December 20, 2006

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 20, 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.

John Albert Bodron.

MERIDIAN – John Albert Bodron, a native of Vicksburg and longtime resident of Biloxi, died Dec. 18, 2006, in Meridian. He was 78.

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Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Sageville United Methodist Church in Meridian with the Rev. Joe C. Lofton officiating. Burial will be at the church cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior at the church.

He was a proud Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War.

Mr. Bodron was a graduate of Mississippi State University, where he was active as manager for the MSU football team. He remained an avid supporter of MSU all his life and was a member of the &#8220M” Club. He received his master of science degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1972.

He served his entire career as an educator with Biloxi Public Schools, where he served as shop teacher, coach, elementary principal and vocational education director. He retired as assistant principal of Biloxi High School in 1989. While in Biloxi, he served as football trainer for the BHS Indians for 43 years, missing only three games. He loved his work and it showed in the rapport he had with his students.

Mr. Bodron was active for many years as a member of First United Methodist Church of Biloxi, where he served as an usher, member of the Board of Trustees and the Administrative Board. After moving to Meridian, he was a member of Sageville United Methodist Church. He loved golf, gardening and football. He was a member of the Gulf Coast chapter of the National Football Hall of Fame, where he received the Award of Merit in 1994. He received the Chamber of Commerce Award as Outstanding Supporter of Education and also served the City of Biloxi as a member of the Recreation Board.

He was preceded in death by his parents, W.G. and Sarah Abraham Bodron; a sister, Helen; and two brothers, Robert and George, all of Vicksburg.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ruth Mayerhoff Bodron; son, John Allen Bodron and his wife, Andrea; two grandsons, William Allen Bodron and Tanner Cayce Bodron; one brother, Allen Bodron of Memphis; and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Marshall Mayerhoff, Mark Mayerhoff, Michael Mayerhoff, Matthew Mayerhoff, Ben Gaddis and Gilbert Gaddis.

Memorials may be made to The Wesley House, 1520 8th Ave., Meridian, MS 39301.

Mattie Lee Squalls Brewster.

Mattie Lee Squalls Brewster died Monday, Dec. 18, 2006, at Claiborne County Nursing Center in Port Gibson. She was 100.

Mrs. Brewster was a member of China Grove M.B. Church in Edwards, where she was a former usher and served as treasury secretary. She was also a member of Vicksburg Chapter No. 1 of Order of Eastern Star.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Oliver Brewster; and a brother, Richard McCoy.

She is survived by a son, Orel Aaron Anderson Sr. of Chicago; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren; and other relatives, including the Anderson, Brewster, Fields, McCoy, Miles, Squalls and Strong families.

Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Nina Mae Gilbert.

Nina Mae Gilbert died Tuesday, December 19, 2006, at River Region Medical Center. She was 98.

Born in Vicksburg, she was the daughter of William G. Harwell and Dennie Lott Harwell. With her husband, she owned and operated a number of Piggly Wiggly stores in the Vicksburg area for many years. She was of the Baptist faith.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Philip G. Gilbert; a sister, Lucille H. Oliphant; a brother, William Harwell; and a half-sister, Dennie T. Koerper.

Services will be at 2 today at Cedar Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Michael Nation, rector of Church of the Holy Trinity, officiating. Burial will follow under the direction of Riles Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to a favorite charity.

Mary Catherine Bland Harper.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Mary Catherine Bland Harper died Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006, in Kalamazoo, Mich. She was 62.

Mrs. Harper was born in Utica to Percy and Roseanne Bland. She attended high school in Vicksburg and received a degree in business from Alcorn State University. She received a master’s degree in counseling from Western Michigan University and worked in the Kalamazoo Public Schools for more than 35 years. She also worked as a travel agent after her retirement.

Mrs. Harper was a member of a number of organizations, including the Kalamazoo Public Schools Teachers Bowling League, Dulcet, Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and the National Association for Black School Educators.

She was a former member of Northside Community Reformed Church and attended Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church in Kalamazoo.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Frank Bland and Herman Bland.

Survivors include her husband, Hank Harper; a daughter, Wyndi Harper-Williams; a son, Marque Harper; one sister, Alean Burse; seven brothers, Willie Bland, Robert Bland, John Bland, James Bland, Percy Bland, Fred Bland and Gerald Bland; two grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Ida Nixon.

Ida &#8220Momma Ida” Nixon died Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2006, at Covenant Health and Rehab of Vicksburg. She was 101.

She is survived by a daughter, Annie Gibson of Vicksburg; and grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other relatives.

Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.