The Vicksburg Post prints obituaries in news form for area residents, their family members and for former residents at no charge. Families wishing to publish additional information or to use specific wording have the option of a paid obituary.

J.C. Devoual

PORT GIBSON – J.C. Devoual died Saturday, June 11, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. He was 86.

Mr. Devoual was a member and deacon at St. Peter A.M.E. Church of Port Gibson. He was a veteran of the Army, serving in World War II. He was a member of Masonic Lodge No. 21 F&AM.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Willie T. Devoual; his parents, James and Margaret Devoual; and two grandchildren.

He is survived by four sons, Roderick Devoual, Donald Devoual and James Devoual, all of Port Gibson, and Ralph Durham of U.S. Special Forces in Iraq; one daughter, Bettye Devoual of Port Gibson; a sister, Ruby Jefferies of Lorman; and grandchildren, great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Services were at 11 a.m. today at St. Peter A.M.E. with Pastor Ervin Harris officiating. Burial followed at Mercy Seat M.B. Church Cemetery.

George Harry Dolley

Services for George Harry Dolley will be at noon Saturday at Mount Zion M.B. Church with the Rev. Larry Brown officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 until 8 tonight at W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home and from 11 a.m. Saturday until the hour of service at the church.

Mr. Dolley died Tuesday, June 14, 2005, at his home. He was 69.

He was born in Redwood. He was employed with Haden Fence Company and was a member of Mount Zion M.B. Church No. 1.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Abraham Dolley and Caldonia Summer Dolley; and one brother, Leroy Dolley.

Survivors include one son, Walter Dolley of Vicksburg; two daughters, Angela Dolley of Vicksburg and Wanda Dolley of Minnesota; two brothers, Willie Lee Dolley of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Lemirah “Pat” Scott of Redwood; three sisters, Elizabeth Hill of Vicksburg, Betty Lou Cole of Egremont and Mary Dorsey of Greenville; and grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other relatives.

John Michael Lollar

John Michael Lollar died Wednesday, June 15, 2005, in Clinton. He was 48.

Born in Marks, Mr. Lollar had been a Vicksburg resident for the past 10 years. He was a former employee of Rainbow Casino and Waring Oil Co.

He is survived by two daughters, Sarah Latil and Julia Lollar, both of Oxford; his mother, Naomi Lollar of Jackson; two sisters, Lynda Lea Lollar of Jackson and Laura Lynn Davis of Texas; and one grandson.

Memorial services will be announced by Riles Funeral Home.

Linda Gay Merritt

OAK GROVE – Linda Gay Merritt died Wednesday, June 15, 2005, at her home in Oak Grove. She was 61.

She was preceded in death by her father, Lynard Loranzie Merritt; and her brother, David Wayne Merritt.

Survivors include her mother, Cleo E. Merritt of Oak Grove; and three sisters, Shirley Allred and Carolyn Cook, both of Oak Grove, and Brenda Edge of Dayton, Texas.

Services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Macedonia Baptist Church in Oak Grove with the Revs. Mike Howard, Truman Smith and Don Banks officiating. Burial will follow at Macedonia Cemetery with Cox Funeral Home in charge.

Pallbearers will be Darryl Rhinehart, Johnny Moss, Mike Patterson, James Patterson, Jerry Richardson and Bobby O’Neal.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jonathan Knowles, Justin Knowles, Trey Moss, Shadow Caston, Chance Caston, Jacob Knowles and Jada Hall.

Josephine Minniece

MERIDIAN – Josephine Minniece died Wednesday, June 15, 2005, at Heartfelt Hospice in Meridian. She was 84.

Mrs. Minniece was a retired bookkeeper for Medical Arts. She was an active member of Grace Fellowship Baptist Church, Meridian Garden Club and Heritage Literary Club. She served as president of the Junior Auxiliary and board member of Meridian Community College.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Dr. Hollis Landrum, both of Vicksburg; one sister, Rose Arinder of Clinton; a niece, Melanie McCoy of Clinton; a great-niece, Emily McCoy of Memphis; and other relatives and friends including Sara Emmons and Millie Jeffres, both of Meridian.

Services were at 11 this morning at Grace Fellowship Baptist Church in Meridian with Dr. Wayne Riley officiating.

Burial followed at Magnolia Cemetery with Stephens Funeral Home of Meridian in charge.

Memorials may be made to the Grace Fellowship Baptist Church, 5800 North Hills St., Meridian, Miss. 39305.

Dessie Mae Sandifer

ST. JOSEPH – Dessie Mae Sandifer died Thursday, June 16, 2005, at Carroll Nursing Home in Oak Grove. She was 91.

She was preceded in death by her husband, C. E. Sandifer; her parents, Andrew Sandifer and Ella Sandifer; two sons, Charles E. Sandifer and William Roscoe Sandifer; and one daughter, Alma Lee Sandifer.

Survivors include one daughter, Alvern Griffin of St. Joseph; one son, Kelvin D. Sandifer of Forest; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Herringville Baptist Church in Monticello with the Revs. Donnie Lensing and Rocky Stephens officiating. Burial will follow at Herringville Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 until 9 tonight at Cox Funeral Home in Oak Grove.

Pallbearers will be Kevin Sandifer, Jamie Sandifer, Scott Sandifer, Rodney Griffin, Mark Melville and Daniel Sledge III.

Lillian Simmons

PORT GIBSON – Lillian Simmons died Thursday, June 9, 2005, at her home in Port Gibson. She was 51.

Ms. Simmons was a member of Springhill M.B. Church, where she was in the choir.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Mattie Simmons.

She is survived by two sons, Andrew Hyder and Elbert Earl Simmons, both of Port Gibson; five daughters, Linda Walker, Shirley Simmons, Valerie Moore, Felecia Archer and Jasmin Simmons, all of Port Gibson; eight brothers, Roosevelt Hyder, Eddie Lee Hyder, Isaih Hyder, Alfred Simmons, Melvin Hyder, Henry Hyder, Louis Simmons and Johnnie Watson, all of Port Gibson; four sisters, Katie Branch, Mary Simmons, Mildred Simmons and Beatrice Farmer, all of Port Gibson; 17 grandchildren; one great-grandson; and nieces, nephews, friends and other relatives, including Gerald Nash and Antwaine Jones, both of Port Gibson.

Services will be at 1 p.m. today at Springhill M.B. Church with the Rev. Ray Coleman officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home of Port Gibson.

Thelma Walker

PORT GIBSON – Thelma Walker died Wednesday, June 8, 2005, at Claiborne County Nursing Center. She was 84.

Mrs. Walker was preceded in death by her parents, LeAnna and Quilley Edwards; her husbands, T.J. Wilson and Will Walker; a daughter, Ida Weathers; three brothers, Topeta Edwards, D.C. Walker and Veronia Edwards; and four sisters, Adell Edwards, Willie B. Coleman, Luevenia Edwards and Mary Lee Edwards.

She is survived by four sisters, R.V. Barnes of Port Gibson, Lee Ann Tarleton of Dayton, Ohio, Elaine Kendrick of Washington, D.C., and Essie King of Madison, Fla.; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Services were at 2 p.m. Thursday at Welcome Baptist Church of Port Gibson with the Rev. James Buck officiating. Burial followed at Thompson Memorial Garden Cemetery under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home.

Rosetta Watts

PORT GIBSON – Rosetta Watts died Saturday, June 11, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. She was 61.

Mrs. Watts was a member of Jerusalem Baptist Church. She worked as a nurse for the Claiborne County Public Schools for a number of years.

She is survived by her husband, Thomas Samuel Watts of Vicksburg; two sons, Dexter Gaines of Port Gibson and Jonathan Watts of Beloit, Wis.; two sisters, Mary Ann Thomas of Jackson and Dorothy Thompson of Bradenton, Fla.; seven grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Jerusalem Baptist Church in Port Gibson with the Rev. Eddie Walls officiating. Burial will follow at the Gaines family cemetery under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home of Port Gibson.

Visitation will be from 1 until 5 today at the funeral home and Saturday at the church from 10 a.m. until the service.