February 22, 2005

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, February 22, 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.

Norvella Collins.

Norvella Collins died Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006, at her home in Vicksburg. She was 51.

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She was preceded in death by her mother, Lubertha Bell; and one brother, Tyrone Collins.

Survivors include two sons, Jesse Collins and Baraka Kelly, both of Nashville, Tenn.; two daughters, Chaka Kelly and La Teeka Kelly, both of Vicksburg; her father, Richard Carson Sr.; five brothers, Richard Carson Jr., Michael Carson, Maurice Carson and Melvin Carson, all of Illinois, and Donald Carson of Washington; four sisters, Sherry Ann Bell of California, Helen Carson and Rebecca Carson, both of Illinois, and Betty Carson of Oklahoma City; four grandchildren; other relatives and friends, including William Kelly and Gwendolyn Harris, both of Vicksburg, and Yolanda Stampley-Jackson of Jackson.

Williams Funeral Service has charge of arrangements.

James Dreher Harris Sr.

James Dreher Harris Sr. died Monday, Feb. 20, 2006. He was 91.

Mr. Harris was born June 4, 1914, in Vicksburg, the son of the late William Henri and Eugenia Packwood Dreher Harris.

Mr. Harris served in the National Guard from Oct. 7, 1935, to Oct. 6, 1938, and in the Army from May 16, 1942, to Nov. 2, 1945, as a technical sergeant in the headquarters and service company of the Allied Forces.

He retired from Illinois Central Railroad in 1979 with 28 years of service.

Mr. Harris had been a member of Crawford Street United Methodist Church since 1927.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles Harvey Harris and Robert Watson &#8220Son” Harris; and a sister, Lelia Camille &#8220Lucy” Harris Marsalis.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary Louise Gamble Harris of Vicksburg; two sons, James Dreher Harris Jr. and his wife, Peggy, of Oxford; and John Preston Harris and his wife, Paullette, of Mooresville, N.C.; two grandchildren, Anna Claire Harris and John Preston &#8220Pres” Harris Jr., both of Mooresville; one brother, John Turner &#8220Duke” Harris and his wife, Donna, of Jackson; two sisters-in-law, Mary Dudley Harris and Anna Claire Gamble, both of Vicksburg; numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend its thanks to Louise Miller, Nancy Butler, Whitney Doiron and all caregivers who assisted Mr. Harris during his illness.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Crawford Street United Methodist Church with the Rev. Geoffrey Joyner officiating. Burial will follow at Green Acres Cemetery with military honors.

Visitation will be from 5 until 7 tonight at Riles Funeral Home and from 9 a.m. Thursday until the hour of the service at the church’s Wesley Hall.

Pallbearers will be John Preston &#8220Pres” Harris Jr., John Robert Harris, Watson Marsalis, Hasie Marsalis, Jim Conway, Jim Park, Bill Bexley and Johnny Lowery.

Memorials may be made to Crawford Street United Methodist Church, 1408 Cherry St., Vicksburg, MS 39180; Vicksburg Catholic School, 1900 Grove St., Vicksburg, MS 39183; or Providence Hospice, 1825 N. Frontage Road, Suite A, Vicksburg, MS 39180.

Condolences may be sent to www.charlesrilesfuneralhome.com.

Delores Kelley Johnson.

MEMPHIS – Services for Delores Kelley Johnson were Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006, at Harrison Funeral Home Orange Mound Chapel in Memphis. Burial followed at New Park Cemetery.

Mrs. Johnson died Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2006, at her home in Memphis. She was 59.

She was a native of Vicksburg and a 1965 graduate of Rosa A. Temple High School. She worked as a licensed practical nurse for 27 years. She was a member of New Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Betty Mae Kelly and Tasker Watson.

Survivors include three daughters, Portia R. Knight, Bettie M. Knight Roberson and Tracey Y. Knight, all of Memphis; two sisters, Connie K. Young of Memphis and Mildred H. McDonald of Jackson; one brother, Preston Kelley of Vicksburg; four grandchildren; and other relatives and friends, including Dr. Connie Larkins Williams, Gloria Rankin and Marcus Robinson.

Edna Mae Knox.

Edna Mae Knox died Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2006, at River Region Medical Center. She was 84.

Mrs. Knox was a member of Springhill M.B. Church. She retired from Vicksburg Warren School District.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Victor Knox; her parents; four sisters, Willie Mae Brown, Lucy Redd, Aileen Sampson and Catherine Watkins; and three brothers, Herman Fultz, Alex Fultz and Robert Lee Fultz.

Survivors include two sons, Willie Davis Jr. of Vicksburg and Hudell Mitchell of Portland, Ore.; one sister, Emma Jean Williams of Crystal Springs; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and other relatives.

Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.