VIRGINIA WHITE ARTZ

COLUMBUS Virginia White Artz died Monday, April 9, 2001, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Columbus. She was 83.

Mrs. Artz attended business school at Florida State College. She was a secretary at the University of Tampa. She was a member of First United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jefferson Glynn Artz.

She is survived by a son, David Artz of Columbus; a sister, Mary Elizabeth Lemly of Burlington, Mass.; a grandson, Berry Artz of Columbus; and other relatives including the Artz family of Vicksburg.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Columbus. Burial will follow at Friendship Cemetery in Columbus under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until the service Thursday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Fred Hayslett, Ken Kennedy, Walt Porter, Alton Ming, Martin Stapp and George Barnes.

Honorary pallbearers will be the Stuckenschneider Sunday School Class of First United Methodist Church and members of United Methodist women.

ADA LEE KNOX

Ada Lee Knox died Saturday, April 7, 2001, at ParkView Regional Medical Center. She was 82.

Mrs. Knox was a homemaker and a member of Springridge Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Willie Knox Sr.; her parents, Buel and Narsis Burks; five brothers, James Burks, Willie Burks Sr., Steve Burks Sr., Joe Burks and Ellis Burks Sr.; and two sisters, Mamie B. Hill and Florence B. Allen.

Survivors include five sons, Alfred J. Knox, Nick Knox and Willie Knox Jr., all of Milwaukee, Wis., Calvin J. Knox of Canton and Joe Knox of Edwards; six daughters, Minnie K. Walker of Shaw, Lois K. Finley of New Orleans, Rosie K. Randle of Indianola, Phalia K. Key of Inglewood, Calif., Patricia K. Cannon of Vicksburg and Karen K. Kinnard of Utica; a brother, J.W. Burks of Edwards; two sisters, Mattie B. Kelly of Utica and Rosie H. Lockett of Jackson; grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other relatives.

Williams Funeral Service has charge of the arrangements.

RUTH ANN SMITH

Ruth Ann Smith died Monday, April 9, 2001, at Sharkey-Issaquena Community Hospital. She was 91.

A former resident of Vicksburg, Mrs. Smith was a homemaker and a member of the Apostolic faith.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Smith Sr.; two sons, Mark Smith and Nathan Smith; a daughter, Bonnie Haymond; her mother, Maude Lee; and her father, Dan Kirkland.

She is survived by six sons, Frank Smith Jr. of Dallas, Willie Harold Smith of San Diego, Francis Smith of Chicago, Harvey Smith of Oklahoma City, Okla., Dan D. Smith of Philadelphia, Pa., and Rufus Duff Smith of Vicksburg; five daughters, Emma Benard, Mary Wilmore and Anna Maude Jones, all of Chicago, and Alice Hill and Barbara Pierce, both of Vicksburg; 46 grandchildren, 81 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren and other relatives including Robert Chapman of Chicago and Doris Johnson of Vicksburg.

Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements.

RHONDA GWEN STEWART

Rhonda Gwen Stewart died Sunday, April 8, 2001, at her home in Raleigh, N.C. She was 40.

A native of Vicksburg, Ms. Stewart had lived in Raleigh for the past 15 years. She was self-employed as a day-care operator in Raleigh. She was a member of Bowmar Avenue Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her father, Bill D. Stewart.

She is survived by her mother, Mary Elizabeth Stewart of Vicksburg; a sister, Wanda S. Walthall of Vicksburg; four brothers, Billy Stewart Jr. and Randy Stewart, both of Raleigh, and Tim Stewart and Dave Stewart, both of Vicksburg; and other relatives.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Fisher-Riles Funeral Home with the Rev. Terry White officiating. Burial will follow at Green Acres Memorial Cemetery.

Visitation will be from noon until the service Thursday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Joe McCormack, Wesley Walthall, Michael Walthall, Joshua Stewart, Justin Walthall and Zachary Stewart.

Memorials may be made to Bowmar Baptist Church building fund, 718 Bowmar Ave., Vicksburg, MS. 39180.

MACK O. WICKER

Mack O. Wicker died Friday, March 9, 2001, as the result of an automobile accident. He was 52.

A native of Tallulah, Mr. Wicker had lived in Vicksburg for 30 years and was a resident of Crystal Springs since 1999.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in Vietnam and Korea. He was a member of Carpenter’s Local No. 303 and was a retired millwright and carpenter. He was a member of Bowmar Avenue Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his father, William Murphy Wicker; and two brothers, Eugene Wicker and Thomas Wicker.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy LaJune Wicker of Crystal Springs; a son, Richard D. Wicker of Crystal Springs; his mother, Ora Belle Wicker of Tallulah; three sisters, Peggy Yount of Star; Carol Jolly of Newellton and Judy Melton of Tallulah; four brothers, Jarell Wicker, Mike Wicker, Pat Wicker and Calvin Wicker, all of Tallulah; and other relatives including Bill and Molly Sharp, both of Vicksburg

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Fisher-Riles Funeral Home with the Rev. James Parker officiating. Burial will follow at Wayside Baptist Church Cemetery,

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the service Thursday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be David Wicker, Mike Wicker, Mike Harold Wicker, Reuben Wicker, Danny Wicker, Rusty Wicker, Jimmy Wicker, Jerry Wicker, Billy Earl Yount, Jason Wicker, Jamie Wicker, Ike Blackledge and Williams C. Wicker Jr.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Carpenters Local No. 303, Lynn King, Sandi Grant, Martin Pace, Jason Bailess and Jay McKenzie.