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.

Dewitte Beard.

PORT GIBSON – Dewitte &#8220Dee” Beard died Friday, March 10, 2006, at River Region Medical Center. He was 72.

A native of Jefferson County, Mr. Beard had been a Port Gibson resident since 1987. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran, serving 27 years. When he retired he held the rank of MSGT.

Before moving to Port Gibson, he worked as a forklift mechanic in Kansas City, Mo. He was presently employed as a clerk at Port Gibson Hardware and Lumber Co. He and his wife had been married for the past 48 years. He was a member of the Fellowship Baptist Church in Lorman.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.

He is survived by his wife, Myrtle M. Beard of Port Gibson; three sons, William Dewitte Beard of Adrian, Mo., Edward Karl Beard of LaTour, Mo., and Robert Glenn Beard of Pleasant Hill, Mo.; two daughters, Melissa Ann Holloway of Orrick, Mo., and Veronica Sue Beard of Lorman; a sister, Dot Hill of Port Gibson; and 16 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Glenwood Funeral Home in Port Gibson with the Rev. Toby Jenkins officiating.

Visitation will be from 3 until 5 p.m. Sunday at Glenwood Funeral Home of Vicksburg.

Ruby Lucille McClure Neal.

PATTISON – Ruby Lucille McClure Neal died Thursday, March 9, 2006, at Compere Nursing Home in Jackson. She was 84.

A homemaker, Mrs. Neal was a member of the Benevolent Society and Jones Chapel Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo Neal Sr.; her parents, Jackson McClure and Martha Young; and one daughter, Marjorie Neal.

Survivors include three sons, James Neal of Pattison, Leon Neal Jr. of Jackson and Nelson Neal of Tampa, Fla.; five daughters, Doris Sanders of Evanston, Ill., Irene Williams of Westland, Mich., Lillie Neal and Joann Leatherwood, both of Chicago, and Jerry Jean Gooch of St. Louis; one brother, T.J. McClure of Vicksburg; two sisters, Martha Evans and Selena White, both of Detroit; 16 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Jones Chapel Church in Carlisle with the Rev. Johnny Hughes officiating. Burial will follow at Mountro Grove Cemetery under the direction of Rollins Funeral Home in Port Gibson. Visitation will be from 2 until 4 today at the funeral home.

Friends of the family will serve as pallbearers.

Honorary pallbearers will be James Neal, Nelson Neal and Fred Neal.