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.

Dr. John I. Hendricks

LORMAN John I. Hendricks died Thursday, March 11, 2004, at River Region Medical Center. He was 70.

Dr. Hendricks was born in Columbia, Miss., to the late John Ira Hendricks and Emma Mae McArthur. He was a former member of Owens Chapel Baptist Church in Columbia and had served as treasurer, Sunday school teacher, deacon board secretary, Vacation Bible School director and Bible study leader at Mount Olive M.B. Church in Lorman.

He was a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., serving as first administrative assistant to the fraternity’s general president. He was a member of the Prince Hall Masonry and, in 1983, advanced to the United Supreme Council, 33rd degree, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. He was affiliated with the Jackson Consistory No. 117.

Dr. Hendricks graduated as valedictorian of Marion County Training School and received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Tougaloo College. He received his master’s in physical science from the University of Michigan and a doctor of philosophy in curriculum instruction from Kansas State University. He taught chemistry and physics for four years at Utica Junior College and worked for more than 40 years at Alcorn State University. He was a member of the NCATE Board of Examiners team and was a co-founder of the National Association for Multicultural Education. He was involved in a number of additional organizations.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Ella L. Maxie and Pauline Porter.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Epsy Y. Hendricks of Lorman; a brother, Charles L. Hendricks of San Francisco; nieces and nephews; friends and other relatives, including George Porter of Sacramento, Calif.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Mount Olive M.B. Church in the Westside community with the Rev. Elijah Brown officiating. Burial will follow at Carbondale Cemetery under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home Inc. of Port Gibson.

Visitation will be from 4 until 6 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with family hour at 6 and from 1 p.m. Thursday until the service at the church.

Bea Mathews

Bea Mathews died Sunday, March 14, 2004, at River Region Medical Center. She was 84.

Born in Greene County, Miss., Miss Mathews had been a Vicksburg resident since 1958 and was a retired cashier.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Lynda Biedenharn; a brother, Earl Spears; and a sister, Minie Oltremari.

Survivors include a son, James Aaron Mathews of Greenville; a daughter, Judy Dildine of Vicksburg; three sisters, Lee Kearns, Lurlene Walker and Ilner “Sandy” Sanders, all of Vicksburg; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Services were at 11 a.m. today at Green Acres Memorial Park with Jamie Mathews officiating. Burial followed under the direction of Glenwood Funeral Home.

Wilson Perkins Jr.

EDWARDS Wilson Perkins Jr. died Tuesday, March 9, 2004, at University Medical Center in Jackson. He was 61.

A resident of Edwards, Mr. Perkins was a laborer.

He was preceded in death by a son, Torando Perkins; his parents, Marie and Wilson Perkins Sr.; and three brothers, James Perkins, Henry Perkins and Willie Perkins.

Survivors include his wife, Thelma H. Perkins of Edwards; a daughter, LaTosca Ash; three sons, Clarence Perkins, James Perkins and Alvin Perkins; three sisters, Rether P. Griffin of Edwards, Rose P. Flagg of Vicksburg and Irma Perkins of St. Louis, Mo.; two brothers, R.L. Perkins and Robert L. Perkins, both of Edwards; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

Services were at 1 p.m. Saturday at Bethlehem M.B. Church in Edwards. Burial followed at the church cemetery under the direction of Peoples Funeral Home in Jackson.