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.

Helen Cogan Wade Cupit

UTICA – Helen Cogan Wade Cupit died Friday, Jan. 12, 2007, at Shady Lawn Nursing Home. She was 95.

A native of Vicksburg, Mrs. Cupit lived most of her life in Jefferson County before moving to Utica 25 years ago. She had been a Shady Lawn Nursing Home resident for the past year and a half. She was a retired mail carrier and an avid quilter. She was of the Presbyterian faith.

She was preceded in death by two sons, Jeff Wade and Carroll Wade.

She is survived by one daughter, Ruby W. Curtis Thompson and husband, Joe, of Vicksburg; three grandchildren, Sherril Curtis Strong and husband, David, and Don Curtis and wife, Cheryl, all of Utica, and Lynn Gibson of Vicksburg; and five great-grandchildren.

Services were today at Cane Ridge Cemetery in Lorman. Burial followed under the direction of Glenwood Funeral Home.

Col. Joseph Valley Dawsey Jr.

Retired Col. Joseph Valley Dawsey Jr., 84 and a decorated World War II veteran, passed over Sunday, Jan. 14, 2007, in Vicksburg.

He was born Aug. 23, 1922, in Columbia, Miss., to Joseph Valley Dawsey Sr. and Janie Robbins Dawsey. He graduated from Columbia High School, attended Alabama Polytechnic Institute and Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. He was a combat infantry veteran of the European Theater of Operations (ETO), World War II, from October 1942 to February 1946. Dawsey was one of few NCOs who joined the 102nd Infantry Division Association during the Battle of the Bulge (member No. 735.)

Upon discharge from the Army in 1946, he completed his civil engineering degree from Mississippi State University. He was a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Mississippi, with a career spanning from 1949 to 1986 with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lower Mississippi Valley Division, and Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg. Col. Dawsey served in the U.S. Army Reserve 412th Engineer Brigade and 412th Engineer Command until his retirement in November 1977.

Dawsey was a member of Crawford Street United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Sons of the Revolution and a lifetime member of Masonic Lodge and Wahabi Shrine Temple in Jackson; Disabled American Veterans; and longtime president of the Vicksburg Shrine Club.

His philanthropic passion was working to provide transportation and treatment for burned and crippled children to Shriners Hospitals nationwide.

His decorations and awards include: the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Rhineland and Central Europe Battle Stars, World War II Victory Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (An Loc Offensive), Army Reserve Commendation Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Hourglass Device, Society of American Military Engineers Medal, Expert Infantry Badge, Combat Infantry Badge and Expert Marksmanship Badge.

Col. Dawsey is survived by his wife of 60 years, Julia Gaines Dawsey; one son, Joseph Valley Dawsey III of Atlanta; daughter, Debbie Dawsey-Davis and husband, Hutson Davis, of Beaufort, S.C.; daughter, Suzanne Dawsey Phipps and husband, Scott Phipps, of Vicksburg; and granddaughters, Blythe Dawsey Brown of Charleston, S.C., and Phoebe Suzanne Brown of Beaufort.

Visitation in Vicksburg will be from 5 until 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, at Glenwood Funeral Home. Visitation in Columbia will be from 5 until 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, at Colonial Funeral Home.

A celebration of life service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at Colonial Funeral Home, followed by graveside services at Woodlawn Cemetery with full military honors.

Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children – Shreveport, La.; Vicksburg Convalescent Home; or Disabled American Veterans – Cincinnati, Ohio.

Charles J. Irons

PORT GIBSON – Charles J. Irons died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007, in Jefferson County. He was 80.

Born in Philadelphia, Miss., he was the son of the late Alvin George Irons and Carrie Elizabeth &#8220Lizzie” Phillips Irons.

Mr. Irons served 39 years in the Army National Guard after serving three years of active duty in World War II. He retired in 1990 from International Paper Co. with 23 years of service. An avid hunter and fisherman, he was a founding member of the Blue Buck Hunting Club.

Mr. Irons was a member of the W.H. Stevens Masonic Lodge and a member of the Stepping Stone Baptist Church in Port Gibson.

He is survived by his wife, Karyn T. Irons of Port Gibson; eight daughters, Cathy Copeland and Kaye McDonald, both of Philadelphia, Gail Keith of Hollandale, Caroline Thomas and Renee Hawkins, both of Florence, Donna Carpenter of Vicksburg, and Lisa Sentell and Jenifer Vogel, both of Houston, Texas; five sons, Ronnie Irons, Charles E. Irons and Jeff Irons, all of Vicksburg, Donnie Irons of Clinton and Ricky Irons of Philadelphia; a brother, James Irons of Carthage; 24 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Bloomfield Methodist Church in Philadelphia with Dr. Wayne Hill officiating. Burial will follow at Bloomfield Methodist Church Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 until 6 tonight at Riles Funeral Home and Tuesday at the church from 1 p.m. until the service.

Pallbearers will be grandsons.

Honorary pallbearers will be Harold Williamson, Prentiss Copeland and members of the Blue Buck Hunting Club.

Memorials may be made to Bloomfield Cemetery Association, c/o Darthy Willingham, 11101 Road 529, Philadelphia, MS 39350; the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1193, Vicksburg, MS 39181; or to charities of choice.

Marlon G. Massey

ROLLING FORK – Marlon G. Massey died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007, at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland. He was 66.

Mr. Massey had lived in Issaquena County for most of his life. He served in the Army in the Korean Conflict and was a member of First Baptist Church of Rolling Fork. He retired from Waterways Experiment Station. He had worked as a law officer in Warren, Sharkey, Issaquena and Washington counties and was also employed at the Issaquena County Correctional Facility.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Archie Robert Massey and Minnie E. Massey; a brother, T.A. Massey; and a sister, Nellie Janette Massey.

Survivors include his wife, Jeanette Massey of Rolling Fork; three sons, Rebert Gerald Massey of Vicksburg, Robert Marlon Massey of Lavonia, Ga., and Rodney Paul Massey of Brevard, N.C.; two daughters, Annette Heigle of Anguilla and Lisa Joyce Sonnier of Sulphur, La.; two brothers, Wren Massey of Greenville and Jackie Massey of Nesbit; three sisters, Waurine Patten of Libuse, La., Helen Woods of Delta City and Billie Joyce Bordelon of Effie, La.; and 12 grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church in Rolling Fork with the Rev. Millard L. Caulder officiating. Burial will follow at County Line Cemetery in Glen Allan.

Visitation will be from 6 until 8 tonight at Glenwood Funeral Home in Rolling Fork.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jonathan Blake Moon, Marlaina Harleybrooke Heigle, Amber Massey, Brittany Massey, Zack Massey, Colby Phillips, Toby Smith, John Robert Massey, Chelsea Massey, Chasity Massey, Tiffany Turvell and Brad Turvell.

Faye Norris

MAYERSVILLE – Faye Norris died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007, at Heritage Manor of Rolling Fork. She was 73.

A homemaker, Mrs. Norris was a lifelong resident of Mayersville. She was of the Baptist faith.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Norris; a son, Don Norris; and a granddaughter, Connie McCoy.

She is survived by one daughter, Peggy Gould of Olla, La.; two sisters, Rose Norris of Mayersville and Catherine Bowden of Enterprise, Ala.; and one grandchild.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Greenfield Cemetery in Glen Allan with the Rev. Millard Caulder officiating. Burial will follow under the direction of Glenwood Funeral Home in Rolling Fork.

Visitation will be from 5 until 7 tonight at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be James Kent, George Kent, James Norris, Steve McCoy, Tommy Williams, Bobby McGrew, Jimmy Vinson and Russell Stewart.

Ruth Ferguson Parman

PORT GIBSON – Ruth Ferguson Parman, 94, died Friday, Jan. 12, 2007, at the Claiborne County Nursing Center.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today in the chapel of Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home in Clinton with burial at Lakewood Memorial Park. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mrs. Parman was born on June 15, 1912, in Simpson County, the daughter of the late Wayne Plummer Ferguson and Bessie Mae Sandifer Ferguson. A resident of Port Gibson since 1956, she was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Vicksburg and loved spending time with her church family.

Mrs. Parman was an avid gardener and was known for the beautiful flowers she grew, both in her home and her children’s home. She will be remembered by her family and friends as a loving mother and a cherished and devoted grandmother and great-grandmother.

Mrs. Parman is preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Daniel Parman, and her daughter, Linnie Louise Parman.

Survivors include three sons, Joseph William Parman, and his wife, Barbara, of Las Cruces, N.M., and Wallace Wayne (Buddy) Parman and his wife, Annell, and Robert Durwood Parman and his wife, Mary Ann, all of Port Gibson; one daughter, Alice Ruth Sharpe and her husband, Don, of Kernersville, N.C.; 15 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church, Vicksburg, MS or Wycliffe Bible Translators, Huntington Beach, CA.

Eleanor Marilyn Menger Reynolds

MERIDIAN – Eleanor Marilyn Menger Reynolds, a homemaker and former Vicksburg resident, died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007. She was 80.

Visitation will be from 4 until 7 tonight at Barham Funeral Home in Meridian. Funeral services are at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Poplar Springs Baptist Church with visitation starting one hour prior to the service. A private burial will follow.

Mrs. Reynolds devoted her life to God, her husband, her three children, her 10 grandchildren, her three great-grandchildren and an additional great-grandchild expected in June.

The focus of her life was her church, her family and serving others. She was a Sunday school teacher at Poplar Springs Baptist Church.

Mrs. Reynolds was a graduate of Hinds County Agriculture High School and Junior College in Raymond and was salutatorian of the Class of 1944. She attended MSCW for two years before working for Southern Bell. She stayed at home to raise her children and involved herself in activities that encouraged her children such as being a Cub Scout den mother and Girl Scout leader. She served her community by volunteering at Meals on Wheels and in nursing homes of Meridian. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, playing bridge and Scrabble.

Survivors include her husband of 56 years, Edwin E. Reynolds; her children: Edwin E. Reynolds Jr. and wife, Karen, Marilyn Reynolds Brand and husband, Sam, and William M. Reynolds and wife, Lynn; her grandchildren: Darcie Marilyn Price-Wallace and husband, Chris, Eric Reynolds Price and wife, Monica, Kristen Reynolds, Taylor Reynolds, Katie Reynolds, Hamp Reynolds, Todd Brand and his wife, Amy, Jarred Brand, Corbin Brand and Kaley Brand; and her great-grandchildren: Sylvia Wallace, Eli Brand, Noah Brand and one additional in expectation. Mrs. Reynolds is also survived by one brother, Bill Menger of Huntsville, Texas, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Taylor Reynolds, Hamp Reynolds, Eric Price, Chris Wallace, Todd Brand, Jarred Brand, Corbin Brand and George Neville.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Poplar Springs Baptist Church, American Heart Association and American Cancer Society.