Mississippi Association of Vocational Education, American Vocational Association and Mississippi Association of Coaches.

He was a member and officer of the Community Action Club, Optimist Club of Laurel, Queensburg Residential Association and Optimist Club, Alabama-Mississippi District. He served as director of Laurel Ca-Oc Little League Baseball and a board member for United Way of the Pine Belt Region. A league baseball field was named in his honor in 1991.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris Strong, and his father, Walter C. Strong Sr.

Survivors include a daughter, Michelle Greer of Jackson; his mother, Annie B. Strong of Vicksburg; three brothers, Robert Strong of Utica and Howard Strong and Arthur Strong, both of Vicksburg; two sisters, Barbara Strong of Greenwood and Penny Highgate of Texas; and nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Robbins Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.