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.

Alvin Charles Boyd

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Alvin Charles Boyd died Thursday, April 24, 2008, at Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, S.C. He was 59.

Mr. Boyd was a retired cook. He was of the Baptist faith and had served in Vietnam.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Virgie Mae Marley and Joseph Charles Boyd; and two brothers, Eddie Lee Boyd and Gene Boyd.

Survivors include two daughters, Charlene Boyd of Detroit and Tygretta Boyd of Los Angeles; three sisters, Debora Havard-Waites, Debra Boyd and Shelia Havard Rimsey, all of Vicksburg; one grandchild; and nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.

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

Christine Boykin Cooper

ROLLING FORK – Christine Boykin Cooper died Friday, April 25, 2008, at her residence in Rolling Fork. She was 92.

Mrs. Cooper had made her home in Rolling Fork for the past 48 years. She was formerly employed at the Rolling Fork Flower Shop, retiring after 38 years of service. She was a member of Rolling Fork Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Johnnie Cooper; a son, Herman F. Cooper; and a grandson, Felon Cooper.

Survivors include one son, Treves Cooper of Anguilla; one daughter, Charlotte Cooper Ford of Rolling Fork; a daughter-in-law, Mary Cooper of Greenville; one sister, Inez B. Neely of Hollandale; and 16 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 4 p.m. today at Rolling Fork Methodist Church with the Rev. Beth Miller officiating. Burial will follow at Vicklin Cemetery in Delta City. Visitation will be at the church from 2 p.m. until the service.

Pallbearers will be Bubba Cooper, Michael Anthony, A.J. Lunsford, Bill Boykin, David Arrington, Tom Hollingsworth, Steven Cooper and Hayden Anthony.

Honorary pallbearers will be Helen Mayo, Frank Corban, Katherine Tingle, Wayne Box, Sonny G. Boykin, Breland Yelverton, Melvin Richardson and her great-grandchildren.

Special thanks to Continue Care Home Health and Hospice and also to her dedicated sitters, Claretta and Niki Hite.

Memorials may be made to the Methodist Children’s Home, P.O. Box 2589, Madison, MS 39130-2589.

Robert Earl McCool

Mr. Robert Earl McCool, 78, a retired logger, passed away Thursday morning, April 24, 2008, at home after a short battle with cancer.

Visitation was from 5 until 9 p.m. Friday, April 25, 2008, at Jordan Funeral Home in Kosciusko. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today, April 26, 2008, in the Jordan Funeral Home Chapel with burial at Carson Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery near Ethel. He was surrounded by his loving children, wife and family members. The officiating minister will be the Rev. Danny Stewart.

Mr. McCool was a member of Carson Ridge Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Martha Graham McCool; his parents, George and Ruby Hodge McCool; brothers, Doris, Darl, Charlie and Clifton McCool; and sister, Annie McCool Innabnit.

Mr. McCool is survived by his wife, Earline Kirkland McCool; his three sons, Johnny McCool of Vicksburg and Jimmy and Bobby McCool, both of Ethel; his three daughters, Martha McCool Wallace of Flora, Brenda McCool Townsend of Ethel and Sandra McCool Edwards of Weir; his brother, Keith McCool of Louisville; his sisters, Daisy McCool Algood of Weir, Ruthie McCool Leonard of Charleston, Dorothy McCool Cox of Zama and Nancy McCool Bradford of Louisville; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; stepson, Malcolm Kirkland of Carthage; stepdaughters, Sue Kirkland and Renee Kirkland Scott, both of Carthage; five stepgrandchildren; and four stepgreat-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Chad and Brent Wallace; “Bub,” Jimmy and Robby McCool; and J.C. Purdin.

Honorary pallbearers will be Mike McCool and Nick Graham.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Nancy Annette May Purvis

Mrs. Nancy Annette May Purvis, 48, died Thursday, April 24, 2008 at her home. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, April 28, at Bovina Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 2 until 5 p.m. Sunday at Glenwood Funeral Home. Burial will be at Green Acres Memorial Park.

Mrs. Purvis was born in Royal Oak, Mich., and grew up in Kemper County, Miss. She graduated from West Lauderdale County High School.

She graduated from Mississippi State University and had lived in Vicksburg for the past 24 years. She worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for 24 years as a licensed professional civil engineer with a master’s degree. She received an award for 1989 President of the American Society of Civil Engineers Vicksburg Branch, 1994 Vicksburg District Evaluator of the Year Award and the 2002 Vicksburg District Corps of Engineers Woman of the Year Award. She served as the Vicksburg District Dam Safety Program Manager.

She was a member of Bovina Baptist Church.

Mrs. Purvis was preceded in death by her father, James “Jimmie” May; her maternal grandparents, D.B. “Bud” and Birdiew Partin; and her paternal grandparents, Eugene Debbs May and Rena B. May.

She is survived by her husband, James Purvis of Vicksburg; her son, Stephen Dennis Purvis of Vicksburg; her daughter, Erin Leigh Purvis of Vicksburg; her mother, Bobbie Partin May of Collinsville, Miss.; her brothers, Vic May of Union, Miss., and Douglas May and wife Debbie of Fort Worth, Texas; her brother-in-law, Hewey Purvis of Vicksburg; and her aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Matthew Hall, Nathan West, Samuel Starnes, Jeremy Robison, Jimmy Gray, Keith Stennett, Jared Soverns and Cody Lewis.

Honorary pallbearers will be Ellisworth Kent, Ray Melancon, Chuck Mendrop, Wayne Oldenburg, Charles Hill, Chris Sanders and Barry Beard.

Memorials may be made to Bovina Baptist Church.