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.

Dr. Waverley Conway Artz Sr.

Dr. Waverley Conway Artz Sr. died Saturday, June 9, 2007. He was 79.

Born in Vicksburg, Dr. Artz was the son of the late Frank O’Ferrell Artz and Irene Conway Artz. He was a graduate of Carr Central High School, class of 1945.

Dr. Artz received his bachelor of science degree from the University of Mississippi and the doctor of dental surgery degree from the University of Maryland. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, serving in the Navy.

Baptized as an infant, he was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church, where he was a devoted and dedicated member. Dr. Artz was a member of the church choir for over 50 years; a deacon and elder; a Sunday school teacher of the Men’s Bible Class and Sunday School superintendent; president of the First Presbyterian Church Men’s Club; and was active in the youth programs of the church for a number of years.

Since 1977, Dr. Artz participated in numerous spiritual retreats at Manresa Jesuit Retreat House in Convent, La.

Active in community service, he was a founding member of the Optimist Club and a member of the Y’s Men’s Club and the Lions Club. Dr. Artz served as chairman of the City of Vicksburg Beautification Commission and was a member of the Barbershop Quartet Choir (SPEBSQSA) and the Vicksburg Chorus.

He practiced dentistry in Vicksburg from 1956 until his retirement in 2003.

Dr. Artz was a member of the Mississippi Dental Association, the American Dental Association and other professional associations. He was one of the first dentists in Vicksburg to offer his services to the community regardless of race or creed.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Joan Rebecca Dennis Artz of Vicksburg; a son, Waverley Conway Artz Jr. and his wife, Maryann, of Vicksburg; four daughters, Jancsi A. Herlihy and her husband, John, of Madison, Becky Ruth McCaskill and her husband, Eric, of Vicksburg, Amy Beasley and her husband, Kevin, of Clinton, and Mary Meg Courtney of Brandon; grandchildren, Waverley Conway (Lee) Artz III, Richard Jackson, Jeremy James McCaskill, Jenna Patrice Artz, Melanie Lois McCaskill, Drew Philip Beasley, Reed Conway Beasley, Michael Herlihy, Cathrina Herlihy, Andrew Herlihy and John Haug; several nephews; members of the Cashman, Boa, Bufkin and Duncan families of Vicksburg and other relatives, including Dr. Louis Chatham and Stiles Wilkins.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Frank O. Artz and Dr. George F. Bolls; two sisters, Phoebe Artz Chatham and Laura May Artz Fuller; and a son-in-law, Dean Courtney.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Timothy A. Erskine, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery under the direction of Riles Funeral Home.

Visitation will be at First Presbyterian Church’s Ward Hall from 1 p.m. Tuesday until the hour of the service.

Pallbearers will be Dr. Gary Cheslek, Dr. Troy Jenkins, Dr. Kurt Schrock, Dr. Don Jackson, Max Reed, Harold Blue, Rick Caldwell and Bobby Amborn.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the First Presbyterian Church Choir, members of the Men’s Bible Sunday School Class, members of the Carr Central High School Class of 1945, officers of the First Presbyterian Church Diaconate and Session, Harry Gilliland, Dr. Jimmy Vessell and Joe Gerache.

Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Doorstep Ministry, 1501 Cherry St., Vicksburg, MS 39180.

Annie L. Davis

Annie L. Davis died Friday, June 8, 2007, at River Region Medical Center. She was 86.

Mrs. Davis was a homemaker and member of St. Luke Freewill Baptist Church, where she was an usher and past secretary.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Davis; her parents, James and Adlena Douglas; one son, William Douglas; three brothers, William Douglas, Sam Douglas and Joseph Douglas; and four sisters, Rebecca Luckett, Adlena Smith, Eddie Douglas and Ellen Bright.

She is survived by two daughters, Mattie Allen and Rosie Lee Conner, both of Vicksburg; a sister, Sadie Pampley; and two grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home with the Rev. Sammy Brown officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Maud Dillard Jefferson

Maud Dillard Jefferson died Sunday, June 10, 2007, at Covenant Health and Rehab of Vicksburg. She was 80.

Mrs. Jefferson was a retired school teacher, having taught music for 31 years. She was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, where she was pianist for 40 years.

She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Paramount Social and Civic Club and LINKS International.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. James B. Dillard and Betty Scott Dillard; two brothers, James S. Dillard and Henry Briggs; and a sister, Lucy Money.

Survivors include a son, James E. Jefferson Jr. of Vicksburg; a daughter, Anita Houston of Vicksburg; one sister, Dorothy Ross of Eugene, Ore.; one grandson; and nieces, nephews and other relatives.

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

Robert E. Martin Sr.

Services for Robert E. &#8220Rat” Martin Sr. will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Greater Mount Lebanon Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery under the direction of Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from noon until 6 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with family present from 5 until 6.

Mr. Martin died Thursday, June 7, 2007, at River Region Medical Center. He was 55.

Mr. Martin graduated from Rosa A. Temple High School in 1970. He was a mechanic at Cherry Street Conoco Service Station.

He was preceded in death by his father, Charlie Martin Sr.; his maternal grandparents, Julius Canda and Bertha Canda; and his paternal grandparents, Albert and Alberta Martin.

He is survived by his son, Robert Dawayne Martin Jr. of Vicksburg; four daughters, Denetra Taylor and Ashley Martin, both of Vicksburg, Felicia McKay of Ocean Springs and Alicia Smith of Houston, Texas; his mother, Dorothy Katherine Canda-Martin of Vicksburg; two brothers, Charlie Martin Jr. and Lester Martin, both of Vicksburg; three sisters, Patricia Martin of Vicksburg, Linda Milton of Utica and Albertha Martin of Portland, Ore.; five grandchildren; and other relatives and friends, including Willie Mae Atkins of Vicksburg and Julius Canda Jr. of Portland.

Nellie Alice Strickland

Services for Nellie Alice Strickland will be at 3 today, June 11, 2007, at Frank J. Fisher Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Chan DeAnaya of Christ Episcopal Church will lead the service. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Mrs. Strickland died Thursday, June 7, 2007, at River Regional Medical Center. She was 75.

A native of Natchez, Mrs. Strickland had been a resident of Vicksburg since 1970. She was the daughter of the late Robert Jesse and Kathleen King Jackson. She had worked at Wal-Mart in the fabric department for seven years and H&R Block for five years. She had owned and operated Strickland Tax Services for 20 years. She was a member of Highland Baptist Church. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde J. Strickland; a grandson, Kenneth Harvey Stocks III; and brother, Paul Jackson.

She is survived by two sons, Kenneth H. Stocks Jr. of Delta, La. and Barry G. Stocks of Vicksburg; two daughters, Diane Strickland Kuchman and Lisa Strickland Culbreth, both of Vicksburg; eight grandchildren, Jason Stocks, Barry Stocks II, Bennie Stocks, Cami Hook, Natalie Kuchman, Daniel Kuchman, Heather Culbreth and Daelyn Culbreth; a great-granddaughter, Brittany Stocks; a great-great-granddaughter, Ashley Bowser; three brothers, Earl Jackson and Donald Jackson, both of Columbus, and Roy Jackson of Steen.