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.

Mable Martin Gardner

SHREVEPORT – Mrs. Mable Martin Gardner, 92, passed away on Wednesday, April 18, 2007, after a lengthy illness. Visitation will be held from 5 until 7 p.m. on Monday, April 23, 2007, at Osborn Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 24, 2007, at the chapel at the funeral home. Officiating will be Dr. T. Floyd Davis of Woodridge Baptist Church. Internment will follow at Forest Park Cemetery.

Mrs. Gardner was a native of Ida, La., and a resident of Shreveport for 71 years. She was a member of Woodridge Baptist Church.

Mrs. Gardner was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Joseph Homer Gardner; a son, William Ronald Gardner; and brothers, William Scott Martin, Edmund R. Martin and Robert Newton Martin.

She is survived by two sons, Homer R. Gardner and his wife, Shandra, of Vicksburg and John R. Gardner and wife, Mary, of Shreveport; a daughter-in-law, Lynne Gardner of Purvis; six grandchildren, Christopher Gardner and wife, Cheryl, of Cumming, Ga., Melissa Barker and husband, Bruce, of Jackson, Nathan Gardner and wife, Roxanne, of Woodville, Walker Gardner and wife, LaQuita of Laurel, Amy Gardner and Rob Gardner, both of Shreveport; five great-grandchildren; a sister, Mattie Terry of Ida; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Steve Gordon, Alton Johnson, John Kish, Randy Loe, Chuck McInturf and Perry Woods.

The family requests that memorials be made to the Woodridge Baptist Church Building Fund, 850 E. Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport, LA 71106.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the sitters of Home Instead Senior Care, the nurses and staff of the guest Care at Spring Lake and of Agape Hospice Care and Dr. Clarence Teagle.

Birthenia Thomas Jackson

Birthenia &#8220Tina” Thomas Jackson died Wednesday, April 18, 2007, at River Region Medical Center. She was 77.

Mrs. Jackson was a retired cook at the Holiday Inn and a member of Standfield M.B. Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Behlah Ford Thomas, and her husband, Willie Jackson Sr.

She is survived by five sons, Vernon Thomas and Willie Jackson Thomas, both of Vicksburg, Milton Jackson of Lake Charles, Robert Jackson of Atlanta and Billy Anthony Thomas of Rochester, N.Y.; four daughters, Sharon L. Johnson and Mary Carolyn Jackson, Johnnie E. Jackson and Shirley Renee Swartz, all of Vicksburg; two sisters, Onetter E. Burns of Stone Mountain, Ga., and Leflora T. Pierce of Lawton, Okla.; 27 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Word of Faith Christian Center with the Rev. Phillip Burks officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be at the funeral home from 6 to 7 p.m. today.