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.

Ruby W. Bailess

Ruby W. Bailess died Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at Belmont Gardens. She was 99.

Mrs. Bailess was born in Winnsboro, La., and had lived in Vicksburg since 1936. Mrs. Bailess was the daughter of the late Charles Monroe Wiltshire and Pearl Bell Mathes Wiltshire. She was a member of Hawkins United Methodist Church and the Crusaders Sunday School Class.

She is survived by a daughter, Carolyn Bailess Ivey of Brandon; a son, Oren D. Bailess Sr. of Vicksburg; seven grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, R.O. Bailess Jr.; a grandson, Oren D. Bailess Jr.; four sisters and three brothers.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Riles Funeral Home with the Rev. Chris Young, pastor of Hawkins United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. Thursday until the hour of the service.

Pallbearers will be grandsons and grandsons-in-law.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Crusaders Sunday School Class of Hawkins United Methodist Church.

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

Louis G. Baker

DUNLAP Ill. — Louis G. Baker died Sunday, March 16, 2008, in Peoria, Ill. He was 54.

Mr. Baker was born in Tallula, Miss. He attended Mississippi Valley State and was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was a former employee of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Vicksburg. He was employed as a machinist at Capterpillar Inc. in Dunlap.

Survivors include his two daughters, Keisha Baker and Tarnisha Baker, both of Vicksburg; one brother, Ricky Baker of Cathedral City, Calif.; two sisters, Ernestine Johnson of Vicksburg and Emma Hines of Vicksburg; and numerous relatives and friends.

Services were Saturday, March 22, 2008, in Peoria, Ill. Burial was Monday, March 24, 2008, in Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield, Ill. T.W. Parks Colonial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

Albert Delmas Cronia III

GAINSVILLE Ga. — The Lord chose to call Albert Delmas Cronia III to heaven on a beautiful Easter morning exactly at 11 a.m. when the church bells were ringing. What a fitting ending to a long and fruitful life! He left behind a large, loving family and many cherished and faithful friends.

Born in Vicksburg to Albert Delmas Cronia Jr. and Helen Inez Wilson, Mr. Cronia attended the public schools and Carr Central High School before moving to Gainesville, Ga,, in 1948. He graduated from Gainesville High School in 1949 and later attended the Off-Campus Center of UGA for two years. As a GHS Red Elephant, he played varsity football and basketball. In 1950, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, attaining the rank of sergeant. Upon completing his tour of duty, Mr. Cronia worked for Southern Railroad as a lineman, then joined the Brunner Company in Gainesville as office sales manager. In 1959, he joined the J.D. Jewel Company where he held positions as divisional, regional, and military sales manager in the frozen food service division. He remained in the food service industry for the rest of his professional life, serving as regional sales manager for Treasure Isle Inc.,Tampa, Fla.; Zartic Inc., Cedartown, Ga.; Cutler Egg Products, Abbeville, Ala.; Protein Foods Inc., and Prime Pak, Gainesville, Ga.

Married for 59 years to Meta Runnels and the father of five, “Big Al” Cronia was active in youth programs, coaching in the Youth Football League and serving as a Cub Scout Pack Leader. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and the Elks Club, as well as several professional food industry organizations. He enjoyed water sports and was an avid golfer. Fishing and golfing with his grandchildren were special delights. Albert Cronia was a fine and honorable man who was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.

Preceded in death by his son, Albert Delmas “Chip” Cronia IV, Mr. Cronia leaves as survivors: his wife, Margaret “Meta” Runnels Cronia; his children, Forrest “Foots” Cronia and wife, Lynn, of Florence, SC; Margaret “Missy” Theobald of Vicksburg; Dorothy Clair Cronia of Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada and John Montgomery Cronia of Gainesville; his grandchildren: Monica, Candice and Forrest Cronia of Florence, S.C., Margaret “Maisie” Ingram of Vicksburg, Casey Doss and Jamara Cronia of Hornby Island, Jennifer Cronia Clark and husband Brandon of Gainesville; John and William Cronia of Gainesville and Murray and Albert Delmas “Chipper” Cronia V; three great-grandchildren; his brother and wife George S. and Lerlyne Cronia of Vicksburg; his brother-in-law and niece, Laurence Holloway and Abigail Hellens of England; nieces and nephews: Kathy Conway, Cindy Fitzgerald, George and Jim Cronia all of Vicksburg.

Services will be today at Mason & Ward Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Paul Evans officiated. Burial will be in Natchez at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Tommy Aaron Scholarship Fund, c/o the North Georgia Community Foundation, 615-F Oak Street, Gainesville, GA 30501.

Online condolences may be sent to masonandwardfuneralhomeandcremation.com

Annie Earline Simpson

Annie Earline Simpson died Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at Shady Lawn Nursing Home. She was 80.

Mrs. Simpson was born in Oktibbeha County and was the daughter of the late William Clyde Whitaker and Susie Myrtle Thaxton Whitaker. She had lived in Vicksburg since 1958 and received her licensed practical nursing degree from Kuhn Memorial Hospital. She had nursed in most of the area hospitals and convalescent homes over 34 years. Mrs. Simpson was a member of Warrenton Independent Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, L.J. Simpson; two daughters, Willie Alberta Simpson and Susie Elizabeth Sharp; a son, Jackie Simpson; two brothers, Horace Whitaker and Otis Whitaker; one sister, Mary Ola Hoop.

She is survived by a daughter, Mary Lillian Friley of Vicksburg; a son, Randy Sharp of Vicksburg; three granddaughters, Mary Elizabeth Simpson of Starkville and Wendy Lynn Staggs and Amber Nicole Sharp, both of Vicksburg; three grandsons, Dale Ray Friley of Korea, Raymond Friley Jr. of Jackson and Billy “B.J.” of Vicksburg; six great-grandchildren; and a brother, Elvin Whitaker of Greenwood.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Warrenton Independent Baptist Church with the Rev. Marvin E. Curtis Jr., pastor of Warrenton Independent Baptist Church, and the Rev. Geg Clemts, pastor of Southside Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be at Green Acres Cemetery under the direction of Riles Funeral Home. Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Riles Funeral Home and at Warrenton Independent Baptist Church from 9:30 a.m. Friday until the hour of the service. Memorials may be made to Warrenton Independent Baptist Missions, 829 Belva Drive, Vicksburg, MS, 39180.

Pallbearers will be the men of Warrenton Independent Baptist Church.