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.

Martha Lee Brooks

Services for Martha Lee Brooks will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Williams Funeral Home with the Rev. Thomas Parker officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be today from noon until 5 p.m. at the funeral home and from 9:30 a.m. Saturday until the service.

Mrs. Brooks died Monday, June 30, 2008, at River Region Medical Center. She was 68.

She was a member of Mount Olive M.B. Church. She worked as a nurse’s assistant and also as a cook for Tasty Foods and Crowley’s Smoke House.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Simmie Brooks Sr.; her parents, Roosevelt Pampley and Elizabeth Smith; a son, Tony “Pecan” Morris; and a brother, James Johnson.

Survivors include two sons, David “Boo” Brooks and Simmie “Peabody” Brooks Jr., both of Vicksburg; eight grandchildren; and friends and other relatives, including members of the Diggs, Hearron, Thomas, Wynn, Parker, Buchanan, Spratley, Regan and Brown families.

Mary Buford Johnson

Mary “Ma Mae” Buford Johnson died Thursday, July 3, 2008, at River Region Medical Center. She was 96.

Mrs. Johnson was a member of St. Paul M.B. Church, where she served on the Mother Board.

She was preceded in death by her father, the Rev. J.B. Buford; her mother, Gertrude Woodson Buford; and son-in-law, Arthur Williams Jr.

Survivors include her daughter, Luella Williams of Vicksburg; grandchildren, Arthur James Williams of Vicksburg, Ronald Lee Williams of Port Gibson, Dennis Michael Williams of Topeka, Kan., and David Dwain Williams of Dallas; 11 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Francis Marion Priddy

Francis Marion Priddy was born Jan. 26, 1936, to Joseph Carr and Charlotte Dorris Priddy in Port Lavaca, Texas. He died July 3, 2008, in Vicksburg. Francis is survived by his wife, Joan McDowell Priddy, a son, Jody Durell Priddy and wife Lucy Phillips Priddy; daughter, Wendi Priddy Clinkscales and husband Bill Clinkscales Jr.; and daughter Amy Priddy Cory.

He is survived by his brothers, Joseph Priddy and wife Bobbie Priddy, David Priddy and wife Frankie Priddy, Jimmy Priddy and wife Barbara Priddy; and one sister, Ola Belle Priddy Hengst. He is survived by step-daughters, Jewel Aaron Sibley, Joni Aaron Sullivan and husband Corey Sullivan, and Jamie Aaron Stanley and husband Gary Stanley. Surviving grandchildren are Eddie Thigpen, Britt Thigpen and wife Dana Thigpen, Kyle Cory and Ashley Clinkscales. Surviving step-grandchildren are Meagan Sullivan, Jordan Stanley and Aaron Stanley. Francis has two surviving great-grandchildren, Will Thigpen and Sam Thigpen. Francis is survived by many nieces, nephews and friends.

Francis was a farmer and custom harvester who moved to Cary in 1955. He and his brothers and parents farmed in the Mississippi Delta area for many years. He and his family have done custom harvesting in Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas for several years. He was an active member of the Rolling Fork Church of Christ and Vicksburg Church of Christ. He loved his family and his church family, farming the land, playing Rook and entertaining. He will be deeply missed.

The funeral will be at Vicksburg Church of Christ, Interstate 20 North Frontage Road, at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 5, 2008. Visitation will be from 12:30 until 2 p.m. at Glenwood Funeral Home. Following the service, burial will be at Cary Cemetery in Cary. The service will be performed by Reggie Crawford and Norman Maranto.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Vicksburg Church of Christ or Rollling Fork Church of Christ. Glenwood Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

John Bruce Sanders Sr.

John Bruce Sanders Sr. died Wednesday, July 2, 2008, at his home in Vicksburg. He was 92.

Born in Columbus, Mr. Sanders had lived in Vicksburg for the past 80 years. He was a retired riverboat pilot.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Lee Sanders; and three brothers, O’Neal Sanders, Jess Willard Sanders and Floyd Edward Sanders.

He is survived by two sons, John Bruce Sanders Jr. of Hammond, La., and Travis Lee Sanders of Vicksburg; one brother, Jack Demsey Sanders of Vicksburg; one sister, Hazel Jean Pettway of Vicksburg; and five grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Cedar Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Rick McAlister officiating. Burial will follow under the direction of Glenwood Funeral Home. Visitation will be at the funeral home Saturday from 9 a.m. until the service.

Pallbearers will be Joe Pettway, Walter Pettway and Randy Stewart.

Willie Ruth Crowder Stamps

EDWARDS – Services for Willie Ruth Crowder Stamps will be at noon Saturday at United M.B. Church in Edwards with the Rev. Elzie O’Neal officiating. Burial will follow at Morning Star Baptist Church Cemetery in Edwards under the direction of Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home of Vicksburg.

Mrs. Stamps died Friday, June 27, 2008, at Promise Hospital of Vicksburg. She was 68.

Mrs. Stamps was born in Edwards to the late Samuel and Beatrice Crowder. She attended Edwards Attendance Center, Southern Christian Institute, Hinds County Agricultural High School, Utica Junior College and Jackson State University. She was employed with Edwards Head Start for more than 33 years before retiring.

Mrs. Stamps was a member of Mount Moriah M.B. Church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Horace Stamps; two brothers, Samuel Crowder Jr. and J.W. Crowder; and three sisters, Mozella Crowder, Minnie Lee Crowder and Rosetta Crowder.

Survivors include four daughters, Sharon Toaster of Bolton and Wanda Stamps, Valerie Stamps and Donna Elaine Stamps, all of Edwards; one son, Kelvin Stamps of Edwards; two brothers, Howard Crowder of Flint, Mich., and Robert Crowder of Edwards; five sisters, Virginia Wright, Dorothy Smith and Beatrice Thompson, all of Jackson, and Carrie Baity and Gladys Anderson, both of Edwards; 12 grandchildren; one great-grandchildren; and other relatives.