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.

Billy Joe Curbow

RULEVILLE – Billy Joe Curbow, 72, of Ruleville died Monday, Nov. 14, 2005, in Jackson. Funeral services are at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Ruleville Baptist Church in Ruleville. Burial will follow at Lehrton Cemetery under the direction of Ray Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 6 until 8 tonight at Ruleville Baptist Church and also from 1 until 2 p.m. Wednesday at the church.

Mr. Curbow was born in Tupelo to Robert Leonard and Elsie Christian Curbow. Following graduation from Tupelo High School, he attended Vanderbilt University on a football scholarship and Itawamba Junior College on a basketball scholarship. After serving in Germany in the armed services, he graduated from Mississippi College where he was on the basketball team and earned a BS degree in education. He later earned a master’s degree in guidance from Mississippi College.

Upon graduation from Mississippi College, he coached basketball and football at H.V. Cooper High School in Vicksburg. He was principal of Carr Junior High School in Vicksburg, Sardis High School and Pontotoc High School. He served as superintendent of Pontotoc City Schools until his retirement. Following retirement, he joined Magnolia State School Products in Columbus as a sales representative. He married Billie Thatch on Aug. 22, 1958.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Billie Thatch Curbow of Ruleville; his children, Kim Curbow Wilcox and husband, Doug, of Ridgeland and Karen Curbow Bowie and husband, Sid, of Madison; grandchildren, Gabriel and Kaci Wilcox; his mother, Elsie Curbow, and a brother, Tison Curbow, both of Tupelo; a sister, Mary Gregory of Southaven; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to North Sunflower Academy of Ruleville Baptist Church.

Joe W. Friley Jr.

Joe W. Friley Jr. died Sunday, Nov. 14, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. He was 69.

A longtime resident of Vicksburg, Mr. Friley was the son of the late Dersie and Joe Willis Friley Sr. He was a retired mechanic and a member of the Baptist faith.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Gloria Ann Friley; and a sister, Patsy Hayes.

He is survived by four daughters, DiAnn Boykin of Brandon, Donna Ainsworth of Pearl, Janice Lewis of Vicksburg and Angelia Hydrick of Wesson; three sons, James &#8220Bubba” Friley and Jerry Friley, both of Vicksburg, and William Friley of Ridgeland; two sisters, Edith Bender of Vicksburg and Linda Bates of Mesquite, Texas; a brother, Raymond Friley of Vicksburg; 22 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Cedar Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Greg Clemts, pastor of Southside Baptist Church, officiating.

Visitation will be at Riles Funeral Home Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the service.

Pallbearers will be Bert Boykin, Brad Boykin, James Thompson, Brandon Daffron, Danny Lewis Jr. and Claude Ezell.

Memorials may be made to the Mississippi Lung Association, P.O. Box 2178, Ridgeland, MS 39158.

Emma McGee

Services for Emma McGee will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Second Union Baptist Church in Utica with the Rev. Michael Reed officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Wednesday at Robbins Funeral Home.

Mrs. McGee died Thursday, Nov. 10, 2005 at Vicksburg Convalescent Home. She was 90.

Mrs. McGee was a member of Second Union Baptist Church in Utica.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Essix McGee; her parents, John and Fannie Neal; six sons; and two daughters.

Mrs. McGee is survived by six sons, Robert Neal of Houghton, Fla., Charlie McClendon of Tupelo, Eddie McClendon and John McClendon of Vicksburg, Theodore McClendon of Los Angeles and Frank McClendon of Utah; two daughters, Dorothy A. McClendon of Vicksburg and Diane Ford of Kosciusko; and grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.

Edwin Roy Murphy Jr.

Edwin Roy Murphy Jr. died Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2005, at his home in Greenville, S.C. He was 60.

A Vicksburg native, Mr. Murphy was a 1963 graduate of Cooper High School and graduated from Louisiana State University. He had worked as an architect in Greenville for the past 30 years.

He was a former member of Christ Episcopal Church in Vicksburg and was of the Episcopal faith.

Survivors include a sister, Mickey Barlow of Vicksburg; three brothers, Robert Murphy, James Murphy and Richard Murphy, all of Vicksburg; and nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Burial will follow under the direction of Fisher Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the UMC-Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children, P.O. Box 22789, Jackson, MS 39225.

Leonard Ragans

Leonard Ragans died Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005, at Promise Specialty Hospital. He was 49.

Mr. Ragans was a longtime resident of Edwards. He served in the Army and was a member of United Baptist Church in Edwards.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Caldonia Ragans, and a brother, Andrew Ragans Jr.

He is survived by three sisters, Elizabeth Hudson and Pearlie Norris, both of Edwards, and Geneva Wilson of Vicksburg; two brothers, John Willie Ragans and Walter Ragans, both of Edwards; and nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.

Robbins Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Thomas Ray Stallings

NEW ORLEANS – Thomas Ray Stallings died Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2005. He was 45.

Mr. Stallings was born in Vicksburg and had lived in New Orleans for the past 35 years. He was a member of St. Andrew the Apostle Church, where he had served as a deacon for four years. He was a district sales manager for Crescent Crown Distributing.

He was preceded in death by his father, William Thomas Stallings.

Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Patricia Stallings; two daughters, Jennifer Stallings and Amanda Stallings; his mother, Dorothy Stallings of Baton Rouge; a brother, Bill Stallings; and a sister, Connie Stallings Fournet.

Services were Sept. 29 at St. Andrew the Apostle Church. Burial followed at Westlawn Cemetery.