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.

James Benjamin Boyd

UTICA — James Benjamin “Ben” Boyd, 88, went to be with the Lord on April 9, 2008, while resting peacefully at home. Visitation is 5-8 p.m. Friday at Glenwood Funeral Home in Utica. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at Utica Baptist Church with burial at the Utica Cemetery.

Mr. Boyd was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in World War II and Korea. He retired from Chevron Oil Company in 1977 and enjoyed 31 years of retirement with his wife and family. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and loved his Lord and his family. He was a member of Utica Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mildred Beatrice Curtis Boyd of Utica; one daughter, Jeanette Adair of Utica; two grandchildren, Angela Burrell of Brandon and James Adair, a missionary in Zambia; one great-grandchild, Hutchinson James “Hutch” Adair; his sister, Mildred Ferguson of Michigan; and his stepsister, Faye Hart and stepbrother, Percy Boyd, both of Brookhaven.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Homer “Cliff” Boyd of Raymond.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Utica Baptist Church, P.O. Box 205, Utica, MS 39175.

Jesse Brown

OCOEE, Fla. — Services for Jesse Brown, formerly of Vicksburg, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 1 until 6 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. Saturday until the service.

Mr. Brown died Sunday, April 6, 2008, at Health Central Medical Center in Ocoee, Fla. He was 84.

Mr. Brown was an Army veteran, serving in World War II.

He was preceded in death by five sisters, Beulah Brown Watson, Virginia Brown Warfield, Charity Brown Williams, Carrie Brown and Estella Brown Ford; and three brothers, Ben Brown, Joe Brown and Fred Brown III.

He is survived by nieces and nephews, including John Mitchell Brown of Upper Marlboro, Md., Ernestine Ford and Vivian Ford, both of Bolton, Catherine Brown and Jessie Warfield, both of Vicksburg, Annie Brown and Louise Brown, both of Waterproof, La., Willie Earl Warfield of Leland; and other relatives, including members of the Brown, Watson, Allen, Ford, Warfield and Coleman families.

Hubert Butler Sr.

Services for Hubert “Dutt” Butler Sr. will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mark M.B. Church, 3395 N. Washington St., with Bishop Joseph Willis officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 until 7 p.m. Friday at W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home and Saturday at the church from 10 a.m. until the service.

Mr. Butler died Saturday, April 5, 2008, at Shady Lawn Nursing Home. He was 83.

Mr. Butler was a native of Vicksburg and had retired from Houston Brothers Lumber Mill. He was a member of St. Mark M.B. Church and was a World War II veteran of the Army.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Tom Butler and Sue Collins; a daughter, Gleneva Butler; a brother, Tide Butler; a sister, Lubertha Carter; and a grandson, Brandon McCoy.

Survivors include his wife, Alberta S. Butler of Vicksburg; three sons, Hubert Butler Jr., Charles Butler and James Henry Butler, all of Vicksburg; five daughters, Louise Lawrence of New York, Irene McCoy of Kansas City, Mo., and Ardenia Butler, Darlene Carter and Christine Butler, all of Vicksburg; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews and other relatives, including Ida Mae Moffett of Vicksburg.

Charlie Flaggs

CHICAGO — Services for Charlie Flaggs will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home with the Rev. Casey Fisher officiating. Burial will follow at Henry’s Cemetery in Utica. Visitation will be from 1 until 6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Mr. Flaggs died Sunday, April 6, 2008, at his home in Chicago. He was 71.

Mr. Flaggs was preceded in death by his father, Horace Flagg; his mother, Lela Bell Funches; three brothers, Rosco Funches, Eddie Richards and George Flaggs Sr.; and two sisters, Christina Milling and Burdette Flagg.

Survivors include one sister, Lois Flagg of Edwards; his caretaker, Ada Louise Bright of Chicago; and nieces, nephews, friends and other relatives, including Mozella Flagg and Victoria Taylor, both of Vicksburg, and Josie Richardson of Utica.

Oliver Maxey

ROLLING FORK — Oliver Maxey died Wednesday, April 2, 2008, at his home in Rolling Fork. He was 94.

Mr. Maxey is survived by three sons, Tony Maxey of Anguilla, Jimmy Maxey of Mayersville and Robert Maxey of Grace; six daughters, Callie Mayes and Gloria Maxey, both of Saginaw, Mich., Hattie Mae Maxey of Detroit, Rosie Maxey of Anguilla, Eula Johnson of Rolling Fork and Ella Maxey of Rockford, Ill.; and 63 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren and 25 great-great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Woodland M.B. Church in Fitler with Pastor Willie Joiner officiating. Burial will follow at St. James Cemetery in Fitler under the direction of Walker Funeral Home of Rolling Fork.

Jessie Bell Nichols

EDWARDS — Services for Jessie Bell Nichols will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Rose Hill M.B. Church in Bolton. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Visitation will be from noon until 6 p.m. Friday at Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home.

Mrs. Nichols died Friday, April 4, 2008, at her home in Edwards. She was 95.

She was a homemaker and the oldest member at Rose Hill M.B. Church, where she was on the mother board.

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

Survivors include one son, John Henry Nichols of Edwards; three grandchildren; and nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Ira Harris Parker Jr.

HOUSTON, Texas — Services for Ira Harris “Duke” Parker Jr., formerly of Vicksburg, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Kings Community Center with Willie P. Taylor officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 until 6 p.m. Friday at Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home and Saturday at the center from 10 a.m. until the service.

Ira died Friday, April 4, 2008, in Houston, Texas. He was 15.

He was a student at Hoffman Academy in Houston.

He was preceded in death by his father, Ira Parker Sr.; his maternal grandfather, Rex Miller; and his paternal grandfather, Square Harris Sr.

He is survived by his mother, Shelia Butler of Houston; one brother, Vidale Parker of Houston; two sisters, Eyanna Butler and Iris Monique Curry of Vicksburg; his maternal grandmother, Deborah Butler of Wilmington, Del.; paternal grandmother, Flora Parker of Vicksburg; his maternal great-grandmother, Elizabeth “Sue” Butler of Vicksburg; his paternal great-grandmother, Stella Mae Brown of Vicksburg; and aunts, uncles and other relatives.