Eric Michael Smith died Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2002, at Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. He was 16.

Born in Vicksburg, he was a junior at Warren Central High School. He was a member of the National Honor Society and served as manager of the Vikings’ eighth- and ninth-grade football teams. At Warren Junior High School, he was a member of the band in the seventh and eighth grades.

In 2000, Eric was nominated by the senior athletes to receive the Most Spirited and Desire Award. He was a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Woodlawn Baptist Church, where he was in the youth group and participated in mission trips.

Survivors include his parents, Eddie and Shelia Jones Smith of Vicksburg; two brothers, Dustin Shawn Smith and Brandon Lee Smith, both of Vicksburg; his maternal grandparents, Jonah Ray and Margaret Jones of Vicksburg; his paternal grandparents, Eddie and Elnora Smith of Vicksburg; and his maternal great-grandfather, Reggie Lee of Prentiss.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Woodlawn Baptist Church with the Revs. Kent Campbell and Billy Brumfield officiating. Burial will follow at Green Acres Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. Friday at Riles Funeral Home and from 10 a.m. Saturday until the service at the church.

Pallbearers will be Steve Upton, Craig Upton, Taylor Tankersley, Kyle Gordon, Matthew Prince and David Lee.

Honorary pallbearers will be Mark Williams, Robert Morgan, Sam Temple, Randy Broome, Dan Kitchens, Andrew Brantley, Jeremiah Riggs, Tiffany Prince, K.K. Willis, Brady Willis, Marlene Guthrie, Paul Harbin and the youth of Woodlawn Baptist Church.

Memorials may be made to University Medical Center Candlelighters, P.O. Box 55611, Jackson, MS 39296-5611; the Brain Tumor Center of Duke University, Box 3624, DUMC, Durham, NC 27710; or the Eric Smith Spirit and Desire Baseball Scholarship-WCHS, Warren Central High School, 1000 Highway 27, Vicksburg, MS 39180.

MARCUS WALTMAN

Marcus Waltman died Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2002, at River Region Medical Center. He was 97.

Born in Jones County, Mr. Waltman was a resident of Vicksburg for 31 years. He attended the Salvation Army, was a retired farmer and an Army veteran, serving during World War II.

He was preceded in death by two sons, John Waltman and Larry Waltman.

He is survived by a son, Fred Waltman of Texarkana, Texas; two daughters, Pat Ozburn of Vicksburg and Linda Welch of Eudora, Ark.; 10 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Green Acres Memorial Park with Capt. Julie Showers officiating. Burial will follow under the direction of Glenwood Funeral Home.

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

Pallbearers will be Paul Barlow, Doug Barlow, Bob Marr, John Magruder, Rick Wilson and Vernon Plett.

JOHN L. WILLIAMS

Services for John L. Williams will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Cedar Grove M.B. Church on Grange Hall Road with the Rev. Alex Miller officiating. Burial will follow at Hopewell Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 until 7 p.m. Friday at W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home.

Mr. Williams died Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002, at River Region Medical Center. He was 84.

Mr. Williams had worked for the Chrysler Corporation and retired as a self-employed exterminator. He was a member of Morning Star M.B. Church, where he was a deacon, Sunday school member and in the Bible class.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Arilla Williams; a son, Burnell Williams; six brothers, Hardin Williams, Wallace Williams, Amos Williams, George Williams, Graham Williams and Charlie Williams Jr.; and his sisters, Ida Bell Stewart, Lizette Walker and Rutha Mae Jefferson.

He is survived by his wife, Edna Williams of Vicksburg; one son, Benard Williams of Vicksburg; two daughters, Rutha Eastman of Vicksburg and Theresa Cosby of Chicago; three sisters, Jim Ella Williams and Hazel Hatchett, both of Vicksburg, and Clara Thomas of Denver; four grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.