Alex R. “Lil Bro” Shells died Sunday, Feb. 16, 2003, at his home. He was 45.

Mr. Shells was preceded in death by a son, John Douglas; his parents, Emma Scott and Lee R. Jefferson; and his brother, Albert Shells.

He is survived by a daughter, Jessica Wright of Vicksburg; two sisters, Faye Shells Bolden and Emma Spates, both of Vicksburg; and nieces, nephews and other relatives, including M.W. and Milton Jefferson of Vicksburg.

Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Thomas Smith Sr.

Thomas Smith Sr. died Monday, Feb. 17, 2003, at River Region Medical Center. He was 52.

Mr. Smith was preceded in death by a son, Thomas Smith Jr., and his maternal grandparents, Lucille Wide and Cleve Hampton.

He is survived by a daughter, Amanda Smith of Ferriday, La.; his mother, Verda Lee Hampton Smith of Vicksburg; his father, Clarence Smith of New Orleans; six brothers, Albert Smith, Percy Smith and David Smith, all of Vicksburg, Robert Lee Smith of Dallas, Roosevelt Smith of Gonzales, La., and James Smith of Lilburn, Ga.; four sisters, Linda Smith, Mary Jackson and Edna Ross, all of Vicksburg, and Shirley Tyler of Norcross, Ga.; four grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives, including Zylene Bell of Vicksburg.

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

Mary E. Taylor

Mary E. “Mama Mary” Taylor died Monday, Feb. 17, 2003, at River Region Medical Center. She was 82.

A retired cosmetologist, Mrs. Taylor was a former teacher’s aide at Kings Head Start Center. She was a member of Travis Chapel A.M.E. Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher and member of the Adult Choir, Stewardess Board, Willing Workers Club and Burial Society. She was a member of Excelsior Chapter No. 349 Order of Eastern Star.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Sylvester Taylor; her father, Samuel Green; her mother, Lurline Woods Underwood; and her paternal grandparents, Caroline and Squire Lee Woods.

Survivors include four daughters, Ester Frazier of St. Louis, Mo., Jessie Mae Sims of Dolton, Ill., and Sylvia Taylor James and Harriette Daily, both of Vicksburg; two brothers, Curtis Green of Mobile, Ala., and Charles Cooper of Tuskegee, Ala.; and other relatives, including Berteal Erves Rogers and Josephine Holmus.

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