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.

Bennie Neal Jr.

PORT GIBSON – Bennie Neal Jr. died Thursday, March 1, 2007, at Claiborne County Hospital. He was 73.

Mr. Neal was preceded in death by his parents, Bennie and Ritha Mae Nettles, and two brothers, Alvin Neal and Robert Neal Sr.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Gladys Walker-Neal of Port Gibson; six sons, Bennie Walker of Houston, Texas, Eddie Walker of Jacksonville, Fla., Calvin Walker of Philadelphia, Penn., Garrell Stewart of D’Iberville, Grover Walker of Buffalo, N.Y., and Myron Walker of Cedar Hills, Texas; three daughters, Yovonna Walker of Dallas, Lisa Neal-Henderson of Vicksburg and Tressie Neal of Port Gibson; two brothers, Edward Neal Sr. of Hermanville and Johnnie Neal Sr. of Jackson; two sisters, Rutha Neal Brown of Chicago and Nancy J. Neal of Jackson; 14 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Greater St. Mark M.B. Church in Port Gibson with the Rev. Horace McBride officiating and assisted by Rev. Leon Howard. Burial will follow at St. Phillips Cemetery in Hermanville.

Visitation will be at Thompson Funeral Home from 1 until 6 p.m. Monday at the funeral home chapel and from 10 a.m. until the service Tuesday at the church.

Olen Kennith Loyd

Olen Kennith Loyd died Friday, March 2, 2007, at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson. He was 67.

Mr. Loyd lived in Sumrall and Jackson after having lived in Vicksburg for 21 years. He was retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was a member of Kensington Wood Church of Christ in Hattiesburg.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Barr Loyd of Sumrall; a son, Alan Loyd of Villa Rica, Ga.; two daughters, Alecia Shiers of Vicksburg and Andrea Holloway of Clarkston, Mich.; three brothers, Joe Loyd of Starkville, Ralph Loyd of Brandon and Robert Loyd of Louisville; two sisters, Betty Williamson of Pell City, Ala., and Mary Culpepper of Meridian; and six grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Chancellor Funeral Home chapel in Byram. Burial will follow at Waco Fairmont Cemetery in Mize.

Visitation will be at the funeral home from noon Monday until the service.

Leroy Henry Schilling

Leroy Henry Schilling, 86, of Jackson, passed away at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center on March 3, 2007.

Born in Vicksburg and growing up throughout Mississippi as his father worked at various railroad stations, Mr. Schilling was a resident of the Jackson area for 60 years. He retired at age 55 from the United States Postal Service. Mr. Schilling was a member of Wynndale Baptist Church and was a charter member of McDowell Road Baptist Church until it closed. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theater as a radio telegrapher. He was active in his church and enjoyed many hobbies – camping, woodworking, gardening, traveling and amateur radio KK5ED – during his long retirement.

Mr. Schilling was preceded in death by his two brothers, Harold Schilling of Gulfport and Donald Valzain Schilling Sr. of Hollandale.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 64 years, Frances Powell Schilling; three sons, Lee Henry Schilling and his wife, Carol, formerly of Natchez and now living outside of Terry, Edward Eugene Schilling and his wife, Anita, of Vicksburg, and James Powell Schilling of Terry; four grandchildren, Sandra Schilling Parks and her husband, Bill, and children, Travis and Haley, of Brandon, Jeffrey Schilling of Terry, Amanda Schilling Brice and her husband, Jake, of Baton Rouge and Lenora Schilling Hamilton and her husband, Robbie, of Dallas; two sisters, Merle Sartini of Marion, Ark., and Jean Chapple of Clinton; a sister-in-law, Jerelyn Schilling of Hollandale; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home chapel, 5235 Robinson Road, in Jackson, with interment in Lakewood South Cemetery, 430 McClure Road. The Rev. William Wright and nephew-in-law, the Rev. Rob Yarbrough, will officiate.

Visitation will be Sunday from 2 until 4 p.m. and Monday from 1 until 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the American Heart Association.

Robert John Sutherland

Robert John Sutherland died Friday, March 2, 2007, at his home. He was 42.

Mr. Sutherland was a native of Yazoo City and a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Vicksburg.

He is survived by his mother, Gloria Sutherland of Yazoo City.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Glenwood Cemetery in Yazoo City with the Rev. Noel Pendergrast officiating.

Visitation will be at Stricklin-King Funeral Home from 1 p.m. Monday until the service.