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.

Freddie Lee Butler

Freddie Lee &#8220Short Dob” Butler died this morning, Jan. 29, 2007, at River Region Medical Center. He was 52.

Mr. Butler worked in the janitorial department at Sherman Avenue Elementary. He was a member of St. Luke Freewill Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his father, David Earl Butler; maternal grandfather, Johnny Figguers; and paternal grandparents, Montana Butler and Henry Butler.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Sylvester Butler of Vicksburg; two sons, Mathis T. Lee and Derrick Jackson of Vicksburg; four stepsons, Kevin Sylvester and Michael Williams, both of Vicksburg, Kenneth Sylvester of Atlanta and Deon Sylvester of Indiana; two daughters, Latrisha Selvy and Antionette Selvy, both of Vicksburg; a stepdaughter, Evita Williams of Vicksburg; his mother, Elvira Figguers Butler of Vicksburg; maternal grandmother, Henrietta Singletary of Jackson; and a host of brothers and sisters.

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

Mattie Canizaro

Mattie Canizaro died Sunday, Jan. 28, 2007, at River Region Medical Center. She was 80.

A native and lifelong resident of Vicksburg, Miss Canizaro was the daughter of the late Frank and Lena Signa Canizaro. She was a 1944 graduate of St. Francis Xavier Academy. She retired from Illinois Central Railroad after 44 years. A member of St. Paul Catholic Church, she served on the Altar Society and was a member of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sodality.

She is survived by a brother, James Canizaro of Vicksburg; two sisters, Concetta DeRossette and Angelia Canizaro, both of Vicksburg; nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Paul Catholic Church with the Rev. Patrick Farrell officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 until 7 tonight at Fisher Funeral Home and from 10 a.m. Tuesday until the hour of service at the church. A Christian wake service will follow tonight’s visitation.

Miss Canizaro’s nephews will serve as pallbearers.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul Catholic Church, 713 Crawford St., Vicksburg, MS 39180 or Vicksburg Catholic School, 1900 Grove St., Vicksburg, MS 39183.

Barbara Alice Burks Ellis

PORT GIBSON – Barbara Alice Burks Ellis died Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007, at Baptist Medical Center in Jackson. She was 81.

Born in Jefferson County, Mrs. Ellis spent most of her life in Port Gibson. She and her husband owned and operated Ellis Variety Store in Port Gibson. She was a member of Stepping Stone Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Norman N. Ellis; a son, Norman James Ellis; a daughter, Vickie Rosalie Ellis; and three sisters, Hannah Cade, Exa Wolfe and Edna Sharpe.

She is survived by two daughters, Kareemie E. Nelson of Port Gibson, and Barbara E. Williams and husband, Richard, of Clinton; a brother, William E. &#8220Bill” Sanders of Vicksburg; a sister, Mary B. McGee of Port Gibson; a very special niece, Elaine Styron of Port Gibson; seven grandchildren, Marilynne M. Nelson of Jackson, John Edward &#8220Ed” Nelson of Port Gibson, Alice E. Cobb of Yazoo City, Norma Jane Richey of Hallsville, Texas, Niki Jolly of Bentonia, John R. Williams of Brandon and James L. Williams of Pearl; and two great-grandchildren, John Daniel Cobb of Yazoo City and Blake Ellis Richey of Hallsville.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Stepping Stone Baptist Church in Port Gibson with the Revs. Mark Dearman and Michael Herrin officiating. Burial will follow at Wintergreen Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 until 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday from 1 until the service at the church.

Pallbearers will be Douglas Nasif, Ellis Nasif, John Cobb, Robert Jolly, David Thomas, John R. Williams and James L. Williams.

Honorary pallbearers will be John Edward &#8220Ed” Nelson, Lionel Styron, John Thomas Pierce III, Dr. David Headley, Jay Massey, William Sanders and Michael Sanders.

Memorials may be made to Stepping Stone Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1061, Port Gibson, MS 39150 or American Heart Association.

Lakisha Disahell Little

Lakisha Disahell Little died Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007, at her home in Vicksburg. She was 27.

Miss Little was of the Baptist faith.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Lillie B. Woodson and Leroy Little; and paternal grandparents, Edward J. Brown and Bessie Mae Brown.

She is survived by her mother, Vera Jean Little of Vicksburg; her father, Darrell Anthony Brown of Vicksburg; a brother, Jessie Lonell Little of Vicksburg; a sister, Kendra Milligan of Vicksburg; and other relatives including, Betty Woodson Bland, the Woodson, Wildee, Wilson, Byrd, Lee, Jackson and Stamps families.

Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Billy Kent McRaney

Billy Kent McRaney died Sunday, Jan. 28, 2007, at River Region Medical Center in Vicksburg. He was 76.

Born in Covington County, Mr. McRaney had been a resident of Vicksburg for the past 40 years. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict. He retired as owner and operator of Amoco Service Station and Bulk Plant in Port Gibson. He also worked at Sack and Save Service Station in Vicksburg and delivered pharmacy products for Durst Discount Drugs. He was a member of Pattison Baptist Church.

He is survived by a daughter, Dee McRaney McCain of Vicksburg; a brother, Don Hynum of Lebonan, Penn.; a sister, Joan Hynum Jones of Natchez; and nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Glenwood Funeral Home in Vicksburg with the Revs. Sam Dunaway and Billy Dowdy officiating. Burial will follow at Wintergreen Cemetery in Port Gibson. Visitation will be from 5 until 7 tonight at Glenwood Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Steve Mabry, David Neal, Joe Fomei, Dusty McCain, Richard Wright and Richard Selby.

Honorary pallbearers will be Don K. Hynum, Claude Wright, Bob McCain, Jimmy Jones and Bobby McCain.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.

Bobby Rae Strong

Bobby Rae Strong died Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007, at River Region Medical Center in Vicksburg. She was 69.

A lifelong resident of Vicksburg, Mrs. Strong retired from Ergon Incorporated.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry Sr. and Marie McBroom.

She is survived by a son, Tim Strong of Columbus; three daughters, Cindy Strong of Durant, Okla., Margaret Morgan and Deana Strong, both of Vicksburg; two brothers, Harry McBroom Jr. of Zorvella, Texas, and Robert McBroom of Silsbee, Texas; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Glenwood Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery under the direction of Glenwood Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. Tuesday until the hour of service.