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.

OLLIE MESSIE BLAND

Ollie Messie Bland died Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2002, at her niece’s home in Jackson. She was 78.

A domestic worker, Miss Bland was a former Port Gibson resident and member of St. Luke M.B. Church in Carlisle.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Dave and Ollie Bland; a brother, Kelly Bland; two sisters, Nora Bland and Tina Coleman; and a daughter.

Survivors include six nephews, Richard Coleman and Eugene Coleman, both of Chicago, Booker Coleman and Ernest Coleman, both of Port Gibson, Henry Coleman of Harvey, Ill., Chester Coleman of Broadview, Ill., and Robbie Coleman of Fayette; five nieces, Dorothy Claiborne and Pershelia Coleman, both of Port Gibson, Melissa Coleman and Pearl Mobley, both of Jackson, and Mary Coleman of Country Club, Ill.; and other relatives and friends.

Williams Funeral Service has charge of arrangements.

DOROTHY MARIE BOYD

MERIDIAN Dorothy Marie Boyd died Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian. She was 76.

Mrs. Boyd had worked as an insurance agent and was a Meridian resident.

She was preceded in death by her husband and a daughter.

Survivors include four daughters, Patricia “Pat” Bell of Vicksburg, Tina Ruby Curtis of Calumet City, Ill., Dorothy R. Boyd of Meridian and Barbara Parks of Garfield Heights, Ohio; 15 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at East Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Meridian with the Rev. Randall Bohannon officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery under the direction of E.E. McDonald Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 3 until 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home in Meridian.

SARAH J. THOMPSON IRVING

EDWARDS Sarah J. Thompson Irving died Thursday, Dec. 5, 2002, at her home in Edwards. She was 91.

Mrs. Irving was the daughter of the late Carnarow Thompson and Minnie B. Bryant Thompson. She was a member of St. Mark M.B. Church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, A.J. Irving, and seven siblings.

She is survived by three daughters, Mary Jane Irving, Alice Faye Irving and Deborah Irving Ross, all of Chicago; a son, James Richardson of Chicago; four sisters; nieces and nephews, including Jean Phillips Hudson and Ellis Foster; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mark M.B. Church in Edwards. Burial will follow at Green Hill Cemetery.

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

FRANCES ELIZABETH KUYKENDALL

OAK GROVE Frances Elizabeth Kuykendall died Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002, at Carroll Nursing Home in Oak Grove. She was 88.

Mrs. Kuykendall was a lifelong resident of Oak Grove. She was a member of First United Methodist Church where she served as financial secretary and was on the administrative council. She owned and operated the Briggs Insurance Agency, Briggs Gin, Briggs Elevator, Briggs Farms and the West Carroll Hardware and Furniture Company.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold F. Kuykendall; her parents, Ollie and Edna Briggs; a brother, John C. Briggs; and a sister, Elaine Fleming.

Survivors include a brother, Henry Briggs of Oak Grove; and three sisters, Edna Carolyn Brashier of Plantation, Fla., Martha Baxter of St. Louis, Mo., and Charlotte Scott of Lake Providence.

Services will be at 2 today at Cox Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Joe Hoover officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Larry Brashier, David Brashier, Mark Baxter, Mike Scott, Roger Bolding, Lindy Lingo and Mack Lancaster.