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.

Ester Jean Goings

UTICA — Ester Jean Goings died Thursday, March 6, 2008, at Copiah Living Center in Crystal Springs. She was 79.

A lifelong resident of Utica, Mrs. Goings was a member of the Eastern Star and Utica Christian Church. She retired from Gayfer’s Department Store in Jackson.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Colbert Goings; and a brother, Will Roy Martin.

Survivors include one son, Robert Goings of Saudi Arabia; one daughter, Denise Strong of Hazlehurst; a brother, Don Martin of Utica; a sister, Edith Merle Herren of San Antonio, Texas; and two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Utica Christian Church with the Rev. Brad Harzog officiating. Burial will follow at Dentville Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 until 8 tonight at Glenwood Funeral Home in Utica.

Pallbearers will be Will Roy Martin Jr., Fred Cessna, Chad Cessna, Caleb Ford, Nicholas Ford and Cameron Hickey.

Honorary pallbearers will be Sherry Cessna, Holly Cessna, Tiffany Ford and Michael Hickey.

Memorials may be made to Utica Christian Church, P.O. Box 306, Utica, MS 39175; Utica United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 205, Utica, MS 39175; or Utica Baptist Church, P.O. Box 308, Utica, MS 39175.

Derrick A. Jefferies

PORT GIBSON — Derrick A. Jefferies died Thursday, March 6, 2008, as the result of a motor vehicle accident. He was 31.

Mr. Jefferies is survived by his father, Charles Wilson of Port Gibson; his mother, Velma Jeffers of Vicksburg; his fiance, Sandra Bass of Mobile, Ala.; one brother, Antonio Jefferies of Vicksburg; four sisters, Tanya D. Jeffers of Vicksburg and Anisha K. Wilson, Alexis Reed and QuaTevia Armstrong, all of Port Gibson; and aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends, including Nancy Williams and Mary Moore of Saginaw, Mich., and Sharon Tolliver of Pattison.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Mercy Seat M.B. Church in Port Gibson with the Rev. Lonnie O’Quinn officiating. Burial will follow at St. Luke Church Cemetery in Pattison under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home of Port Gibson.

Reynolds Lamar Richardson Jr.

MERIDIAN — Visitation for Reynolds Lamar Richardson Jr. will be today, March 10, from 6 until 8 at Trinity Presbyterian Church parlor. Visitation will also be Tuesday, March 11, from 10 a.m. with services following at 11 a.m. at Trinity Presbyterian. Burial with a graveside service will follow at Gum Log Cemetery in Bailey, Miss.

Mr. Richardson, 79, died Friday, March 7, at Rush Memorial Hospital.

He was born Jan. 7, 1929, to Reynolds Lamar Richardson Sr. and Marguerite Gunn Richardson of Meridian, who preceded him in death.

Survivors include Coralie Rogers Richardson, his wife of 50 years; daughter Holly Richardson Guidry and husband Jimmy of Brusly, La.; sons Jeffrey Gunn Richardson and wife Marian of Vicksburg and Reynolds Lamar Richardson III of Baton Rouge; and grandsons Travis Lamar Arceneaux of Gonzales, La., Baxter Pratt Richardson and Jack Bacon Richardson, both of Vicksburg, and Luke Latour Richardson and Brooks Burnett Richardson, both of Baton Rouge.

R.L. was a 1947 Meridian High School graduate and a 1952 graduate of Mississippi State with a bachelor of science in geology. He was Kappa Alpha fraternity president; a veteran of the Air Force, second lieutenant/geologist, Schlumberger; Braddock, Dunn and McDonald Inc. marketing director; and Honeywell account executive, retiring after 33 years of service.

In Baton Rouge, he was Little League football coach; treasurer of the Audubon Girl Scout Council; elder of Broadmoor Presbyterian Church USA; Meals on Wheels volunteer; Master Gardeners laborer; president of the local chapter of the Audubon Society; moderator of the Presbytery of Mississippi Disaster Recovery Program on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; and an avid Mississippi State sports fan.

He was a beloved husband, father and grandfather.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Trinity Presbyterian Church USA, Meals on Wheels or a favorite charity.

Stephens Funeral Home of Meridian has charge of arrangements.

Kelli N. Roberts

Kelli N. Roberts died Saturday, March 8, 2008, at River Region Medical Center. She was 27.

Miss Roberts was a lifelong resident of Vicksburg. She was formerly employed at Motel 8 in Vicksburg.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Carey Roberts; her maternal grandfather, Gene Reynolds; and paternal grandfather, Billy Worthy.

Survivors include her companion, Donald Schuman of Vicksburg; mother, Sandy R. May of Utica; her father, David Roberts Jr., and wife Sherry Roberts of Vicksburg; two brothers, Kelsey Roberts of Cabot, Ark., and Colin Roberts of Vicksburg; five sisters, Bethany Roberts, Selah Roberts, Shiloh Roberts, Rachel Roberts, all of Vicksburg and Candy Nettles of Delta, La.; paternal grandparents, David Roberts Sr. and Viki Porter, both of Vicksburg; paternal grandmother, Ruby Worthy of Vicksburg; maternal grandmother, Margaret Reynolds of Vicksburg; two nephews, Caleb Roberts of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Leland Alexander of Delta, La.; stepfather, Richard May of Lafayette, La.; and two stepbrothers, Richie May and Mitchell May.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. J. Mason Phillips, officiating. Burial will follow at Green Acres Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 5 until 8 Tuesday at Glenwood Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Daniel Heidenreich, Justin Hedgepeth, Frank Davis, Richie May, Justin Rouse and Buddy Wyatt.