John Ray Russell died Monday, Sept. 20, 2004, at River Region Medical Center. He was 71.

Born in Simpson County, Mr. Russell had lived in Vicksburg most of his life. He was the son of the late John E. and Lena V. Jordan Russell.

A retired carpenter, he was of the Baptist faith.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Janet Isenberg.

Survivors include three sons, Michael “Mike” Russell, Terry Russell and Tim Russell, all of Vicksburg; two daughters, Wanda Curtis of Gordonville, Texas, and Juanita Russell of Vicksburg; and 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Fisher Funeral Home with the Revs. Darrell White and Alvin Holman officiating. Burial will follow at Antioch Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 until 8 tonight at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Gerald Palmer, Buddy Shiers, Keith Hunt, Tim Burrough, Jerry Tatum and Chris Thornell.

Honorary pallbearers will be Shane Russell, Corey Russell, Josh Russell, Cameron Russell, Dewayne Russell, Brandon Beach, Bubba Cummins, Jayce Cummins, Seth Curtis, Clinton Curtis, Craig Jones, Jonathan Jones and Ty Isenberg.

Delphine Givens Smith

Delphine Givens Smith died Saturday, Sept. 18, 2004. She was 46.

Mrs. Smith was a 1976 graduate of Vicksburg High School. She received her practical nursing license from Hinds community College. She was employed at Malaco Records in Jackson.

She was a member of New Heights Seventh Day Adventist Church in Jackson.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Tolliver Sr.; her mother, Evelyn Givens Middleton; a brother, Harold L. Givens; and a grandson, Li’Trell Rashad Smith.

Survivors include three daughters, Priscilla Smith, Sandra Smith and Amanda Smith, all of Jackson; one son, Raymond Smith Jr. of Michigan; four sisters, Debra Scott and Nadia Middleton, both of Vicksburg, Dobra Pulliam of Memphis and Alexelisha Sanders Luckett of Jackson; three brothers, Benjamin Givens of Vicksburg, Joel Givens of Atlanta and Dennis Givens of Jackson; three grandchildren; and aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends, including Raymond Smith Sr. and Diane Cessna.

Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.