UTICA Jerry Shayne Ray died Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2003, at his home in Utica. He was 32.

Born in Kosciusko, Mr. Ray had been a Utica resident for the past seven years. He was a service adviser for Gray-Daniels automobile dealership.

A Navy veteran, he served in Desert Storm. He was a member of Salem Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Marcarol Martin Ray of Utica; three sons, Jason Bryant and Michael Bryant, both of Utica, and Corey Steven Ray of Fort Benning, Ga.; his father, Jerry Ray of Ethel; his mother and stepfather, Vivian and Jerry Jose of Clarksdale; and three sisters, Angela Turner and Kathy “Cricket” McGregor, both of Clarksdale, and Cindy Slade of Biloxi.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Salem Baptist Church with the Rev. Rusty Byrd officiating. Burial will follow at Utica Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 until 8 tonight at Glenwood Funeral Home in Utica.

Pallbearers will be Tim Carpenter, Terry Edwards, Charlie Edwards, Russ Matrick, Mike O’Neal and Sam Oglesby.

Thaddeus L. Sims

Services for Thaddeus L. Sims were at 11 a.m. today at Riles Funeral Home with Dr. John G. McCall officiating. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. at Gallman Cemetery.

Mr. Sims died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2003, at River Region Medical Center. He was 85.

Born in Jones County, Mr. Sims had been a Vicksburg resident since 1948. He was the son of Andrew Jackson and Ethel Nesom Sims and was a graduate of Soso High School. He served in the Army Air Corps at Barksdale Field during World War II, then transferred to Camp Shelby to manage the post exchange.

Mr. Sims worked as purchasing agent for O’Neill-McNamara Hardware Co. from 1948 until 1960 and served as a manufacturer’s representative for Smith & Wesson from 1960 until 1977. After retirement, he was employed with Mississippi Hardware Co.

He was a lifetime member of Eatonville Masonic Lodge and the Vicksburg-Warren Historical Society. He was a member of the National Rifle Association and First Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon.

He was preceded in death by four brothers, Harry Sims, Rudolph Sims, Durward Sims and Virgil Sims.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Helen Sanders Sims of Vicksburg; a daughter, Linda Bess of Vicksburg; a son, Andrew L. “Andy” Sims of Gallman; two sisters, Edna Bryant of Hattiesburg and Linnie Chapman of Petal; two brothers, Robert E. Sims of Rawls Springs and James M. Sims of Petal; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Pallbearers will be grandsons: Demos Markos Jr., Melina Markos-Turk, Thaddeus Andrew Markos, Daniel Loren Sims, Joel Leighton Sims and Paul Logan Sims.

Honorary pallbearers will be Glen McCaskill, Eric McCaskill, Dr. Henrik Kuiper, Dr. Daniel Edney, David Blackledge and members of the Boaz Sunday school class at First Baptist Church.

Memorials may be made to Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association Boys and Girls Ranches, 2922 Motley Road, Columbus, MS 39701; the Baptist Children’s Village, P.O. Box 27, Clinton, MS 39060; or First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 390, Vicksburg, MS 39181.

Bertha Wade

Services for Bertha “Mother Dear” Wade will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bethel A.M.E. Church. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1 until 7 p.m. Friday at Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home and from 10 a.m. Saturday until the service at the church. A musical tribute will be from 6 until 7 p.m. Friday at the church.

Mrs. Wade died Thursday, July 31, 2003, at her daughter’s home. She was 83.

Mrs. Wade was a member of Bethel A.M.E. Church, where she served as pianist for a number of years. She was also pianist at Travis Chapel A.M.E. Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Calvin Wade.

Survivors include five daughters, Dollie Rankins of New Orleans, Sylvia Daniels and Alberta Matthews, both of Shreveport, La., and Patricia Sturgis and Lois Brown, both of Vicksburg; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and other relatives.