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.

Mary Elizabeth Lagrone

Mary Elizabeth Lagrone died Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008, at her home in Vicksburg. She was 91.

She was the daughter of C.K. Stafford and Maude Ethel Stevenson Stafford.

Born in Vicksburg, she was a lifelong resident of Vicksburg. She was active in the Mercy Hospital Auxiliary for many years, was a member of the Senior Center Bridge Club and attended Hawkins United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Garvis Lagrone Sr.; and one son, Garvis Lagrone Jr.

She is survived by one daughter, Ethel Lagrone Pickens and husband, Jim, of Vicksburg; four grandchildren, Buzz Pickens of Nashville, Tenn., Debbie Pickens Pantenburg and husband, Leon, of Bend, Ore., Patti Pickens Peets of Clinton and Stacy Lagrone Truesdell and husband, Butch, of Vicksburg; seven great-grandchildren, John Stafford Pickens, Daniel Lee Pantenburg, Ashley Marie Peets, James Patrick Pantenburg, Mary Elizabeth Pantenburg, McLaurin Lane Truesdell and Stafford Lagrone Truesdell; and daughter-in-law, Martha Lagrone Loyacono.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Riles Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Chris Young, pastor of Hawkins United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery under the direction of Riles Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. Saturday until the hour of the service.

Pallbearers will be Buzz Pickens, John Pickens, Leon Pantenburg, Dan Pantenburg, Jimmy Pantenburg, Butch Truesdell, Bill Loyacono and John Norman Bobb.

Honorary pallbearers will be Delois Brown, Carolyn Butler, Carolyn Blackledge, Ruth Green, Dot Griffin, Peggy Griffin, Daisy Martin and Virginia Wilson.

Memorials may be made to Hawkins United Methodist Church Building Fund, 3736 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180.

Ray Sasser

Ray Sasser died Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008, at his home in Vicksburg. He was 77.

Mr. Sasser was born in Winnsboro, La. He was retired from the U.S. Air Force, serving from 1948 until 1968, and from the U.S. Postal Service. He was a member of the VFW.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and one sister.

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Susan M. Sasser of Vicksburg; one son, Jack Tucker of Hewitt, Texas; one daughter, Martha Tucker Hollowell of Vicksburg; three sisters, Jerry Conrad and Martha Brown, both of Vicksburg, and Jean Young of West Monroe, La.; eight grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Glenwood Funeral Home with the Rev. Geoffrey Joyner officiating. Burial will follow at Green Acres Memorial Park.

Visitation will be from 5 until 7 tonight at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be grandsons and great-grandsons.

Ruby Hope Wilbanks

HURST, Texas — Ruby Hope Wilbanks died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008, in Texas. She was 81.

Mrs. Wilbanks was born in Electric Mills, Miss., to Dike and Daisy Ryan. She had lived in Texas since 1971.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Lewis Ryan; and a sister, Pansy Miller.

Survivors include her husband of 52 years, Hubert H. Wilbanks; a sister, Jean Beauman of Vicksburg; two daughters, Amy Bradford and Pamela Grover, both of Fort Worth, Texas; one son, Darrel Wilbanks of Hewitt, Texas; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Services were at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Chapel in Colleyville, Texas. Burial followed at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park.