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.

Sharon J. Coffey

JACKSON — Sharon J. Coffey died Monday, Sept. 24, 2007, at her home in Jackson. She was 48.

Mrs. Coffey was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness. She was employed at AmSouth Bank of Jackson.

She was preceded in death by her father, George Johnson; a brother, Bobby Hedrick; and a sister, Lela Johnson.

She is survived by her husband, Carter Coffey III of Jackson; one son, Daryl Coffey of Jackson; two daughters, Laurie Hampton and Raven Coffey, both of Jackson; her mother, Ethel L. Jackson of Hermanville; five brothers, Willie Johnson, Floyd Johnson and Sammie E. Johnson, all of Hermanville, Larry Johnson of Vicksburg and George Johnson Jr. of Detroit; six sisters, Corine Jack and Betty Barnes, both of Hermanville, Lurlean Rockingham of Port Gibson, Lillie Cicero of Detroit, Louise Reed of Miami and Annie Lemon of Kenner, La.; and aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 4 p.m. Sunday at Port Gibson High School. Burial will follow at Holly Grove Cemetery in Hermanville.

Visitation will be from 1 until 6 p.m. Saturday at Thompson Funeral Home in Port Gibson and Sunday at the high school from 3 p.m. until the service.

Celestino Mariano Martinez

PATTISON — Celestino Mariano Martinez died Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007, at Claiborne County Hospital. He was 16.

Celestino is survived by his mother, Tylena Wooten of Pattison; his father, Jose A. Martinez of Chicago; his maternal grandmother, Lillian Jones of Chicago; his paternal grandparents, Alejos and Senaida Martinez of Chicago; four brothers, Anthony Martinez of Chicago and Donovan McGee, John McGee III and Anthony McGee, all of Pattison; one sister, Felicia Martinez of Chicago; and aunts, uncles, other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Port Gibson High School gymnasium with the Rev. Freddie Harris officiating.

Visitation will be from 1 until 6 tonight at Thompson Funeral Home and Saturday at the school from noon until the service.

Robert E. Price Jr.

Robert E. “Rusty” Price Jr. died Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007, at River Region Medical Center. He was 88.

Mr. Price retired from the IC Railroad after 45 years of service. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army during World War II, having served in the European Theatre operations in Belgium and Germany between 1942 and 1945. For his actions, he was awarded the E&O Medal and the Bronze Star.

Mr. Price was past all-state commander of the VFW Post 2572, past commander of American Legion Post 3, past commander of the DAV, past commander of MOC Pup Tent 8 and past state commander of MOC.

Mr. Price was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy A. Price; a brother, John S. Price Sr.; and his parents.

He is survived by two daughters, Bernice M. Kelly of Vicksburg and Marion P. Albert of Houston, Texas; son-in-law, Walter Ray Kelly of Vicksburg; grandchildren, Michael Ray Kelly, Judith M. Ashley, Robert A. Dedmon, Donald R. Kelly and Derrick L. Dedmon; and seven great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Frank J. Fisher Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. Saturday until the hour of service.

Pallbearers will be John S. Price Jr., grandsons, great-grandsons and nephews.

Honorary pallbearers will be Louis Nichols, Billy Kearns, William Bonner and Everett Ezell.

Frank J. Fisher Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Myrtis Reed

PORT GIBSON — Myrtis Reed died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007, at River Region Medical Center. She was 90.

Mrs. Reed was a member of Christian Chapel Church in Port Gibson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Belt and Viola Perkins Liggans; her husband, Alvin Reed; and eight brothers and sisters.

She is survived by two sons, Richard Washington of Charlotte, N.C., and James Otis Washington of Hollywood, Calif.; and friends and other relatives, including Fred Liggans Jr. of Gary, Ind.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Christian Chapel Church with the Rev. Arthur Willis officiating. Burial will follow at McCaa Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1 until 6 tonight at Thompson Funeral Home in Port Gibson and Saturday at the church from noon until the service.

Lynn Pennebaker Birdsong Strate

MISSOULA, Mont. — Lynn Pennebaker Birdsong Strate, formerly of Vicksburg, died Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007, at her home in Missoula, Mont. She was 66.

Garden City Funeral Home in Missoula has charge of arrangements.

Willie Clarence Thomas Sr.

Services for Willie Clarence Thomas Sr. will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Visitation is from 6 until 7 tonight at the funeral home.

Mr. Thomas died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007, at River Region Medical Center. He was 81.

Mr. Thomas retired from Waterways Experiment Station after 45 years of service. He served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army during World War II, Vietnam and Korean Conflict. He was a member of Worldwide Church of God.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Deloris West Thomas; a son, Joe Thomas; his parents, Isiah Thomas Sr. and Maggie Louise Holmes Thomas; three brothers, Leo Thomas, Isiah Thomas Jr. and Oscar Thomas; and three sisters, Mildred Willis, Celestine Thomas and Classie Thomas.

He is survived by seven sons, Freddrick Thomas and Willie C. Thomas Jr., both of Vicksburg, Michael Thomas of Mareno, Calif., Roy Thomas of Merrill, Ind., James Thomas of Phillippines, Daniel Thomas and Ken Thomas, both of Atlanta; three daughters, Bobbie Jean Thomas Jefferson and Patricia Thomas, both of Valejo, Calif., and Demetric T. Hall of Vicksburg; two brothers, Ted Thomas of Arizona and Grant Thomas of Los Angeles; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other relatives, including the West, Franklin, Liggins, Lewis, Walton, Palmer, Polk and Wright families.