LILLIE MARTIN
Lillie C. Martin, 100, died Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at King's Daughters Hospital in Yazoo City.
Visitation will be Sunday at  1 p.m. until the funeral at 3 p.m. at Stricklin-King Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Yazoo County. Rev Larry Haggard, Rev. George Butler, and Rev. Wayne Johnson will officiate.
A member of St. John’s United Methodist Church, she was a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband; Cecil Alvin Martin, infant daughter; Vivian May Martin, daughters; Florine M. Hardaway,  and Lois M. Davis Hardaway, grandsons; Randy Cessna, and infant grandson Hugh Carson McGraw, sisters; Sylvia Carter and  Pauline Miller and her parents, Charles Marion and Lucy Everett Carson.
Mrs. Martin is survived by  three daughters, Faye M. Murphy of Rodessa, La., Bobbie M. Cessna of Laurel and Charline M. McGraw of Yazoo City; 14 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren, 23 great-great-grandchildren, brother Charles Carson of Lexington, sisters Ruby King of Yazoo City, Betty Clark and Maxine Langston, both of Jackson.

CHET MATTHEWS
Chet was born on February 10, 1961, to Mr. Lee Andrew Williams and Mrs. Catherine Matthew, who proceeded Chet in death alone with a  baby sister.  
Chet and his brother Lenny were raised by their Grandparents Mrs. Pinky Matthews and Mr. Britt Matthews, whom also proceeded him in death.  
Chet attended Yazoo City Public Schools and graduated with the class of 1980. While attending school, Chet had a strong desire for art, which he became an excellent drawer.  Chet also had a  passion for karate which he and his brother Lenny along with Chester Johnson would spend hours imitating Bruce Lee.
Chet was employed at the Denny Paul Farm, where he served as a faithful and loyal employee for over 20 years until his untimely death.
Chet Matthews leaves to cherish his memories one daughter: Jessica James of Yazoo City; one brother, Lenny Matthews of Yazoo City; three grandchildren: Ariyana James, Jamari Wilcox and MichealaWilcox all of Yazoo City.  A very special and devoted friend for many years, Clementine Brown of Yazoo City; one aunt, Minnie Cherry of Vaiden, MS. He also leaves two nephews, four nieces and a host of relatives and friends.  

JUANITA MELTON
Juanita Melton, 85, died Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at King’s Daughters Hospital.
Funeral services were Friday at the Stricklin-King Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Lewis Kalil officiating. Burial followed at Glenwood Cemetery.
Mrs. Melton was born July 26, 1925 in Yazoo City to Lawrence E. and Mary Eva Martin Halford. She was a retired legal secretary and a member of First Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Waburn Melton; a son, Dennis Melton; sister, Dorothy Sutherland; and a son-in-law, Mike Chester.
Survivors include two daughters, Sherrie Kirk (Mike) of Vaughan and Terry Gibson (John) of Vaughan; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and five great-great grandchildren.
Serving as pallbearers were her grandsons and great-grandsons.

BETTY SMITH
Betty Morris Smith was born to the union of Elder Samuel and First Lady Louise Harper Morris, on Monday,  July 1, 1929 in Madison County.  
Betty Morris Smith was united in holy matrimony to Mr. Willie Smith. She had nine children, three of whom preceeded her in death, Linda Jean Smith, Otis (Nadean) Smith, Sr., and Willie (Bill) Spivey.
Obie (Eula) Smith, Virginia Beach, VA; Charles Smith, Conyers, GA; Jimmy (Dawn) Smith, Jackson, MS; Mary Smith, Augusta, GA; Rosie (Stevie) Smith, Jackson, MS; Evangelist Sylvia (Elder Terry) Jiles Sr, Jackson, MS.
Her talent for crerating such masterpieces such as purses, shoes and dresses helped build a stable spiritual foundation at home and church for her children, grandchildren and others.  Her walk with the Lord helped her to trust in the Lord to take nothing and make it into something in the kitchen and the community. By reading the bible to her children and grandchildren, she instilled independence and how to “Trust the Lord.” She also believed in chastising her children and some of her grandchildren (some got away). She was a kind woman, there were times when she did without to make sure others had.  
She departed this life on June 27 at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center, Jackson, Mississipi at 4:30 a.m.
She leaves to cherish her sisters: Susie Paige, Nashville, TN; Bernice (Fred) Gordon, Hot Springs, AR; a brother: Percy (Shirley) Morris, Flint, MI; 6 children, 6 step children, 17 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends.  

LUCAS THOMAS
Lucas B. Thomas, 86, of Ebenezer died July 2, 2011.  
Funeral services were Thursday at the Ebenezer Methodist Church.  Burial followed at the church cemetery.
Mr. Lucas was member of the Ebenezer Methodist Church, a WW II Navy veteran serving in the Pacific Theatre and a retired employee of Yazoo Valley Electric Association after 32 years.
Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Brock Thomas; son, Patrick B. "Sonny" Thomas and daughter, Donna Thomas all of Ebenezer, 5 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

GRACE WARD
Grace E. Ward, 89, died Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at University Medical Center in Jackson.
Funeral services were Friday at the Stricklin-King Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed at Midway Baptist Cemetery.
Mrs. Ward was born Jan. 11, 1922 in Yazoo County to Frank and Molly Saxton Eldridge. She was a homemaker and a member of Midway Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Claude Ward; a grandson, Keith Ward; and a daughter-in-law, Phyllis Ward.
Survivors include a daughter, Claudine Harkins (Jerry) of Yazoo City; four sons, Thomas Ward (Patsy), Roy Ward and Bobby Ward (Merry), all of Benton; and Gene Ward (Bonnie) of Yazoo City; two sisters, Mary Burrell of Yazoo City and Polly Carnahan of Winona; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.