PORT GIBSON Myrtle L. Leasy died Thursday, Jan. 20, 2005, in Waukegan, Ill. She was 71.

Mrs. Leasy is survived by a son, Jimmy Ellis of Port Gibson; nine brothers, Johnnie Banks, Clarence Banks and Edgar Banks, all of Waukegan, Elvin Banks, Jerry Banks, Jimmy Banks and James Banks, all of Jackson, Denny Banks of Atlanta and Jimmy Banks of Ames, Iowa; four sisters, Martha Anderson of Hermanville and Florence Harvey, Peggy Banks and Mary Frances Banks, all of Jackson; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends, including Minnie Bell, Ethel Gardiner, Olivia Payton and Carol Brunson.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church of Port Gibson with the Rev. Jimmy Ellis officiating. Burial will follow at Whitehall M.B. Church Cemetery in Pattison.

Visitation will be from 1 until 5 today at Thompson Funeral Home in Port Gibson and Saturday at the church from noon until the service.

Edward Curtis McClain

EDWARDS Edward Curtis “Eddie” McClain died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005, at University of Mississippi Medical Center. He was 38.

Mr. McClain was born in Choctaw County. A graduate of Rebul Academy, he attended Hinds Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi. He worked as a waiter at the Park City Club for more than 10 years in Dallas, Texas, where he had lived for the past 15 years.

He was preceded in death by his father, Ralph Curtis McClain.

He is survived by his mother, Ann McClain of Edwards; a sister, Tammy McClain Moss of Fort Smith, Ark.; a brother, James Michael McClain of Edwards; and other relatives.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Edwards Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Edwards Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 until 8 tonight at Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home in Raymond and Saturday at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the service.

Memorial services will be later in Dallas.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Joseph Shelton

Services for Joseph Shelton will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Williams Funeral Service with the Rev. Walter Weathersby officiating. Burial will follow at Hopewell Church Cemetery.

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

Mr. Shelton died Sunday, Jan. 23, 2005, at his home. He was 64.

Mr. Shelton was a member of Mount Givens M.B. Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Johnson Shelton Sr. and Julia Perkins Shelton; and a brother, Johnson Shelton Jr.

Survivors include his wife, Alfredia Shelton of Indianapolis; a son, Joseph Shelton Jr. of Indianapolis; a daughter, Diane Moffett of Vicksburg; two sisters, Katie Gray and Chaney Peterson, both of Vicksburg; six grandchildren; and other relatives and friends, including the Eastman, Nelson, Peterson, Scott and Shelton families of Vicksburg.

Roger Wayne Shelton

EPPS, La. Roger Wayne Shelton died Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2005, at his home in Epps, La. He was 44.

Mr. Shelton was born in Topeka, Kan.

He is survived by his wife, Robin Shelton of Epps; three daughters, Katheryn Shelton and Caty Moore, both of Epps, and Angela Nicole Shelton Mitchell of Oak Grove; his parents, Robert A. and Ruth A. Holloway Shelton of Many, La.; two brothers, Robert Shelton of Mansfield, La., and Marty Shelton of Forest, La.; and two sisters, Beverly J. Lockwood of Lawrence, Kan., and Valerie Dunn of Many.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Epps Baptist Church with the Revs. Lee Piercy and Kenny Duchesne officiating. Burial will follow at Epps Cemetery under the direction of Cox Funeral Home in Delhi.

Pallbearers will be Sheldon Baker, Lloyd Rogan, Jerry Ratcliff, Robert Watkins, Mitchell Boyte and John Paul Johnston.

Honorary pallbearers will be at Eddie Newell and Jeff Moody.

Willard Lloyd Tyler Jr.

Willard Lloyd Tyler Jr. died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005, at River Region Medical Center. He was 63.

Mr. Tyler was a resident of Vicksburg. He was a 1958 graduate of Bowman High School. He received a bachelor’s degree in science from Jackson College in 1962 and a master of science degree in education with concentration in chemistry from Tuskegee Institute in 1966.

Mr. Tyler furthered his studies at Baylor University and the University of Southern Mississippi. He was selected for Who’s Who Among American High School Teachers and awarded the Star Teacher Award. He was a member of the Retired Teachers Association, American Chemical Society, National Science Teachers Association and Vicksburg Chapter of National Teachers Association. He taught in Drew and the Vicksburg Warren School District for 38 years, including at Lucy Jefferson Junior High School, Rosa A. Temple High School, North Vicksburg High and Vicksburg High School.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Alma Rhodes Tyler, and his sister, Dr. Lelia Tyler Sanders.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara Thomas Tyler; two daughters, Tammie Tyler Hauser of Jackson and Tonya Michelle Tyler of Baton Rouge; his father and stepmother, Willard Tyler Sr. and Saltine Tyler of Vicksburg; one brother, Maxwell Tyler of Vicksburg; four sisters, Wilbur Tyler Clay and Charlotte Sanders Tyler, both of Vicksburg, Linda Sanders Tyler Gater of Jackson and Dr. Deidre Ann Tyler of Salt Lake City; and two grandchildren.

Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Monroe Washington Jr.

Monroe “Pee-Wee” Washington Jr. died Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2005, at Vicksburg Convalescent Home. He was 56.

Mr. Washington was a retired gardener. He was of the Baptist faith.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Monroe Washington Sr. and Downsy Stewart; a daughter, Doris Ann Washington; two brothers, L.C. Washington and Clarence Washington; and two sisters, Theresa Favors and Clorda Williams.

Survivors include two sons, Monroe Washington III and Luther Charles Washington, both of Vicksburg; two brothers, Willie Washington and Steve Washington Sr., both of Vicksburg; a sister, Regina Bradley of Detroit; and a grandson, Daryl Jermaine Washington of Vicksburg.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home with the Rev. Joseph Briscoe officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery.