Henry Ladd Lazarus died today, Sept. 22, 2000, at Olive Branch Nursing Center in Tallulah. He was 92.

A native of Natchez, Mr. Lazarus moved to Vicksburg at an early age. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving overseas in the South Pacific.

He worked for a number of newspapers and retired from the Chicago Sun-Times in 1972. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars in Chicago and First Presbyterian Church of Vicksburg.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Orsie and Mamie Lazarus.

Survivors include a sister, Ruth L. Griffin of Vicksburg; a brother, Bruce C. Lazarus of Vicksburg; nieces; nephews; great-nieces; and great-nephews.

Services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Fisher-Riles Funeral Home with the Rev. Geoffrey Joyner, pastor of Crawford Street United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 3 p.m. Saturday until the service at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Herschel Hale, Robert Hale, Ralph Hale, Keith Paxton, Scott Paxton and Randy Hale.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Men’s Bible Class of First Presbyterian Church.

Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 1501 Cherry St., in Vicksburg.

LAURA KATE COOKE MASTERSON

BATESVILLE Laura Kate Cooke Masterson died Thursday, Sept. 21, 2000, at South Panola Community Hospital in Batesville. She was 87.

Mrs. Masterson was retired as a cafeteria worker from the South Panola Schools. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Batesville.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Chester L. Masterson.

She is survived by a daughter, Patricia Masterson Cook of Nashville, Tenn.; five sons, Ronnie Masterson and Ellis Masterson, both of Batesville, Dr. Chester W. Masterson of Vicksburg, Pritchard A. Masterson of Puckett and William D. Masterson of Alexandria, Va.; a sister, Bessie Mangrum of Batesville; 14 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Wells Funeral Home in Batesville with the Rev. Chester W. Masterson Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at Forrest Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to Mississippi Baptist Children’s Village in Jackson.

JAMES C. NICHOLSON

GULFPORT James C. “Red” Nicholson died Friday, Sept. 15, 2000, at Gulfport Memorial Hospital. He was 74.

A native of Vicksburg, Mr. Nicholson had lived in Gulfport for 38 years. He graduated from Carr Central High as a multi-letterman and Mississippi State University where he lettered in basketball and track and was named to the All-SEC team. He was a Marine Corps veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific.

He was a teacher and athletic director at Chamberlain Hunt Military Academy before joining CIT Financial Corporation, where he worked for 13 years. He then worked for Hancock Bank where he retired after 24 years of service. He was a member and elder of Westminster Presbyterian Church. He was also a member of the Gulfport Yacht Club and the Mississippi State “M” Club.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann Nicholson; a son, Jim Nicholson of Gulfport; and a daughter, Charlotte Buchanan of Madison.

Services were at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Burial was in National Cemetery in Biloxi under the direction of Riemann Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 5005 Lawson Ave., Gulfport, Miss. 39507.

SYLVIA LEE JOYNER WILSON

Services for Sylvia Lee Joyner Wilson will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Second Union Baptist Church of Utica with the Rev. George Marshall of Aurora, Ill., officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Visitation will be Saturday at Robbins Funeral Home and from noon Sunday until the service at the church.

Mrs. Wilson died Friday, Sept. 15, 2000, at University Medical Center of Jackson. She was 68.

Mrs. Wilson was a retired domestic worker and a member of the Baptist faith.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Sam Wilson Sr.; and a son, Willie James Wilson.

She is survived by two sons, Sam Wilson Jr. and Fadell Wilson, both of Vicksburg; three daughters, Betty King, Dorothy Stampley and Essie Newsome, all of Vicksburg; a sister, Susie M. Murray of Chicago; an aunt, Azelene Jones; 26 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends, including Robert Robertson.