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.

Freddie Lee Barnett

Services for Freddie Lee Barnett will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home with Minister June Chiplin Thomas officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 until 6 tonight at the funeral home.

Mr. Barnett died Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. He was 52.

Mr. Barnett was a former member of First Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his father, Phillip Barnett Sr.

He is survived by his mother, Gladys Lee Barnett of Vicksburg; two brothers, Phillip Barnett Jr. and Anderson James Barnett, both of Vicksburg; and nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.

Nathaniel Davis Sr.

UTICA – Nathaniel Davis Sr. died Monday, Dec. 19, 2005, at St. Dominic Memorial Hospital in Jackson. He was 69.

A resident of Utica, Mr. Davis was self-employed.

Services will be at noon Friday at Westhaven Memorial Funeral Home with the Rev. Alonzo McClure officiating. Burial will follow at Springfield Church Cemetery in Copiah County.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Mary Simpson Jenkins

Mary Simpson Jenkins died Monday, Dec. 19, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. She was 86.

A native of Fitler, Mrs. Jenkins had lived in Vicksburg for a number of years and was a resident of Covenant Health and Rehab. She was a member of Mount Heroden M.B. Church, where she was a past member of the Senior Choir.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George Jenkins; one son, Joseph J. Jenkins; and 16 siblings.

Survivors include four granddaughters, Winnie Jenkins and Avis Jenkins, both of Vicksburg, Denise M. Jenkins of Dallas and Sharon L. Jenkins of Daly City, Calif.; two great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and other relatives including Dorothy Johnson, Mary Seaton of Cary and Tina Burns of Chicago.

Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Edith O’Connor Johnson

Edith O’Connor Johnson died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. She was 100.

A homemaker, Mrs. Johnson was of the Baptist faith.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Sam Johnson; a son, Perry Flowers Jr.; a brother, Aaron &#8220Sonny” O’Connor; and her parents, Herman and Bessie O’Connor.

She is survived by cousins and other relatives, including Velma Bunch and Willie Mae Carter, both of Vicksburg.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home with the Rev. Robert L. Miller Sr. officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Stella Kellum

FLORENCE – Stella Kellum died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005, at her home in Florence. She was 53.

Mrs. Kellum was a member of Beechwood Assembly of God in Vicksburg. She graduated from Warren Central High School and Vicksburg Business College. She worked at Vicksburg Credit Bureau before moving to Jackson and had retired from the G.V. &#8220Sonny” Montgomery Medical Center.

Survivors include her husband, James Wade Kellum of Florence; two sons, Nathan Wesley Kellum of Memphis and Ethan Kane Kellum of San Diego, Calif.; two daughters, Sonya Michelle Shank of Jackson and Chelsea K. Scott of Las Vegas; two brothers, Roy Hearn of Florence and John Paul Hearn of Leander, Texas; eight grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl. Burial will be at Lakewood South.

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

Jean M. Rule

Jean M. Rule died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. She was 69.

A native and lifelong resident of Warren County, Mrs. Rule was the daughter of the late James H. and Cleta E. Howard Meade. She retired as a design technician for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1994. She was past president of the Vicksburg Country Club Ladies Golf Association and a member of Yokena Presbyterian Church.

She is survived by her husband, Charles Rule of Vicksburg; two sons, Jim Bishop and Mike Bishop, both of Vicksburg; two daughters, Leigh Lewis of Clinton and Cathy Head of Vicksburg; four stepdaughters, Terri Hyatt and Pauline Rule, both of Jackson, Chris Bryant of Hattiesburg and Bonnie Farlow of London, England; a brother, James H. Meade Jr. of Starkville; and 11 grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Fisher Funeral Home with the Rev. David Daniels officiating. Burial will follow at Yokena Cemetery.

Visitation will be from noon Wednesday until the service.

Pallbearers will be Gregory Head, Paul Lewis, Jeff Bryant, Billy Hyatt, Adam Farlow and Lennell &#8220Butch” Clanton.

Honorary pallbearers will be Mary Winkley, Billy Caldwell, Judy McKnight, Rhada Hopkins, Clovis &#8220Buddy” Parsons, Bobby Newman and members of the Vicksburg Country Club Ladies Golf Association.

Memorials may be made to Yokena Presbyterian Church, U.S. 61 South, Vicksburg, MS 39180.

Fred Sanders Jr.

Fred Sanders Jr. died Friday, Dec. 16, 2005, in Gary, Ind. he was 85.

Mr. Sanders was of the Baptist faith. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Army. He was retired.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Blannie Mae Sanders; a brother, Willie Sanders; four sisters, Ida Jackson, Mary Jones, Delilah Jordan and Ellen Sanders; and his parents, Fred Sanders Sr. and Louisa Sanders.

Survivors include two daughters, Willie Mae Landfair of Harvey, Ill., and Antoinette Harris of Cleveland, Ohio; three sisters, Elizabeth Sanders of Vicksburg, Ruth Simpkins of Miami, Fla., and Tethel Bridge of Gary; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.

W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Margaret Mae Wilkinson

Margaret Mae Wilkinson, 85, died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005, at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland. Visitation is 4:30-8 tonight and prior to the service, at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Glenwood Funeral Home of Vicksburg with the Rev. Charles P. Crisco officiating. Burial will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg.

Mrs. Wilkinson was born in Paducah, Ky., on Dec. 29, 1919. Her family moved to Mississippi and she resided in Vicksburg for most of her life. She was preceded in death by both parents; her husband, Ray Wilkinson; and her brother, Tommy McReynolds.

Mrs. Wilkinson was a member of the Bowmar Avenue Baptist Church. She was a strong believer in turning to God for all things. Her faith was strong through all of the trials life sent her way. She was a caregiver for her mother and husband for many years. She was always there to take care of whatever need had to be met for those she loved. Giving was something she did from her heart and expected nothing in return.

She worked at Sears for 36 years. During the time she worked there, she wrote and performed the &#8220Sears Bop Boogie.” One of her greatest delights was playing the guitar and doing the &#8220Minnie Pearl” act. She entertained in numerous places through many years. Another of her pleasures was the collecting of Teddy Bears. She was featured in The Vicksburg Post with her 85 bears and a poem she wrote commemorating the Teddy Bear as the state toy.

Her favorite love was music. She delighted in singing with family members and friends when they came to visit. She would play her organ or guitar and sing. Her home was always a place you felt welcome, and she would do anything to make you happy.

Mrs. Wilkinson is survived by her three brothers, Robert L. McReynolds Sr. of Jackson and wife Mary Lou, B.A. McReynolds of Brandon and wife Jean, and Cecil McReynolds of Baton Rouge and wife Doris; and many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Robby McReynolds, Jamie Meadows, Mark Comans, Greg Howard, David McLain and John Culley.

Happy Teddy Bear

Yes, I’m a Happy Teddy Bear

Just happy as can be

Because you Mississippi

Made a celebrity out of me.

My Heart is so big

And it’s filled with joy

Just because you chose me

Your favorite state toy.

I’m so happy you chose me

To represent your state.

Though I’m just a teddy bear toy

I stand for all that’s great.

I’m so lovable and huggable

I’ll be expecting you.

When you’re out shopping

Look for me too.

I’m here to welcome everyone

And brighten up your day.

When you see my great big smile

Your cares will all go away.