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.

Jeff Ernest Jones

DANVILLE, Ill. — Jeff Ernest “Billy” Jones died Friday, Feb. 15, 2008, at Provena United Samaritans Medical Center in Danville, Ill. He was 74.

Mr. Jones retired as a machinist from Beard Manufacturing Co. in 1995. He was of the Baptist faith.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Bertha Prentiss Walker; his father, Robert “Bob” Jones; and a sister, Vivian Jones Prentiss.

Survivors include three sons, Jeff E. Jones Jr. of Dallas, Jeff E. Washington of Danville and Willie Jones of Cheyenne, Wyo.; one daughter, Ora Washington of Danville; and other relatives and friends, including Betty Matthews of Vicksburg and Virginia Cole of Country Club Hills, Ill.

Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Effie Mae Smith

Effie Mae Smith died Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, at River Region Medical Center. She was 100.

Mrs. Smith was a native of Amite County and had lived in Vicksburg for a number of years. She was a member of Gibson Memorial Methodist Church, where she had served as a nursery teacher and member of the choir, United Methodist Women and Kings Bible class. She was a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Anderson “Ance” Smith III; her parents, Solomon and Fannie Smith; two brothers, William “Bill” Sanders and Tommy Lee Sanders; and a sister, Beulah Simmons.

Survivors include one daughter, Mary Elizabeth Smith of Vicksburg; and other relatives, including James H. Simmons of Sacramento, Calif., and Thomas R. Simmons and Carolyn Marsh, both of Gardner-ville, Nev.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Bogue Chitto Baptist Church with the Revs. Greg Hazelrig, Ed Hightower, Mark Davis and Robert Dunn officiating. Burial will follow at Bogue Chitto Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 until 8 tonight at Glenwood Funeral Home and Tuesday at the church from 10 a.m. until the service.

Pallbearers will be John Paul Westbrook, Mark Davis, Charles Womack, Howard Madison, Hilary Westbrook and Brian Westbrook.

Memorials may be made to Gibson Memorial Methodist Church, 335 Oak Ridge Road, Vicksburg, MS 39183.