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 Jennings Canizaro

STARKVILLE — Mary Elizabeth Jennings Canizaro died Saturday, March 22, 2008, at Oktibbeha County Hospital in Starkville. She was 87.

Mrs. Canizaro was the retired owner of Up-To-Date Shoe Shop in Vicksburg. She was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church in Vicksburg.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Vincent Jack Canizaro; a daughter, Mary Joy McCarthy; a son, Vincent Jack Canizaro Jr.; and a grandson, Michael Vincent McCarthy.

She is survived by four grandchildren, Diana Heineck of Starkville, Jill Greer of Memphis and Angela Canizaro and Kimberly Kimmons, both of Kansas City, Mo.

A memorial service is scheduled for Monday at Welch Funeral Home Chapel at 5:30 p.m. Visitation will be from 4 until 5:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Another memorial service will be Wednesday at Riles Funeral Home in Vicksburg.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Institute for Cancer Research.

Ruth S. Gordon

Ruth S. Gordon died Thursday, March 20, 2008, at River Region Medical Center. She was 90.

Mrs. Gordon was a native of Dermont, Ark. She lived in Vicksburg most of her life and operated B & C Grocery at Belmont and Cherry streets for many years. She was an active member of Gibson Memorial United Methodist Church, having worshipped there most of her life.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Gordon Sr.

Survivors include a son, Bob Gordon Jr., and his wife, Sandi, of Vicksburg; a daughter, Linda Anne Carter of Vicksburg; grandchildren Trey Gordon and wife Karen of Vicksburg, Kim Yelverton and husband Tim of Clinton, Todd Gordon and wife Cheryl of Madison, and Scott Gordon and his wife Rhonda of Madison; great-grandchildren Matthew Yelverton of Hattiesburg, Channing Gordon of Madison, Alexandra Gordon of Vicksburg, Amber Gordon of Madison, Connor Yelverton of Clinton, Kayli Claire Gordon of Madison, John Gordon of Vicksburg and Hayes Gordon and Hannah Gordon, both of Madison; nieces and nephews Larry Sheffield and his wife, Jennifer, of New Orleans, Alicia Hayes and husband, Robert, of Brandon, Buddy Eikert of Louisiana and Kenneth Eikert of Georgia; dedicated and compassionate caregivers Donna Edwards and Carolyn Johnson; and her loving family at Heritage House.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Gibson Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Ed Hightower and the Rev. Greg Hazelrigg officiating. Burial will follow at Green Acres Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 11 until the service at the church.

Pallbearers will be Trey Gordon, Todd Gordon, Scott Gordon, Tim Yelverton, Matthew Yelverton, Connor Yelverton, Channing Gordon and Larry Sheffield.

Honorary pallbearers will be Lucius Dabney, Dr. Paul W. Pierce III, Steve Golding, Jim Hobson, Jack Cooper, Fred Peyton, Gary Yelverton, Louis Field, Jim Agent, Dante Bonelli and members of Gibson Memorial United Methodist Church.

Memorials may be made to the Gibson Memorial United Methodist building fund.

Louise Stubbs Murray

Louise Stubbs Murray died Thursday, March 20, 2008, at River Region Medical Center. She was 81.

Born in Bude, Miss., she had been a resident of Vicksburg most of her life. She was the daughter of the late William Tom Puckett and Ruth Hester Puckett. Mrs. Murray retired from Sears as a sales representative in the catalog department. She was an avid flower gardener and was devoted to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mrs. Murray was a member of Bowmar Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Neal R. Stubbs and John Murray; a daughter, Connie Geary; three sisters; and two brothers.

She is survived by a daughter, Pat Guy of Vicksburg; two sons, Randy Lee Stubbs and his wife, Tina, and T.J. Stubbs and his wife, Judy, both of Vicksburg; two sisters, Janice Goza and her husband, Wallace, and Janie Smith and her husband, Steve, both of Vicksburg; two brothers, Chester Puckett and his wife, Jeanette, of Redwood and Johnny Puckett and his wife, Nancy, of Vicksburg; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Riles Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Terry White, pastor of Bowmar Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery under the direction of Riles Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. Monday until the hour of the service.

Pallbearers will be Matt Childress, Justin Caldecott, Todd Cook, Jim Bassett, Kevin Goza and Kenny Goza.

Memorials may be made to Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children, Cystic Fibrosis Research, 2500 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39216.

Naomi Jackson Rhodman

Naomi Jackson Rhodman died Friday, March 21, 2008, in Jackson. She was 75.

Mrs. Rhodman was a retired clerk and typist at Waterways Experiment Station. She was a lifetime member of the Standfield New Life Christian Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George Rhodman; her father, Quitman Starks Sr.; her mother, Martha Jackson; one brother, Quitman Starks Jr.; one sister, Doris Washington; and one daughter, the Rev. Linda Rhodman Straughter.

She is survived by one daughter, the Rev. Lora R. Williams of Edwards; six brothers, Charles Starks, Vernon Washington, Abron Washington, Elton Washington, Fredrick Washington of Fayette and Herbert Washington of Clarksdale; three sisters, Pauline Starks of Fayette, Dorothy Lauderdale of Cleveland, Ohio, and Mattie Mosby of Baton Rouge; and five grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Standfield New Life Christian Church, with the Rev. John H. Williams Sr. officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery with W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home in charge.

Visitation will be at 10 Monday morning at Standfield New Life Christian Church.

Catherine Barbara Pichetto Shingler

Catherine Barbara Pichetto Shingler died Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at River Region Medical Center. She was 85.

Mrs. Shingler was a life long resident of Vicksburg. She was the daughter of the late John Peter and Linnie Leary Pichetto. She was a member of First Baptist Church since 1957 where she was president of the Naomi Sunday school class. Secretary of the Priscilla Sunday school class and facilitator of the mission mosaic.

Mrs. Shingler was a cashier for Habeeb Grocery, Piggly Wiggley Grocery and head cashier for Nelson Thomas Sunflower Grocery and A & P Grocery.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Albert Lee Shingler; brother, John Peter Pichetto Jr. and a granddaughter, Tammy Marie Nixon.

She is survived by a son John Hampton Shingler and wife, Sandra of Germany, daughter Barbara S. Nixon and husband, Tommy of Vicksburg; a sister, Mary P. Terry of Vicksburg; two granddaughters, Shelby Lee Willets, and Lee Catherine Martin; three grandsons, John Hampton Shingler Jr., Lawrence Ray and Tommy Eugene Nixon Jr.; great-grandsons, Brandon Austin Ray and Hunter Ryan Martin; great-granddaughters, Kara Marie Martin, Katie Nicole Martin, Kristen Michelle Martin and, Katie Louise Ray; one niece and four nephews.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday, March 24, 2008 at Frank J. Fisher Funeral Home with Dr. John G. McCall, the Rev. Matt Buckles, Dr. Gordon Sansing and the Rev. James Hess officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be 12 noon Monday until the hour of the service.

Pallbearers will be Lawrence Ray, Tommy Nixon, John Shingler, Ricky Martin, Topher Payne, Tommy Terry, Jimmy Terry, Joe Terry and Mike Terry.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Russell Barnes, Dr. Murray Whitaker, Dr. William Porter and Dr. David Prudhomme.

Memorials may be made to Dr. John G. McCall Scholarship Fund, 1607 Cherry St., Vicksburg, MS 39180 or First Baptist Church Organ Fund, 1607 Cherry St., Vicksburg, MS 39180.

Frank J. Fisher Funeral Home has charge of all arrangements.

Mary Beatrice Smith

Mary Beatrice Smith died Friday, March 21, 2008, at Vicksburg Convalescent Home. She was 85.

Mrs. Smith was a homemaker and a member of Evergreen M.B. Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, I.C. Smith; her parents, Jake Jones Sr. and Beldora Williams Jones; a brother, Cleveland Jones; and two sisters, Margaret Spicer and Georgia Wardley.

She is survived by a brother, Jake Jones Jr. of Albion, Mich.; a sister, Mary Davis of Vicksburg; and nieces, nephews, cousins and others including Glena Davis Lynn of Vicksburg.

W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Bettye Whitney

Bettye Whitney, the founder of The Corners Bed and Breakfast, died Saturday, March 22, 2008, at her home. She was 85.

Bettye was raised in Dallas, Texas. She graduated with a bachelor’s of science degree from the University of Texas at Austin and received her master’s degree in counseling from North Texas State University. Bettye had a successful career as a school guidance counselor and private practice family counselor in Dallas, where she was a member of the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors and listed in the Who’s Who of Family Therapists.

Bettye was an accomplished portrait artist who created pastel portraits on commission. She also was a talented writer and wrote a collection of short stories about her childhood.

Bettye brought her artistic flair to Vicksburg, where she and her late husband, Cliff, bought The Corners on Oak Street in 1985. The Whitneys were on their way from Dallas to Washington, D.C., to see their newborn grandson, Nick Whitney, when they made a wrong turn and ended up in Vicksburg. Bettye and Cliff stayed at Cedar Grove and, when they saw that the home next door was for sale, they bought it on the spot.

The Whitneys built The Corners from a private residence into a 15-room inn over the following 20 years. After her husband’s death in 2005, Bettye sold the business to her daughter and son-in-law, Macy and Joe Trahan. Bettye continued living at The Corners until her death.

Bettye’s lifetime goal was to touch all 50 states. She almost achieved her dream after touring Hawaii this past summer. Unfortunately, North Dakota will miss getting to meet her, although it will have the distinction of being her nemesis.

Bettye is survived by a son, Cliff Whitney of Vicksburg; three daughters, Kerry Paige Whitney of Dallas, Martha Whitney Newman of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., and Macy Whitney of Vicksburg; and six grandchildren, Nick Whitney, Reed Whitney, Cole Whitney, Yale Newman, Bryn Newman and Jade Whitney.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, March 24, 2008, at First Baptist Church, 1607 Cherry St., with visitation to follow at The Corners, 601 Klein St.