January 30, 2005
Published 12:00 am Monday, January 30, 2006
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.
Sarah Margaret Butts Schaeffer.
Sarah Margaret “Nannie” Butts Schaeffer died Saturday, Jan. 28, 2006, at the residence of her son and daughter-in-law, David and Peggy Ann Du Bois Schaeffer.
Mrs. Schaeffer was born in the Oak Ridge Community on Aug. 2, 1912, and remained a resident of Warren County for 93 years. Her parents were Redden Alfred and Emma McCandless Butts.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Capt. Jimmy Schaeffer; her parents; a daughter, Margaret Ann Schaeffer; a son, Maurice Erwin Dixon Jr.; two grandsons, Corey Edwin Du Bois and Timothy Dixon. Mrs. Schaeffer was a sister to four brothers and three sisters: Leroy Butts, Wayne Butts, Willis M. “Sambo” Butts and J.D. Butts; Kathrine Butts, Mildred Butts Rowland Jones and Juanita Butts Ford, all born and reared in the Oak Ridge Community.
Survivors include her son, Capt. James David Schaeffer and wife, Peggy Ann Du Bois Schaeffer, of Vicksburg; daughter, Margaret E. Schaeffer of Vicksburg; brother, J.D. Butts and wife, Darleen, of Corpus Christi, Texas; sister-in-law, Dorothy Butts of Vicksburg; daughter-in-law, Kathy Dixon of Pensacola, Fla.; 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Mrs. Schaeffer was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and a friend to all. A member of First Baptist Church of Vicksburg for more than 60 years, she taught adult Sunday school class. She was a graduate of Oak Ridge High School and served as a registered nurse for many years with the Vicksburg Hospital. She was a member of the Eastern Star. She was a housewife, homemaker, caregiver and caretaker to anyone in need.
The entire family wishes to recognize and thank Mrs. Ruth Carter for loyal friendship, dedication and health care she provided during the period of Mrs. Schaeffer’s ill health, along with the employees and staff of Patient’s Choice Hospice for their professionalism, kindness and care provided by their services during this time. Special thanks to Becca Ross, Lori May, Moneki Hamlin, Donna Pate and Whitney Doiron.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006, from the Frank J. Fisher Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Lawrence Baylot of Terry officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 until 8 this evening at the funeral home.
Active pallbearers will be grandsons and great-grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be nephews and great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Ruth Carter, 2047 Heather Place, Vicksburg, MS 39180 or to Patient’s Choice Hospice, 1911 Mission 66 Suite A, Vicksburg, MS 39180.
James Larkin Smith.
James Larkin Smith died Sunday, Jan. 29, 2006, at River Region Medical Center. He was 52.
Born in Natchez, Mr. Smith had been a Vicksburg resident for most of his life. He graduated from Warren Central High School and attended Mississippi State University. He was a retired construction project engineer and a member of Porters Chapel United Methodist Church.
He was preceded in death by his father, Hubert Ray Smith.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret Smith; two daughters, Lea Rigby of United Arab Emirates and Ashley Beasley of College Station, Texas; a son, Christopher Smith of the Marines; his mother, Nancy W. Smith of Vicksburg; one sister, Holly Smith of McAllen, Texas; one brother, Lonnie Smith of Vicksburg; and two grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Riles Funeral Home with the Rev. Rusty White, pastor of Gibson Memorial United Methodist Church, and the Rev. Ed Hightower, associate pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Porters Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 until 7 tonight at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Gibson Memorial United Methodist Church, 335 Bowie Road, Vicksburg, MS 39183.