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.

William R. Ahrend

PLEASANT HILL William R. “Hank” Ahrend died Wednesday, March 3, 2004, at University Medical Center in Jackson. He was 59.

Mr. Ahrend was a resident of the Pleasant Hill community in Copiah County and had worked for Cooper Lighting for 40 years. He was a veteran of the Army, serving in Vietnam.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty F. Graham; his parents, John and Leona Ahrend; and his brother, Shirley Ahrend.

Survivors include a daughter, Aimee Ahrend of Hazlehurst; a stepdaughter, Kim Palmer of Hazlehurst; a stepson, Kenny Moody of Jackson; three brothers, James Ahrend of Vicksburg, Ed Ahrend of Brookhaven and Tom Ahrend of Pearl; a sister, Louise Hearnsberger of Warren, Ark.; three stepgrandchildren; and nieces, nephews and other relatives, including Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Graham of Pattison.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Harrigill Funeral Home in Brookhaven. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery near Union Church.

Visitation will be from 5 until 9 tonight and from 9 a.m. Saturday until the service at the funeral home.

Concetta Theresa Cerniglia

DELHI Concetta Theresa Cerniglia died Wednesday, March 3, 2004. She was 96.

Miss Cerniglia was born in Patterson, La., and was a longtime resident of Delhi. She was a retired sales clerk with Miller Wohel’s Ladies Wear in New Orleans. She was a member of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Salvadore and Virginia Cerniglia, and five brothers, Joseph Cerniglia, Frank Cerniglia, Johnny Cerniglia, Sylvestor Cerniglia and Albert Cerniglia.

Survivors include numerous nieces and nephews and her caregiver, Patsy Lingefelt of Epps, La.

A funeral Mass was at 10 a.m. today at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Delhi with the Rev. Philip Pazhayakari officiating. Burial followed at Mulhearn Memorial Park Mausoleum in Monroe under the direction of Cox Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were Chris Lingefelt, Adam Lingefelt, Larry Lingefelt, Dylan Jones, Matt York, Mickey Simms and Donald and Heath Myers.

Karen Heern Chaney

Karen Heern Chaney died Thursday, March 4, 2004, at her home. She was 48.

Born in Jonesboro, Ark., Ms. Chaney had been a Vicksburg resident since 1976. She was a graduate of Jonesboro High School and the University of Mississippi.

Ms. Chaney was a reporter and features editor for The Vicksburg Post from 1976 until 1989. She had been employed as medical records supervisor for River Region Health System clinics. She was a member of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Episcopal.

She is survived by a daughter, Sarah Kathryn Chaney of Vicksburg; a son, Mark James Chaney III of Vicksburg; her parents, Raymond and Sarah Ferguson Heern of Jonesboro; and three sisters, Donna H. Halford of Vicksburg, Laura H. Owens of Wynne, Ark., and Susan H. Christian of Jonesboro.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Church of the Holy Trinity Episcopal with the Rev. Michael Nation, rector, officiating. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Memorial Park Cemetery in Jonesboro.

Visitation will be from 5:30 until 7:30 tonight at Riles Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Ken Halford Jr., Joey Owens, Matt Christian, Tim Sumrall, Mark Posey, Mike Stewart, Raymon Harvey and B.B. Hosch.

Honorary pallbearers will be the staff of the Medical Records Department of The Street Clinic and River Region Medical Center office and members of the Mark Chaney Sr. family.

Memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Community Center, 629 Cherry St., Vicksburg, MS 39183 or to the Church of the Holy Trinity, Episcopal, P.O. Box 24 , Vicksburg, MS 39181.

David L. Cooksey

David L. Cooksey died Thursday, March 4, 2004, at River Region Medical Center. He was 74.

Born in Jackson, Mr. Cooksey had been a Vicksburg resident since 1936. He was a retired civil engineer for Waterways Experiment Station. He was a veteran of the Navy, Air Force and Army, serving in the Korean Conflict, Cuban Crisis and Vietnam. He retired as a lieutenant colonel.

Mr. Cooksey was a member of the Paxton Masonic Lodge and was a 32nd degree Mason of York Rites. He was a member of the Mississippi Professional Engineers Association, Gideons International, National Association of Retired Federal Employees and First Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon.

Survivors include his wife, Janice P. Cooksey of Vicksburg; a son, Kevin Lee Cooksey of Vicksburg; a daughter, Cynthia Ann Beasnett of Vicksburg; and four grandchildren, Adren Cooksey, Joy Arledge, Kurt Cooksey and Cameron Cooksey, all of Vicksburg.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Glenwood Funeral Home with the Rev. Jim Hess officiating. Burial will follow at Green Acres Memorial Park.

Visitation will be from 5 until 7 tonight at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be David Haworth, Robert McCarley, Donald Davidson, Bertron Hamill, Arthur Lagg, Tom Hill, Donald Ladd and Harry Ulery.