WILLIE JOHNSON

FAYETTE Willie Johnson died Tuesday, March 6, 2001, at Natchez Regional Hospital. He was 84.

A native of Jefferson County, Mr. Johnson was a construction worker.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alex and Reno Kelly Johnson; five brothers; four sisters; and a grandson, Allen Maurice Williams.

Survivors include two sons, Ronald Odom of Danville, Ill., and Freddie Lewis of San Francisco; a daughter, Delores Mann of New Orleans; a brother, Albert Johnson of Fayette; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends, including Gertrude Ware of Fayette.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Rollins Funeral Home Chapel in Fayette with the Rev. Percy Turner officiating. Burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery in Stampley.

Visitation will be from noon Saturday until the service.

MARY ALICE STRONG PAYNE

Mary Alice Strong Payne died Wednesday, March 7, 2001, at Vicksburg Medical Center. She was 92.

Born in Carpenter, Mrs. Payne had been a resident of Utica for a number of years. For the past 12 years she had been a resident of Trace Haven Nursing Home. She was a member of Utica Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy C. Payne; a daughter, Myrna Alice Payne; a son, Roy Clifton Payne; and her parents, Joseph William Strong and Thena Ann Greer.

She is survived by a daughter, Marjorie Payne Clay of Coffeeville; a son, Eugene Payne of Vicksburg; a sister, Dale Korlath of Clinton; two brothers, J.B. Strong of Utica and H.R. Strong of Riverside, Calif.; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Gulde Cemetery in Pelahatchie.

Visitation will be from 5 until 8 p.m. Friday at Glenwood Funeral Home in Utica.

Pallbearers will be Myrna Pipken, Paula Sudduth, Robert Clay, James Clay Jr., David Payne and Kevin Payne.

GENEVA SWEEZER

Geneva Sweezer died Wednesday, March 7, 2001, at ParkView Regional Medical Center. She was 75.

Mrs. Sweezer was a native of Warren County. She was a homemaker and member of the Baptist faith.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Florence Erves Sweezer.

She is survived by a sister, Ethel Turner of Detroit; a niece, Sara Williams of Vicksburg; and other relatives.

Robbins Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

JOSEPH TATUM

ROLLING FORK Joseph “Bill” Tatum died Friday, March 2, 2001, in Garland, Texas. He was 72.

Mr. Tatum was a former resident of Rolling Fork and had lived in Dallas.

He is survived by his wife, Ruby H. Tatum; five sons, Jimmy Bailey of Vicksburg, Lonnie Tatum of Onward, Ollie Christmas of Panama City, Fla., Joseph Tatum Jr. of Newport News, Va., and William Orell Tatum of Petersburg, Va.; six daughters, Earnestine Jefferies and Verdell Carter, both of Rolling Fork, Janice Watts and Elma J. Matthews, both of Houston, Texas, Beverly March of Tacoma, Wash., and Judith Sparks of Spangadhlem, Germany; seven sisters, Annie B. Libby, Odesta Neal, Madora Baston and Nellie Mahoma, all of Chicago, Pasty Guster of Greenville, Doris Clavelle of Vicksburg and Deloris Jackson of Fitler; six brothers, Frank Tatum Jr. and Eugene Tatum, both of Chicago, Jack Tatum and Herman Tatum, both of Los Angeles, A.J. Tatum of Slidell, La., and L.V. Tatum of Dover, Del.; 31 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at South Delta High School auditorium with Larry Lee officiating. Burial will follow at Green Chapel Cemetery in Rolling Fork.

Visitation will be from 7 until 8 p.m. Friday at Walker Funeral Home in Rolling Fork and from 9 a.m. Saturday until the service at the school.