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.

Hamilton Ben Brown Jr.

On Feb. 20, 2008, Hamilton Ben Brown Jr. was called to rest at his home. He was 74 years old.

A native of Warren County, Mr. Brown was a graduate of Bowman High School Class of 1954 and graduated from Mississippi Valley College in 1960. Mr. Brown served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict for two years.

A former member of the Masonic Lodge and Mississippi Valley State Alumni Association, he retired as a social studies teacher with the Vicksburg Warren School District and as a salesperson from J.C. Penney Co. of Vicksburg.

Mr. Brown faithfully served as superintendent of Pleasant Green Sunday School for over 30 years until his health would not allow him to fulfill his duties. As a member of Pleasant Green Baptist Church, he also served on the trustee board as chairman.

Hamilton was preceded in death by his parents, Hamilton Ben Brown Sr. and Janie Brown; and his brother, Samuel Brown.

Awaiting the day to join him to praise the Lord forever, but missing him fondly in the meantime are his wife, Mrs. Gwendolyn Lee Brown of Vicksburg; one son, Hamilton (Carol) Brown of Westchester, Ohio; three daughters, Valtressia Brown Austin of Flowood, Tracie L. Brown of Daphne, Ala., and Yolanda T. Brown of Brandon; five grandchildren, Verlondrea R. Austin, Hamilton D. Baker, Pierce Hamilton, Parker Wesley and Preston Edgar Brown; three sisters, Athenia (Robert) Jefferson of Vicksburg, Laura (Sylvester) Vickers of Jackson and Barbara (Roger) Neither of Burke, Va.; a mother-in-law, Mrs. Clarissa B. Lee of Tuskegee, Ala.; one brother-in-law, Sydney Lee of Atlanta; two sisters-in-law, Katherine (Herbert) Williams of Tuskegee and Bessie Madison of Knoxville, Tenn.; one uncle, Albert (Clara) Squire Sr. of Vicksburg; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends, including Eugene Madison, Willie Belle Lee, and the Squire, Gibbs, Parsons, Franklin, McGowan and Spillers families.

Mr. Brown will lie in repose at Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home, 2102 Clay St., Vicksburg, on Friday, Feb. 29, 2008, from 3 until 8 p.m. A memorial hour in which family and friends can express their sentiments will be conducted by Chaplain Earnest Hall at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, March 1, 2008, the body will lie in repose from 9 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral hour, when the Pastor Herman Sylvester will conduct services at the Pleasant Green M.B. Church, 817 Bowman St., Vicksburg. Interment will take place at the Cedar Hill Cemetery following the funeral services.

In lieu of flowers, donations are to be made in memory of Brother Hamilton Ben Brown Jr. to the Pleasant Green M.B. Church Sunday School.

Gary M. Green

Gary M. “Mat” Green died Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008, at his home. He was 39.

A lifelong resident of Vicksburg, Mr. Green was a diesel mechanic and a member of Calvary Baptist Church. He was a hunter and mud racer.

He is survived by his parents, Benita Dillard of Atlanta and Gary Green of West Monroe, La.; a daughter, Cortney Ann Green of Vicksburg; two sons, Gary Michael Green and Clay Morgan Green, both of Vicksburg; three sisters, Rachel Green Reagan of Jackson, Renee Green Dunn of West Monroe and Rhonda Green Ross of Vicksburg; and a grandson.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Fisher Funeral Home with the Rev. Greg Dunn officiating. Burial will follow at Green Acres Memorial Park. Visitation will be at the funeral home Friday from 11 a.m. until the service.

Pallbearers will be Howard Lewis Jr., Tony Baker, John Sanderson, Jay Johnson, John Alexander, Michael Noble, Chris Emfinger and Butch Phillips.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jamie Ogle, Greg Massey and Chris Williams.

Paulette Delise Willis Hart

SMYRNA, Ga. — Paulette Delise Willis Hart died Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, at University of Arkansas Medical Center in Little Rock. She was 45.

Formerly of Rolling Fork, Mrs. Hart was a resident of Smyrna, Ga. She was a software engineer.

She is survived by her husband, Claye Hart of Smyrna; one son, Devin Michael Hart of Smyrna; one daughter, Kendall Nichole Hart of Smyrna; three brothers, Andrew Willis of Smyrna, David Willis of Laurel and Robert Willis of Anaheim, Calif.; and eight sisters, Thelma Willis, Christine Jones and Maretta Bell, all of Pontiac, Mich., Geraldine Smith and Ruby Willis, both of Rolling Fork, Betty Smith of Anguilla, Diana Robbins of Vicksburg and Evelyn Watson of Houston, Texas.

Services will be at noon Saturday at Shiloh M.B. Church in Rolling Fork with Pastor Elijah Eason officiating. Burial will follow at Green Chapel Cemetery under the direction of Walker Funeral Home of Rolling Fork.

Jeff Ernest Jones

Services for Jeff Ernest “Billy” Jones will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 until 6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Mr. Jones died Friday, Feb. 15, 2008, at Provena United Samaritans Medical Center in Danville, Ill. He was 74.

Mr. Jones retired as a machinist from Beard Manufacturing Co. in 1995. He was of the Baptist faith.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Bertha Prentiss Walker; his father, Robert “Bob” Jones; and a sister, Vivian Jones Prentiss.

Survivors include three sons, Jeff E. Jones Jr. of Dallas, Jeff E. Washington of Danville and Willie Jones of Cheyenne, Wyo.; one daughter, Ora Washington of Danville; and other relatives and friends, including Betty Matthews of Vicksburg and Virginia Cole of Country Club Hills, Ill.

Alonzo McFarland Sr.

EDWARDS — Services for Alonzo “Mac” McFarland Sr. will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Sand Hill M.B. Church in Edwards. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Visitation will be from noon until 7 p.m. Friday at Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home.

Mr. McFarland died Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, at Central Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. He was 73.

Mr. McFarland was born in Hinds County to the late Columbus and Ethel McFarland. He attended Hinds County Schools and was a former member of St. Paul M.B. Church. He was a retired farmer and a member of Sand Hill M.B. Church.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, David McFarland, Columbus McFarland and A.C. McFarland; three grandchildren, Terrance Horton, Ledrik McFarland and Nikita Harris; and one great-grandchildren, Jordan Eugene Wilson.

He is survived by his wife, Lucille “Scal” Horton McFarland; four daughters, Mary Smith of Chicago, Glory Griffin of Vicksburg, and Rosie McFarland and Betty McFarland, both of Edwards; six sons, William Horton and Alonzo McFarland Jr., both of Champaign, Ill., Patrick McFarland of Jackson, and Lee McFarland, Darrell McFarland and Perry McFarland, all of Edwards; nine sisters, Louise Thompson, Mary Johnson and Clementine Smith, all of Edwards, Elizabeth Smith of Boston, Marie Smith of Newark, N.J., and Earnestine McFarland, Alma Jean Smith, Mildred Richardson and Diane McFarland, all of Champaign; five brothers, Eugene McFarland and Leonard McFarland, both of Champaign, Leroy McFarland of Edwards, Carl McFarland of Newark and William McFarland of Georgia; 30 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Grace Huff Means

BRANDON — Grace Huff Means, 91 and a resident of Brandon, went home to the Lord Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008, at Rankin Medical Center.

Visitation will be from 5 until 8 p.m. Friday at Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Brandon and again at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Antioch Baptist Church in Pelahatchie. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the church with burial to follow at Concord Baptist Church Cemetery.

Mrs. Means was a seamstress and a homemaker and a longtime member of Antioch Baptist Church.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Means was preceded in death by her husband, Luther Edward Means; and her daughter, Betty Means Dyess.

Survivors include four sons, Rufus Means (Linda) of Brandon, Sam Means (Betty) and Jackie Means (Beverly), both of Pelahatchie, and Johnny Means (Suzanne) of Vicksburg; 13 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be the grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of the Ladies I Sunday School class.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Brandon Court Nursing Home, Dr. Michael Albert, and the nurses at Rankin Medical Center for their care and compassion.

Memorials may be made to the Antioch Baptist Church, 2350 Highway 43 South, Brandon, MS 39042.

James F. Reeves

GAUTIER — Mr. James F. “Peewee” Reeves of Gautier went to be with his Heavenly Father on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, while enjoying the beauty of the Caribbean Sea in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Mr. Reeves was born to Agnes and Harvey Reeves on Aug. 24, 1927.

Mr. Reeves was a well-known contractor and developer for over 48 years. He served for many years on the Board of Directors of Trustmark Bank. He was a member of the State Board of Contractors.

As an avid sports fisherman, Mr. Reeves fished the Gulf of Mexico for billfish over 40 years. His boats, Mary Joyce and Big Blue, were always participating in the Gulf fishing tournaments from Port Eads, La., to Destin, Fla., and the Bahamas in search of the “The Grander.” He was one of the first supporters of the Tag Tournament out of Port Eads. He was a supporter of the New Orleans Big Game Fishing Club and Mississippi Gulf Coast Big Game Fishing Club for many years. His pride and joy was his all-girl fishing team, and he loved nothing more than to toast “One more time!” with those he loved.

Mr. Reeves touched the lives of all he came in contact with in both the fishing and business worlds. He will be sadly missed.

As well as fishing, Mr. Reeves enjoyed hunting. He was a founding member of the Arcadia Hunt Club. Arcadia includes Cottonwood Bar — the widest area of the Mississippi River — which also shows his love of the water as well as hunting.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, James F. Reeves Jr.; his first wife, Mary Joyce Reeves; and his granddaughter, Rix Elizabeth Holifield.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Jeannie Reeves of Gautier; daughter, Karen Harrison and spouse Bobby Harrison of Whitesboro, Texas; and son, Graham Reeves and spouse Rhonda Reeves of Ellisville. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Ricky Holifield, James F. Reeves III, Vanessa Bourne, Rachael Reeves, Alex Reeves, Katherine Chesser and Kaitlin Chesser. He is also survived by four great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 5 until 8 p.m., with an 8 p.m. memorial service on Friday, Feb. 29, 2008, at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Homes.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Habitat for Humanity, 1400 Leggett Drive-Vanhook Hall, Biloxi, MS, 39530; 228-314-0011.

View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com.

Ruby Lee McAllister Smith

Services for Ruby Lee McAllister Smith will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Vicksburg City Auditorium with the Rev. Henry Mayfield Sr. officiating. Burial will follow at East Mount Olive Baptist Church Cemetery in Red Lick under the direction of Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from noon until 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with family hour from 6 until 7 and Saturday at the auditorium from 10 a.m. until the service.

Mrs. Smith died Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008, at her daughter’s home in Vicksburg. She was 97. She was born in Rodney and moved to Vicksburg in 1948. She retired as a cook from Kings School cafeteria and was a member of Mount Zion No. 4 Baptist Church. She was a former member of St. Mark Burial Society and the Willing Workers Club.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Emmanuel and Irene Turner McAllister; her husband, George E. Smith Sr.; two sons, George Smith Jr. and Roosevelt Smith; one granddaughter, Shirley Ann Larry; one great-grandson, Adrian Bright; and 11 siblings.

Survivors include eight daughters, Dorothy S. Mayfield, Katie S. Larry, Irene S. Mayfield, Doris S. Odom, Pearl S. Thomas, Deloris S. Prentiss, Shirley J. Smith and Gladys M. Smith, all of Vicksburg; one son, Willie H. Smith Sr. of Vicksburg; two sisters, Inez M. Reddick and Pearl M. Watson, both of Boston; 53 grandchildren; 90 great-grandchildren; 28 great-great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends, including Betty Smith, Ernestine Smith, Marie Smith, Sidney R. Thomas Sr., Johnny Henderson Jr. and James Harrington.