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.

Mary L. Brewer.

MONTICELLO, La. – Funeral services for Mary L. Brewer, 82, of Tallulah and Monticello, La., will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, 2006, at the Herringville Missionary Baptist Church in Monticello, La. The Rev. Donnie Linson will officiate. Burial will be at the church cemetery under the direction of Cox Funeral Home of Delhi.

Visitation will be from 3 until 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006, at Cox Funeral Home in Delhi.

Mrs. Brewer died Wednesday at her daughter’s residence in Vicksburg following a brief illness.

A member of Herringville Church, Mrs. Brewer was preceded in death by her parents, Bennett and Viola Fortenberry; her husband, Pete Brewer; son, Billy Joe Brewer; brothers, Earl, Bill and Bobby Fortenberry; a sister, Jewel Petty; a granddaughter, Leslie Brewer; and a special nephew, James Brewer.

Grandma Pete was a special person in that she was mother, grandmother and friend to all who knew her. She took in children who needed a home and loved them as her own. Everyone’s needs always came ahead of hers and her sacrifices will be remembered and missed. Her family loved her dearly.

She is survived by her children, Sue Tolbert and husband, Dale, of Vicksburg, Janie Thornberry and husband, Gary, of Malvern, Ark., Ernest Brewer and wife, Linda, of Sheridan, Ark., David Brewer and wife, Angie, of Tallulah, John Edward Brewer and wife, Betty Jo, of Tallulah and Robert Earl Brewer and wife, Jackie, of Vicksburg; two brothers, Walter Fortenberry of Pennsville, N.J., and William &#8220Billy” Fortenberry of Gulfport, Miss.; 18 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.

Other close survivors are a former daughter-in-law, Marti Brewer of Delhi; a special niece whom she raised, Bonnie Brewer of Wake Village, Texas; and a very special grandson, SPC John Brewer, now serving in Iraq.

Pallbearers will be sons and grandsons.

To leave a message of condolence to the family please visit www.coxfuneral.com.

Florence T. Dennis.

Florence T. Dennis died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2006, at St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital. She was 79.

Born in Vicksburg, she was the daughter of the late Howard M. Turnbow and Gertrude Haver Turnbow.

Mrs. Dennis was a graduate of Carr Central High School where she was a member of the Class of 1945 and a drum majorette. She was a principal organizer in a number of the Carr Central High School reunions. At the time of her death she was owner of Toot’s Grocery and Deli.

Mrs. Dennis was a member of Christ Episcopal Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William D. &#8220Toots” Dennis Sr.; three sisters, Esther T. Flowers, Ethel &#8220Snookie” Shipley and Lula Mae Price; and a brother, Howard Turnbow Jr.

She is survived by three sons, Pat Dennis and John Howard Dennis, both of Vicksburg, and David Dennis Jr. and wife, Tricia, of Madison; one granddaughter, Rebecca Dennis of Arlington, Va.; two grandsons, Ronnie Dennis of New York City and Donnie Dennis and wife, Misty, of Madison; three sisters-in-law, Winnie D. Browman of Brandon, Gladys Turnbow of Byram and Maryetta Warnock of Delta, La.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Riles Funeral Home, 5000 Indiana Ave., with the Rev. Chan Osborn de Anaya of Christ Episcopal Church officiating. Burial will be at Green Acres Memorial Park.

Visitation will be from 5 until 7 tonight at Riles Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Fred Peyton, Fred Cerami, Johnny Price, David Browman, Ronnie Dennis, Donnie Dennis, Charles Borrello and Daniel Gilbert.

Memorials may be made to Christ Episcopal Church, 1115 Main St., Vicksburg, MS 39183 or to a favorite charity.

Gladys Dixon.

LORMAN – Gladys Dixon died Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006, at Jefferson County Hospital. She was 88.

Mrs. Dixon was a resident of Lorman.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Sammie Dixon; her parents, Isiah McGhee and Eva Lee Wilson; and a sister, Theresia Chambers.

She is survived by a sister, Hazel Bell of Omaha, Neb.; a brother, Gillis Wilson of Buffalo, N.Y.; and other relatives and friends, including Michael Chambers Sr. of Port Gibson and Sarah Johnson, Willie Mae Williams and Daisey McGill, all of Lorman.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Greater Mount Zion M.B. Church in Rodney with the Rev. Willie Smoots officiating. Burial will be at Logan Hill Cemetery.

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

Josiah Ellis.

PATTISON – Josiah Ellis died Monday, Jan. 16, 2006, at his home in Pattison. He was 85.

Mr. Ellis was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Pinkie Ellis; a brother, Harvey Ellis Sr.; and three sisters, Martha Ellis, Ruby Russell and Dorsey Ellis.

He is survived by four nieces, Dorothy Ellis, Naomi Ellis and Doretha Brown, all of Hempstead, N.Y., and Yvonne Ellis of Atlanta; four nephews, Eddie C. Ellis Sr. of Pattison, Harvey Ellis Jr. of New Orleans, Danny Beasley of Vicksburg and Robert Ellis of Big Stone Gap, Va.; and other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Thompson Funeral Home in Port Gibson with the Rev. Johnny Ellis officiating. Burial will follow at Pattison Cemetery.

Visitation will be Saturday at the funeral home from 1 p.m. until the service.

John Andrew Helgason Jr.

John Andrew &#8220Jack” Helgason Jr. died Thursday, Jan. 19, 2006, at River Region Medical Center. He was 75.

Born in Vicksburg, he was the son of the late John A. Sr. and Louise Miles Helgason.

Mr. Helgason attended Mound, La., public schools and was a graduate of Jefferson Military Academy in Washington, Miss. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War, stationed in Clarke Field Manila in the Philippines.

He was a resident of Westwego, La., for 23 years and had lived at Hannah Plantation in Madison Parish since 1993. He served as a cook for Teledyne Movable Offshore Co., retiring in 1992 after 25 years of service.

He was a member of the American Legion, Raceland, La., Post No. 0349 and St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Tallulah.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Lauralee Pond Helgason; one daughter, Sandra Helgason Reeves of Westwego; seven sons, John Andrew Helgason III, Joseph Blandon Helgason and Jeffrey Kevin Helgason, all of Westwego, Jonathan Evan Helgason of Tallulah, Jay Walter Helgason of New Orleans, James Randall Helgason of Colleyville, Texas, and Jon Miles Helgason of Wichita, Kan.; eight grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.

Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Fisher Funeral Home with the Rev. Don Derivaux officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be at the funeral home Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until the service.

Pallbearers will be sons and grandsons.

Memorials may be made to St. Edward’s Catholic Church, 204 Bayou Drive, Tallulah, LA 71282.

Barbara Gilmore Martin.

Barbara Gilmore Martin died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2006, at River Region Medical Center. She was 86.

A native of New Orleans, she was the daughter of the late Abner and Eunice Gilmore. She graduated from Newcomb College in New Orleans, where she served as class president and received her degree in sociology. Mrs. Martin was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority and was in the Cotton Bowl Court. Mrs. Martin met and married Dr. George H. Martin in New Orleans. They moved to Vicksburg in 1944 and were married for over 55 years. Dr. Martin preceded her in death in 1999. She was a member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary, Vicksburg Garden Club and was an active bridge club member. Mrs. Martin was an active member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Elizabeth Gilmore.

Survivors include three daughters, Dr. Linda Martin of Merrit Island, Fla., and Cappy Martin and Shelby Burr, both of Vicksburg; two sons, Gil Martin and Taylor Martin, both of Vicksburg; nine grandchildren, Charles Martin, Derek Sawyer, Barbara Rogers, Lauryn Martin, Harris Martin, Ryan Martin, Katie Wright, Ashley Burr and Breanne Burr; and four great-grandchildren.

A memorial service and celebration of her life will be conducted at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006, from the Frank J. Fisher Funeral Home Chapel with Father Michael Nation, rector of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, officiating.

Members of the C.O.T. Club will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Memorials may be made to the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church at 900 South St., Vicksburg, MS 39180; All Saints Episcopal School at 2717 Confederate Ave., Vicksburg, MS 39180 or to the Vicksburg Warren Humane Society at P.O. Box 820171, Vicksburg, MS 39182.

William Grant Mullens.

William Grant Mullens died Monday, Jan. 16, 2006, at River Region Medical Center in Vicksburg. He was 79.

Mr. Mullens was a native of Joplin, Mo., and a resident of Vicksburg. He retired as a sales manager from the aerospace industry after 35 years. He was a member of the Baptist faith.

Survivors include three daughters, Rita Gassen of Vicksburg, Eileen Leinwand of Franklin, Tenn., and Ann Snow of Sister, Ore.; two sons, William Grant Mullens Jr. of Culver, Ore., and Richard Mullens of Quincy, Mass.; one sister, Marlyn M. Persley of Berkeley, Calif.; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Fisher Funeral Home with the Rev. Terry White officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 until 7 this evening at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to American Heart Association, P.O. Box 16808 Jackson, MS 39236-6808.

Dewitt Reed Sr.

NEW ORLEANS – Dewitt Reed Sr. died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2006, in New Orleans. He was 77.

Mr. Reed was born in Jefferson County. He was employed with Boh Brothers Construction in New Orleans. He served as a deacon at Rear Avenue Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Norice Reed Sr. and Geanette Eakins; one son, Lionel Reed; one grandchild, Dewitt Reed III; three brothers and three sisters.

Survivors include his wife, Clara Reed of New Orleans; two sons, Dewitt Reed Jr. and Leonard Reed, both of New Orleans; three daughters, Helen Grayson, Earlene Reed and Eileen Reed, all of New Orleans; one brother, Norice Reed Jr. of New Orleans; two sisters, Dorothy Clark of Fayette and Myrtle Chambliss of Baton Rouge; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

Services will be at noon Saturday at Pine Grove Baptist Church in Fayette with the Rev. Robert Brown of New Orleans officiating. Burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery under the direction of Rollins Funeral Home in Fayette. Visitation will be from 1 until 7 this evening at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Robert Turner, Nathan Turner, William Turner, David Sanders, James Turner and Glen Chambliss.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dewitt Reed Jr., Leonard Reed, Devalon Reed, Mandingo Reed, Nathaniel Reed, Darnell Grayson and Norice Reed Jr.

Brenda Lee Williams.

PLANO, Texas – Brenda Lee Williams died Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006, at Presbyterian Hospital in Plano, Texas. She was 41.

Mrs. Williams was a member of Avenue F Church of Christ in Plano, where she served in the Women’s Bible Class Auxiliary.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Annie Mae Newsome and C.B. Warner; her husband, Johnny Williams; and a sister, Gloria Hargrove.

Survivors include two daughters, Persephanie Williams and Brittany Williams, both of Shreveport, La.; seven brothers, Andrew Newsome, Roy Osborne and Enex Hyder Jr., all of Atlanta, Julius Warner of Port Gibson, Alonzo Yates of Natchez, Charles Newsome of Plano and Mitchell Hyder of Houston, Texas; three sisters, Marilyn Guy of Port Gibson and Kelly Thomas and Mahalia Hampton, both of Atlanta; three grandchildren; and aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Port Gibson. Burial will follow at Clark Creek Cemetery in Pattison.

Visitation will be from 1 until 6 today at Thompson Funeral Home in Port Gibson and Saturday at the church from noon until the service.