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 R. Pierce

Services for James R. &#8220J.R.” Pierce were at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Fisher Funeral Home with the Rev. Billy Brumfield, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church, officiating. Burial with military honors followed at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Mr. Pierce died Saturday, Nov. 19, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. He was 68.

A native of Warren County, Mr. Pierce was retired from the Air Force after 20 years of service.

The son of the late Floyd and Mildred Sanders Pierce, he was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his parents and a great-grandson, Dylan Branch.

Mr. Pierce is survived by his wife, Betty Pierce of Vicksburg; two sons, Douglas Allen Pierce of Jacksonville, Ark., and Gregory Cass Pierce of Little Rock, Ark.; two stepdaughters, Judy Branch and Gail Stokes, both of Vicksburg; his niece and caretaker, Carolyn McGraw of Brandon; two stepsons, Billy Stokes of Hollandale and Buddy Stokes of Lake Providence; two sisters, Thelma Tohill and Wilma Whatley, both of Vicksburg; 13 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Malcolm Harmon, Doug Harmon, Greg Puckett, Ed Puckett, Rollie Bantaguen and Greg Colburn.

Honorary pallbearers were James McGraw, Ken McBroom, Justin Stokes, Tripp Branch and Dwight Pugh.

Memorials may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church Building Fund, 6949 U.S. 61 South, Vicksburg, MS 39180 or to the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi, 16 Northtown Drive, Suite 100, Jackson, MS 39211.

Loyd Derwood Wilson

MATHISTON – Loyd Derwood Wilson died Monday, Nov. 21, 2005, at Central Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. He was 70.

A resident of Mathiston, Mr. Wilson retired from Babcock & Wilcox after 36 years of service. He had served as a paratrooper in the Army. He was of the Baptist faith.

He is survived by two daughters, Debbie Wilson Darcey of Memphis and Teresa Wilson McMinn of Mathiston; two sisters, Helen McKenzie of Vicksburg and Peggy Hood of Starkville; three brothers, Roy Wilson and Loydy Wilson, both of Laurel, and Larry Wilson of Meridian; and five grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Oliver Funeral Home in Eupora with the Rev. Archie Goodwin officiating. Burial will follow at Clarkson Cemetery in Webster County.

Visitation will be from 6 until 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Chance Nolen, Kellum Wilson, Jerry Wilson, Jeff Wilson, Tommy Weeks, Paul Allen, Robert Shaffer, Jimmy Farley and Robert Cooksey.