The Vicksburg Post prints obituaries for residents, former residents and residents’ immediate family members who resided elsewhere when notified by a family member or a funeral home. There is no charge for printing an obituary, but all are edited to meet the newspaper’s requirements.

LEWIS GENE CHAPMAN SR.

OAK GROVE Lewis Gene “Bitsy” Chapman Sr. died Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002, at his home in Oak Grove. He was 54.

Mr. Chapman was in the Army for six years, serving two tours of duty in Vietnam.

He was preceded in death by his father, Louis Dennis Chapman; his maternal grandparents, Earl and Dora Prine; his paternal grandparents, Calvin Chapman and Lila Henley; and a brother, Charles David Chapman.

He is survived by his wife, Irene Chapman of Oak Grove; three sons, Mikey Chapman and Lewis Chapman Jr., both of Oak Grove, and Ron Chapman of Bastrop, La.; his mother and stepfather, Mavis P. and Pete Hughes of Bonita, La.; his stepmother, Martha Chapman of Lake Providence; a sister, Tina L. Chapman of Darnell, La.; six brothers, Steven Ray Chapman and Kenneth Wayne Chapman, both of Transylvania, La., Larry Chapman and Terry Chapman, both of Sondheimer, La., Danial Hughes of Bonita and Bob Lee Chapman of McAllister, Okla.; and five grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Cox Chapel in Oak Grove with the Rev. Jason Strong officiating. Burial will follow at Providence Memorial Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be William Issac, Keith Robertson, James Williams, David Bingham, Robert Beard and Jason Reeves.

JAMES H. SUMERALL

HOLLY BLUFF James H. “Jim” Sumerall died Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002, at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland. He was 67.

Mr. Sumerall was born in Wayne County and retired as a road worker for Yazoo County after 42 years of service. He was a member and deacon at Holly Bluff Baptist Church for more than 40 years.

He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Misty Sumerall.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth Sumerall of Holly Bluff; two daughters, Rosemary Hosea of Olla, La., and Dot Lucas of Richland; two sons, Jimmy Sumerall of Richland and Bruce Sumerall of Vicksburg; two brothers, Jack Sumerall of Palestine, Texas, and Dan Sumerall of Vicksburg; one sister, Lizzie Lowery of Satartia; and eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Stricklin-King Funeral Home in Yazoo City with the Rev. Andy May officiating. Burial will follow at Glenwood Cemetery in Richland.

Visitation will be from 5 until 8 tonight at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Daniel Sumerall, Robbie Hosea, Johnny Lowery, Hunter Sumerall, Jason Rambo and Michael Gaines.

Honorary pallbearers will be Franklin Adcock, Lamar Dorris Jr. and Brent Langley.

Memorials may be made to Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland or to Holly Bluff Baptist Church, 932 Highway 16 West, Holly Bluff, MS 39088.

NELL OLIVIA HAWKINS THARPE

EPPS, La. Nell Olivia Hawkins Tharpe died Monday, Oct. 7, 2002, at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe. She was 93.

Mrs. Hawkins was born in Fort Jesup, La., to Clarence Leslie Hawkins Sr. and Renv Bond Hawkins. She worked as a correspondent for the West Carroll Gazette newspaper. She was a member of Epps Garden Club, having served as president and secretary-treasurer.

For 30 years, she operated a general store in Epps with her husband. She was a member of numerous civic groups and worked as a poll official during elections. She was a member of the Epps First United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women’s Group.

Mrs. Tharpe was preceded in death by her husband, Lewis Cordell “Ray” Tharpe; a daughter, Jacqueline Faye Tharpe Hamer; eight brothers and four sisters.

Survivors include two daughters, Sybil Mae Tharpe Shivers and Frances Almeda Tharpe Woodard, both of Monroe; a son, Dwain Cordell Tharpe of Crowville, La.; a brother, Horace Edwin “Shorty” Hawkins of Breaux Bridge, La.; eight grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Epps United Methodist Church with the Rev. Lloyd Scott officiating. Burial will follow at Epps Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 until 8 tonight at Cox Funeral Home in Delhi.

Pallbearers will be Randy Hunnicutt, Steven Tharpe, the Rev. Michael Tharpe, Ray Shivers, Kent Shivers, Bennie Roberson, Van Klett and Mark Anyan.

HORACE RAY HOPKINS

PORT GIBSON Horace Ray Hopkins died Thursday, Oct. 3, 2002, at his home in Port Gibson. He was 43.

Mr. Hopkins was a native of Claiborne County and attended China Grove M.B. Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Horace and Velliar Hopkins; two brothers, George Barber and Eiston Hopkins; and two sisters, Lelia E. Good and Sadie Marie Hopkins.

Survivors include three brothers, Mack L. Hopkins of Port Gibson, Harry L. Hopkins of Charleston, S.C., and Dan O. Hopkins of Milwaukee, Wis.; five sisters, Helen D. Haynes and Lethia M. Hopkins, both of Port Gibson, Evelyn Harding of Clinton, Marion Barber of Milwaukee and Rose Sampson of Summerville, S.C.; and other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at China Grove M.B. Church with the Rev. Leon Nelson officiating. Burial will follow at McCaa Cemetery.

Visitation will be until 5 today at Rollins Funeral Home in Port Gibson.