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.

Haywood Clark Emerson

MARIETTA, Ga. – Haywood Clark Emerson, formerly of Vicksburg, died Wednesday, April 18, 2007, at the Rhodes Home in Marietta, Ga. following a 10-year battle with Parkinson’s. He was 87.

Services were held at St. James Episcopal Church in Wllmington, N.C. He was buried there in the Oakdale Cemetery.

Haywood was born Dec. 12, 1919, in Sumter, S.C., the second son of Laura Clark Emerson and Horace Mann Emerson Jr. of Wilmington, N.C. Following his father’s death when Haywood was 12 years old, the family moved back to Wilmington, where he graduated from high school in 1936.

Haywood then attended Sewanee, The University of the South, and graduated in 1940 as a Junior Class Phi Beta Kappa inductee. He next spent a year at University of North Carolina as a graduate student.

By the summer of 1941, Haywood believed that the United States’ entry into the war in Western Europe was inevitable – and wanting to fly, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps.

In the summer of 1942, his squadron was assigned to the Troop Carriers Command, whose primary mission was to drop paratroopers during-the invasion of North Africa. The squadron later participated in the invasions of Sicily and Southern Italy. Particularly in Sicily, the U.S. met stiff German resistance, but prevailed – and the squadron was heavily decorated.

Haywood always maintained that his proudest and most important achievement in the War was, &#8220I never lost a man during a drop.”

After the invasion of Southern Italy, the fliers were given the opportunity to return to the U.S. for reassignment. Being eager to fly the new B-29s just coming off the assembly lines, Haywood opted to transfer to the Transport Command, where he spent the balance of the War delivering B-29s from the U.S. to Southeast Asia.

Shortly after the war, Haywood began a 30-year career with the Vendo Company, a manufacturer of beverage vending equipment. He was responsible for sales development in the four Southern states bordering the Gulf. Vicksburg

was in the middle of his sales territory and his sister’s family lived here, and he visited often.

In 1951, he married Elizabeth Cardwell Marye, who also grew up in Wilmington, and moved to Vicksburg. They immediately fell in love with the city, and spent 17 memorable years here.

In 1968, Vendo transferred Haywood and his family to Virginia. After eight years away, he left the company, and the Emersons returned to Vicksburg for another 20 happy years.

Vicksburg was very important to Haywood. He spent the largest portion of his life here, and developed many close and enduring friendships. All three of his sons were born here. He was an active member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, where he coordinated the acolyte program for many years.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Elizabeth Marye Emerson; three sons, Haywood Clark Emerson Jr. and his wife, Bonnie, of Atlanta, Ga., Robert Marye Emerson of Gainesville, Ga.; and William Cardwell Emerson, and his wife, Teresa, of Vicksburg.

Lou Ellen Obert Farrell

TUPELO – Lou Ellen Obert Farrell died Friday, April 27, 2007 in Tupelo. She was 80.

Mrs. Farrell was a 1947 graduate of the University of Oklahoma and formerly lived in Mississippi.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Mary Obert; her husband, Warren Joseph Farrell; two sisters Anna Margaret Obert and Ruth Day; and two brothers, David Obert and Paul Obert.

Survivors include three daughters, Margaret Robertson of St. Johns, Ariz., Mary Thomas of Tupelo; and Ruth Ann Parker of Louin; five sons, Joseph Farrell of Vicksburg, Louis Farrell of Spotsylvania, Va.; Michael Farrell of Apache, Okla.; the Rev. Timothy Farrell of Farmington, N.M., and Patrick Farrell of Vidalia, Ga.; a brother, Eugene Obert of Houston; 18 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Mother of Sparrows Catholic Church in Apache, Okla., with Rev. Timothy Farrell officiating. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery in Apache, Okla. under the direction of Crews Funeral Home.

Private visitation will be Tuesday.

Minnie Grey Fletcher

PORT GIBSON – Services for Minnie Grey Fletcher will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Glenwood Funeral home in Port Gibson with the Rev. Randy Williams officiating. Burial will follow at Green Acres Memorial Park in Vicksburg. Visitation will be 1 to 5 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mrs. Fletcher died Thursday, April 26, 2007, at Claiborne County Nursing Center. She was 96.

A Vicksburg resident for many years, Mrs. Fletcher was a member of Woodlawn Baptist Church and had retired from Culkin School.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter C. Tucker and Minnie Estelle Tucker; her husband, Henry Fletcher; a son, Freddie L. Fletcher; a daughter, Janie Anderson; four sisters, Lottie Logue, Martha Irene Cadenhead, Clyde Mallett and Ruby Klineman; and a brother, John Tucker.

She is survived by four daughters, Barbara Ann Moody of Arlington, Texas, Betty Jo Anderson of Utica, Patsy Renfrow of Ferriday, La., and Linda Nations of Clayton, La.; two sons, Carroll Fletcher of Philadelphia, Miss., and Sidney Fletcher of Sicily Island, La.; 31 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Paul Wright, Michael Renfrow, William Stacy Moody, Monty Fletcher, John Fletcher and Johnathon Fletcher.

Rosalind Y. Littleton

Rosalind Y. Littleton died Saturday, April 28, 2007, at River Region Medical Center. She was 40.

Mrs. Littleton was a member of Standfield New Life Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jimmy Williams and Edith Marshall Williams.

Survivors include her husband, John O. Littleton; two sisters, Mary Marshall Calvin and Gloria Marshall Givens, both of Vicksburg; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and others.

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