ED BURNS
Clarence Edward “Ed” Burns, 91, died Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at Wisteria Gardens  in Pearl.
Funeral services were Thursday at St. Matthews Methodist Church in Madison. Arrangements were under the direction of Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home.
Mr. Burns was born on Oct. 26, 1919 to Edward Holmes Burns and Ida Saxton Burns in Benton. He was a self-employed businessman most of his career.
He served his country in the Army Air Corps  during World War II as a Staff Sergeant in the 414th B-17 Squadron of the 97th Bomb Group. The 97th was part of the 8th Air Force in England, the 12th Air Force in North Africa, and the 15th Air Force in Italy.  He was  a decorated veteran being awarded the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service as well as other individual and company commendations.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, two brothers, a sister, and his beloved wife of  58 years,  Annie Lou Downing Burns.
Survivors include three sons, Robert (Gwen), Barry (Connie) and  David (Susan), five grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.   

RUBY COOKS
Ruby S. Cooks, 86, died April 5, 2011.
Funeral services were April 15 at Greater Sonora M.B. Church with Rev. B.E. Nix Sr. officiating. Burial followed at Glenwood Cemetery under the direction of Century Funeral Home.
Mrs. Cooks was born Dec. 8, 1925 in Griffin, La. to the late Willie Stockley and Annie Ottman Stockley. She was a member of Chapel Hill M.B. Church. She married Albert Cooks in 1948 and they had 12 children.
Survivors include five children, Alberta Cooks of Chicago, Betty Henderson, Mary Elizabeth Allen, Josephine Cooks and Andrew Cooks of Yazoo City; sister, Lillie B. Johnson of Yazoo City; eight grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Sammie Allen Jr., Corey Collins, Andrew Cooks, William Cooks, Eugene Stockley and Walter Young.
Honorary pallbearers were the deacons of Greater Sonora M.B. Church.

STANFORD GREEN
Stanford Edward “Fox” Green, 54, died April 10, 2011.
Funeral services were April 16 at Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church in Vaughan with Bishop Michael B. Nesby officiating. Burial followed at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery under the direction of Century Funeral Home.
Mr. Green was born July 23, 1956 in Yazoo County to Davis and Hattie Green.
Survivors include his daughter, Victoria Gibson (Fernandez); two grandchildren, Jalin Gibson and Ferlanda Gibson of Yazoo City; six brothers, David Green (Shirley), Eddie Lee Green, Ronnie Green (Ada),  J.C. Green and Hubert Green, all of Vaughan; a sister, Gwendolyn Williams (Henry) of Jackson; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were George Washington, Jason Proctor, Ronnie Green, Jeffrey Washington, Michael Mills and Anthony Green.

MOZELL HOOVER
Mozell Hoover, 91, died April 8, 2011 at Select Specialty Hospital in Jackson.
Funeral services were Wednesday at the Knight & Lindsey Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed at Glenwood Cemetery.
Ms. Hoover was born Jan. 8, 1920 to Johnny and Carrie Lee Anderson Hoover. She was a retired beautician and a member of Chapel Hill M.B. Church.
She was preceded in death by  her brothers, Columbus Robinson, Willie Taylor, Arthur Hoover and Eddie Hoover; and a sister, Alberta Murphy.
Survivors include a sister-in-law, Mittie Pearl Hoover of Yazoo City; and a host of other relatives and friends.
ISAIAH McCLUNG
Isaiah Kentrell McClung, four months, died April 14, 2011.
Funeral services were Monday at the Scott Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Elder Charles Jefferson officiating. Burial followed at Tye Cemetery in Benton.
Isaiah was born Jan. 2, 2011 at King’s Daughters Hospital. He was a very playful and cheerful baby.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Issac Fountain; great-grandparents, Ambers and Florida Fountain; and an uncle, Dontrell McClung.
Survivors include his mother, Tyeisha McClung; father, Issac Cowans; grandmothers, Patsy Cowans and Theresa McClung; step-grandfather, Roy Wilson Jr.; grandfather, Richard McClung II; great-grandparents, Hannah Cowans of Benton and Shirley Dungrey of Atlanta, Ga.; and a host of other relatives and friends.

RANDY ROBERTS
Ranell “Randy” Roberts, 76, died April 10, 2011.
Funeral services were April 16 at the United Christian Church in Jackson with Rev. Russell H. Myers officiating. Burial followed in Garden Memorial Park under the direction of Shaffer & Collins Memorial Funeral Home.
Mr. Roberts was born Feb. 19, 1935 in Yazoo County to Morris and Bessie Owens Roberts. He was a retired trucker, a member of Pearly Grove M.B. Church, a member of Lynch Lodge No. 2, Holy Royal Arch, Knights of Templar, Shriners and Jackson Consistory No. 117.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, L.C., T.J. and Louis; and two sisters, Minnie Verl and Morris Ella Spriggins.
Survivors include his wife, Norweida Roberts; Cory Giancola (Michael), Phyllis Roberts, Candice Jennins (William), Felicia Jennings Reese; brothers, Melvin (Margaret) Roberts and Felton Roberts; sisters, Ozelia Shaffer-Collins, Carrie Lee Johnson (Robert), Eunice Houston (Raymond) and a host of other relatives and friends.

JUANITA THOMAS
Juanita Ratliff Thomas, 61, died April 10, 2011.
Funeral services were Sunday at St. Paul C.M.E. Church in Bentonia with Rev. Danny A. Willis officiating. Burial followed at the church cemetery under the direction of Shaffer & Collins Funeral Home.
Mrs. Thomas was born Jan. 20, 1950 in Yazoo City to Yvonne Ratliffe and Hubert Harris. She was a cafeteria worker and teacher’s assistant at Gibbs School for many years and a member of St. Paul C.M.E. Church. She married Danny Thomas in 1980.
She was preceded in death by a stepfather, Perry Spence Sr.; and an uncle who reared her, Flanagan F. Ratliffe.
Survivors include, her mother, Yvonne Spence of Milwaukee; father, Hubert Harris of Belleville, Mich.; two daughters, Barbara Spencer (Timmie) of Bentonia and Pamela Gurley (Ronald) of Carrolton, Texas; son, Flanagan Harris of Tacoma, Wash.; five sisters, Lashell, Sandra and Lisa Spence, all of Milwaukee, Wanda Horn of Detroit and Michelle Harris of Belleville, Mich.; three brothers, Perry Spence Jr. of Milwaukee, Johnnie Ratliffe of Decatur, Ga. and Arcell Harris of Toledo, Ohio; 10 grandchildren, four great grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Clifton Hogue, Ronald Gurley, Charles Boles, Levi Lewis, Ronald Martin and Michael Fuqua. Honorary pallbearers were  John Ratliffe Jr., Cedric Griffin, Tariq Simmons, Marlin Anderson, Xavier Griffin and Ronald Gurley.

GLADYS BELL
Gladys Beatrice Norris Bell, 71, of Belzoni, died Monday, April 18, 2011 at Greenwood Leflore Hospital.
Funeral services were Friday at Burton Funeral Home in Indianola. Burial followed at Roundaway Cemetery in Doddsville.
Mrs. Bell was a security guard after her retirement from Jockey International.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Malcolm Davis Bell; a brother, Loyd Norris; and two great-grandchildren, Jordyn Holloway and Jasmine Williams.
Survivors include a son, Malcolm Davis Bell Jr. of Yazoo City; three daughters, Julie Katherine Rand of Belzoni, Melody Rose Cantrell of Belzoni and Barbara Bell Cox of Southaven; a brother, Tommy Norris of Indianola; four sisters, Patricia Lester of Pelahatchie, Kelcie Williams of Ventrice, La., Bonnie Nute of Munford, Tenn. and Barbara Upton of Indianola; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
An online guestbook is available at www.burtonfuneralhome.net.

JOE UPCHURCH
Joe D. Upchurch, 80,  of Florence died Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at River Oaks-Crossgates in Brandon.
Funeral services were Friday at the Stricklin-King Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Titus White officiating. Burial followed at Cypress Gardens Cemetery.
Mr. Upchurch was born July 20, 1930 in Yazoo County to Joe and Addie Vancleave Upchurch. He was a Pentecostal minister.
Survivors include his wife, Betty D. Upchurch of Florence; son, Joe B. Upchurch Sr. of Brandon; daughter, Dottie Ramsey of Jackson; four brothers, Melvin Upchurch of Yazoo City, James “Buddy” Upchurch of Yazoo City; Bobby L. Upchurch of Guntown and Marion L. Upchurch of Philadelphia; two sisters, Frances Murphy of Clinton and Carolyn Adcock of Largo, Fla.; seven grandchildren, Joe B. Upchurch Jr. (Audrie), Camey Barrett, Lauri Ann Marshall (Brian), Katie Sullivan (Jack), John Ramsey (Jessica), Josh Ramsey and Jacob Inman Ramsey.