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.

Annie Bell Watkins Braxton

Annie Bell Watkins Braxton died Wednesday, April 11, 2007, at River Region Medical Center. She was 89.

Mrs. Braxton was born in West, Miss., and had lived in Vicksburg since 1973. A retired homemaker, she was a member of Mount Zion No. 1 M.B. Church.

She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and Loving Friendship No. 20.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George Braxton.

Survivors include one son, Roosevelt Watkins of Vicksburg; five daughters, Annie Mae Dillard, Mary Lovette, Dorothy Earl, Mattie P. Hall and Lillie Macon, all of Vicksburg; four sisters, Georgia Mae Greer and Cora Robinson, both of Kosciusko, Maggie Kirkland of Sallis and Bessie Davis of Knoxville, Tenn.; 41 grandchildren; 83 great-grandchildren; 13 great-great-grandchildren; and other relatives, including members of the Brown, Doyle, Washington and Truss families.

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

Fannie Collins

PATTISON – Fannie Collins died Friday, April 6, 2007, at River Region Medical Center. She was 78.

Mrs. Collins was a member and mother at Mount Burner Church. She was a member of the Baptist Aid.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Eliza Newton Jackson; a daughter, Mary Shelton; four brothers, Earnest Jackson, Sammy Jackson, Clarence Jackson Jr. and Leonard Jackson; and two sisters, Sadie McGrew and Dora Mae Jackson.

She is survived by her husband, J.P. Collins of Pattison; one son, Willie Beasley of Pattison; two stepsons, Walter Turner of Woodville and Larry Washington of Vicksburg; three daughters, Ethel Jean Beasley-Brooks, Evelyn Washington and Curly Beasley, all of Pattison; an adopted son, Leo Jackson of Hermanville; three adopted daughters, Flora Tarleton of Port Gibson, Daisy Johnson of Hermanville and Theresa Polk of Chicago; two sisters, Irene Jackson of Pattison and Edith Bailey of Vicksburg; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and friends and other relatives, including Annie Clark of Russum and Jessie Harris of Meridian.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at White Hall Baptist Church in Pattison with the Rev. Ray Coleman officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1 until 6 p.m. Friday at Thompson Funeral Home in Port Gibson, from noon until 1 p.m. Saturday at Mount Burner M.B. Church and from 1 p.m. Saturday until the service at White Hall Church.

Luana Harris

PORT GIBSON – Luana Harris died Monday, April 9, 2007, at her home in Port Gibson. She was 78.

Mrs. Harris was preceded in death by her parents, Calvin and Gertrude Dowery; her husband, Alex Harris; two daughters, Lula Mae Harris and Gertrude Harris; and two sisters, Gertrude Willis and Elizabeth Dowery.

She is survived by nine sons, Henry Harris, the Rev. Freddie Harris, John Charles Harris and Robert Harris, all of Port Gibson, Alex Harris of Tillman, George Harris of Corinth, Nathaniel Harris of Vicksburg, Ernest Harris of Chicago and Andrew Jackson of Clarksville, Tenn.; two daughters, Gloria Thomas of Monroe and Lillie Thomas of Vicksburg; one brother, the Rev. Lucky Dowery of Memphis; one sister, Mary Herenton of Port Gibson; 26 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Providence Christian Church in Tillman with the Rev. Roosevelt Harried officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1 until 6 p.m. Friday at Thompson Funeral Home and Saturday at the church from 1 p.m. until the service.

Mary Tory Myles

EDWARDS – Services for Mary Tory Myles will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Cherry Grove M.B. Church in Edwards. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1 until 7 p.m. Friday at Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home in Vicksburg.

Mrs. Myles died Tuesday, April 10, 2007, at her home in Edwards. She was 79.

Mrs. Myles was preceded in death by her parents and a son, KaArthur Myles.

Survivors include a son, Cleotha Myles of Edwards; four daughters, Irene Caston and Cora L. Myles, both of Edwards, and Rosie Lee Turner and Mary L. Myles, both of Indianapolis; one brother, Joe Tory Jr. of Detroit; two sisters, Ruby Hill and JoAnn Tory, both of Edwards; and other relatives and friends.

John William Wagner

RAYMOND – John William Wagner, 92, died Tuesday, April 10, 2007, at St. Dominic Memorial Hospital following a brief illness.

Visitation is noon until the 2 p.m. funeral service Friday at the First Baptist Church in Raymond with burial at Raymond Cemetery. Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Mr. Wagner was born in Butler County, Mo., on April 27, 1914. He married Mary Blanche Kirby on Jan. 1, 1940. They resided in Batesville, Miss., until 1962, when they moved to Isola, Miss. They also resided in Bolivar, Tenn., and Monterey, La., before moving to Raymond in 1996.

He was actively involved in church ministries everywhere he lived, and served as pastor to three churches in Monterey and the surrounding area after retiring from Tennessee Gas Transmission Company. He traveled on mission trips to Zimbabwe and South Korea.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Blanche Kirby Wagner; his parents, Ed and Mary Wagner; and a brother, Gene Wagner.

He is survived by daughters, Johnnie Lou Marshall (Jesse) of Vicksburg and Mary Ann Averitt (Bill) of Raymond, MS; son, Buddy Wagner (Shelia) of Clinton; grandchildren, John Marshall (Beth) of Vicksburg, Kent Marshall (Kelli) of Lewisville, Texas; Carolyn Weigel (Kurt) of Knoxville and Brittany Wagner-White (Mark) of Starkville; great-grandchildren, Faith and Hope Marshall of Vicksburg and Karley Weigel of Knoxville; sister, Hazel Rankin of Memphis, Tenn.; and seven nieces, along with many faithful and loyal friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his memory to a favorite charity.

James S. Wright Sr.

James S. Wright Sr. died Wednesday, April 11, 2007, at River Region Medical Center. He was 88.

A lifelong resident of Vicksburg, Mr. Wright was retired from both Valley Portland Cement and Vicksburg Chemical Company.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Jeff Wright; and a sister, Linnie Ferris.

He is survived by his wife, Calista A. Wright of Vicksburg; two sons, James S. Wright Jr. of Vicksburg and Charles Prince of Delta; one daughter, Barbara Smith of New Orleans; two sisters, Claire Romero of Memphis and Lois Criswell of Bowie, Md.; and two grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Glenwood Funeral Home with the Rev. Britt Prince officiating. Burial will follow at Green Acres Memorial Park.

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

Pallbearers will be friends and family.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Walter Johnston and staff members of River Region Medical Center.

Memorials may be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1918 Washington St., Vicksburg, MS 39180.