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.

Gordon Randolph Emrick.

PETAL – Gordon Randolph &#8220Randy” Emrick died Saturday, July 22, 2006, in Vicksburg. He was 53.

Mr. Emrick was a broadcast production engineer with the University of Southern Mississippi’s Broadcasting and Media Production Services. He served as engineer in charge of the university’s satellite uplink services and was an instructor in the Southern Miss School of Mass Communication and Journalism.

Mr. Emrick received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from USM. He was a former alderman and volunteer fireman for the town of Edwards. He was a former deacon at Edwards Baptist Church, where he had operated the lighting and sound equipment.

A resident of Petal, he also served as a deacon at Carterville Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Kathy Bardin Emrick of Petal; three sisters, Marianne Gregg of Long Beach, Jeanne Driver of Hockley, Texas, and Kay Lowe of Tomball, Texas; a brother, Rusty Emrick of Newman; and other relatives.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Edwards Baptist Church in Edwards, where Emrick previously served as a deacon and operator of the church’s lighting and sound equipment.

Visitation will be from 5 until 7 tonight at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home in Clinton and Wednesday at the church from 9 a.m. until the service.

Memorials may be made to Edwards Baptist Church, P.O. Box 138, Edwards, MS 39066; or to the Edwards Cemetery Association, 311 Jackson St., Edwards, MS 39066.

Donald C. Gavin.

HATTIESBURG – Donald C. &#8220Buddy” Gavin died Saturday, July 22, 2006, at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg. He was 86.

Born in Quitman to Ebb C. and Mollie Gavin, he was reared in Meridian. He graduated from Meridian High School, Meridian Junior College and Sprayberry Academy of Electronics.

Mr. Gavin was honorably discharged from the Army Signal Corps and worked for Mississippi Power. He retired in 1982 as superintendent of Plant Eaton in Petal after 42 years of service. He was a member of 38th Avenue Baptist Church.

He was a Mason and a past member of the Hattiesburg Exchange Club, Toastmasters International and the Elks Club.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Mary Lynn Gavin; a brother, Wister Saltonstall; and two sisters, Helen Graham and Marguerite Miller.

Survivors include one son, Donald Gavin of Hattiesburg; three daughters, Dollie R. Saucier and Mary Davis, both of Hattiesburg, and Mollie Stricklen of Utica; a brother, Gurdon Saltonstall of Tennessee; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Moore Funeral Chapel in Hattiesburg with the Rev. Dean Stewart officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 until 8 tonight at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Jim Stricklen, Lewis Saucier, Gavin Davis, Cory Courtney, Donny Saucier and Charles Stuart.

Greg Lorenzo Jones.

Greg Lorenzo &#8220Toe Man” Jones died Sunday, July 23, 2006, at River Region Medical Center. He was 29.

A laborer for Moss Construction Company, Mr. Jones was of the Baptist faith.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Mary Lee &#8220Skit” Smith; and paternal grandfather, J.D. Jones.

He is survived by a daughter, Ashanti Shenice Sims of Vicksburg; his parents, Billy &#8220Foot” Jones and Melvina &#8220Honey” Jones, both of Vicksburg; a brother, Raymond Meeks Jr. of Vicksburg; a sister, Wanda Boyd of Vicksburg; maternal grandfather, Willie Smith of Vicksburg; paternal grandmother, Wille Mae Smith of Vicksburg; his fiance’, Shonda McCloud of Vicksburg; and other relatives, including, Kashia Phillips of Vicksburg.

W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Benjamin Willis Powell.

GREENVILLE – Benjamin Willis Powell died Sunday, July 23, 2006, at Delta Regional Medical Center. He was 93.

Mr. Powell was born in Meridian. After moving to Vicksburg, he attended Vicksburg Public Schools. During World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Transport Corps as a merchant marine. He was employed with American Barge Line and Federal Barge Line as chief engineer for more than 45 years. He was a member of American Legion, VFW, National Rifle Association and Calvary Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Glynn Reynolds Powell; four brothers, Joseph M. Powell, David E. Powell, William W. Powell and Charles J. Powell; and a sister, Mary Ellen Turner.

He is survived by a daughter, Donna G. Powell of Greenville; a sister, Anita Christine Powell of Vicksburg; and nieces, nephews and other relatives, including Parsha Powell of Vicksburg.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Boone-Wells Funeral Home in Greenville with the Rev. Park Neff officiating. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. Family will be present from 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Dan Clanton, Pete McKee, Bob Tadlock, Caleb Wilson, Wayne McDuff and Jim Walton.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the American Legion and VFW.

Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, American Legion, VFW or a favorite charity.

James Michael Windham.

Mr. James Michael Windham stepped into eternity on the 24th day of July at Central Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.

Mr. Windham was born on Jan. 22, 1946, in Vicksburg and grew up in Redwood.

He had been a member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local No. 619 since 1974, and he was elected business manager in 1998. He retired in March of this year due to illness. He was an avid Braves fan and enjoyed the AA team in Pearl, Miss. He enjoyed fishing and found relaxation after retirement tending his garden and was especially proud of his tomatoes.

Mr. Windham was known by all who had the pleasure of knowing him as a kind-hearted, giving man who instantly became a friend to all who met him. As a testament to his character, his stepchildren, son-in-law and daughter-in-law knew him only as Dad. Mr. Windham was a man of character whose life revolved around his family and was loved and adored by his family.

He received Christ and was baptized in March of 2006 at Pinelake Baptist Church in Brandon.

Survivors include his wife, Linda of Vicksburg; three daughters, Kimberly Evans of Ridgeland, Sharon McKissak and husband Michael of Brandon and Michelle Manning of Brandon; one son, Billy McMullen and wife Denise of Pearl; one sister, Judy Hasty of Vicksburg; two brothers, Fred Windham of Monroe, La., and Phillip Windham of Prairieview, La.; and five grandchildren, Courtney, Kayla, Hunter, Lindsey and Shelby.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William B. and Bobbie Nell Windham; and a brother, Ronald Windham.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Glenwood Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Chip Price officiating. Interment will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 until 8 tonight at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Dickie Harmon, Bubba Harmon, J.W. Carroll, David Newell, Butch Spivey and David Jabour.

Honorary pallbearers will be Wiley Barnes, Wayne Sibley and Jamie Flow.