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 L. Carter

Mary L. “May-Lou” Carter died Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008, at River Region Medical Center. She was 69.

Born in Warren County, Mrs. Carter was a homemaker and a member of Locust Grove M.B. Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Vance Carter; her parents, Tyree Sr. and Mary Brown Banks; four brothers, Tyree Banks Jr., Oscar William Banks, Joseph Allen Banks and John S. Banks; and a sister, Rosetta Demby.

Survivors include two sons, Adam D. Carter of Monroe and David G. Carter of Vicksburg; four daughters, Shirley Banks Allen and Pamela Banks Jackson, both of Vicksburg, and Mary Banks Satterfield and Angela Banks McWilliams, both of Las Vegas; one brother, Paul Banks Sr. of Vicksburg; five sisters, Maggie Banks Thomas and Kathleen Dimbly, both of Vicksburg, Katherine Cummings and Gladys Banks Hurens, both of Jackson, and Frances Banks Norwood of Terry; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

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

Martha B. Neal

Martha B. Neal died Friday, Feb. 8, 2008, at River Region Medical Center. She was 98.

Born in Colfax, Ohio, Mrs. Neal was a former resident of Orlando, Fla., and had lived in Vicksburg since 1984. She was a homemaker and a member of Reeves Methodist Church in Orlando.

She is survived by a daughter, Sandra Fortenberry of Vicksburg; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and four nephews.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Glenwood Funeral Home. Burial will be at Woodlawn Memorial Park of Orlando.

Visitation will be at the funeral home Tuesday from 9 a.m. until the service.

Luther Alford Newton

Luther Alford Newton died Friday, Feb. 8, 2008, at River Region Medical Center. He was 38.

Born in Alexandria, La., Mr. Newton had been a Vicksburg resident since 1972. He was a member of the Sons of the Confederacy and the Fisher Ferry Volunteer Fire Department. He served as a volunteer computer instructor for the Senior Citizens Center of Vicksburg.

He was a member of the Highland Jarmon and W.G. Paxton Masonic Lodges, the Acacia Chapter of the Eastern Star, the Wahabi Temple and First Methodist Protestant Church.

He is survived by his wife, Laura G. Newton of Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; two daughters, Stormy G. Newton and Laureanda Ray, both of Pigeon Forge; one son, Vincent B. “Alex” Newton of Pigeon Forge; his parents, Luther B. and Katherine C. Newton of Vicksburg; one sister, Dr. Jennifer N. Boles of Rayville; two nieces, Kaitlyn and Raylee Boles of Rayville; and a special friend, Jennifer Kinnison of Riverton, La.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Methodist Protestant Church with the Revs. LaDon Dawson, Charlie Joe Green, Bobby Polk and Robert Andrews officiating. Burial will follow at Green Acres Memorial Park under the direction of Glenwood Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 until 8 tonight at the church.

Pallbearers will be Lester Cruse, Kevin Roberts, Todd Dixon, Dwain Carpenter, Jimmy Fairchilds and Trey Fairchilds.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Highland Jarmon and W.G. Paxton Lodges.

Memorials may be made in memory of Luther A. Newton to Shriners Hospital for Children, 3100 Samford Ave., Shreveport, LA 71103.

Dr. John Charles Noble

PORT GIBSON — Dr. John Charles Noble died Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008, at his home in Blackshear, Fla. He was 66.

Dr. Noble was a native of Port Gibson. He received a bachelor of science degree from Alcorn State University, a master of science degree from Tennessee State University in Nashville and his educational specialist degree from the George Peabody School at Vanderbilt University.

A lifelong educator, he was the first black elected superintendent of education in Port Gibson, serving eight years. He also served as principal at schools in McComb and Jacksonville, Fla. He was a teacher for the Department of Corrections at the Regional Youth Detention Center in Americus, Ga., and was librarian for Wayne State Prison in Georgia.

Dr. Noble as a member of Fourth Mount Olive Baptist Church, where he was a member of the Praise Worship Group. He was a member of Who’s Who in Education and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., and was a life member of the NAACP.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Viola Noble Jenkins.

He is survived by his wife, Colleen Noble of Blackshear; and children, grandchildren, siblings and cousins.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Rising Sun M.B. Church in Port Gibson with the Rev. Ray Earl Coleman officiating.

Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at Rollins Funeral Home, 208 Walnut St., in Port Gibson.

Bettie Jean Bishop Thomas

Bettie Jean Bishop Thomas died today, Feb. 11, 2008, at her home. She was 76.

A homemaker, Mrs. Thomas was a native of Warren County. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the Perpetual Help Sodality.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo Thomas; and her parents, Samuel and Helen Bishop.

She is survived by one son, Cornell Thomas of Washington, D.C.; one daughter, Leonette Thomas of Vicksburg; and three grandchildren.

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

Jeff Thomas Jr.

TALLULAH — Jeff Thomas Jr. died Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008, at Olive Branch Senior Care Center in Tallulah. He was 83.

Mr. Thomas was born in Oakdale, La., and had lived in Tallulah for a number of years. He retired after 46 years as service manager for Osborne Ford Dealership. He was a U.S. Army paratrooper, serving in World War II and earning a Purple Heart.

He was a member of First Baptist Church in Tallulah.

He is survived by two daughters, Mischlene Godfrey of Aiken, S.C., and Renee Mills of Broken Arrow, Okla.; two sons, Richard Ervin Thomas and Vernon Lang Thomas, both of Tallulah; one brother, Charles Ray Thomas of Lewisville, Texas; two sisters, Geneva Isles of Port Arthur, Texas, and Normana Lee Martin of Hemphill, Texas; and six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 1 p.m. today at Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home in Tallulah with the Rev. John W. Rushing officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Kyle Godfrey, Brian Godfrey, Landon Mills, Tommy Mills, Ronnie Godfrey and Charles Craig Gilbert.

Donald Wayne Vinson

Donald Wayne Vinson died Friday, Feb. 8, 2008, as the result of a gunshot wound. He was 39.

A lifelong resident of Vicksburg, Mr. Vinson was a welder and pipe-fitter and member of the Local 619 Carpenters. He was a hunter and fisherman and member of Northside Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Cynthia Vinson of Vicksburg; one daughter, Amber Vinson of Vicksburg; his parents, James F. and Betty Jo Vinson of Vicksburg; three brothers, James F. Vinson Jr. of Memphis and Larry C. Vinson and Barry D. Vinson, both of Vicksburg; two sisters, Rita Jo Vinson of Vicksburg and Rita Blankenship of Memphis; and one grandchild.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Glenwood Funeral Home with the Revs. Dean Cook and Charles Houston officiating. Burial will follow at Green Acres Memorial Park.

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

Pallbearers will be Ben Luckett, Ricky Pennington, John Johnston, Shane Rowland, Gene Jacks and Greg Mitchell. Honorary pallbearers will be Ricky Jones and Charles Houston.