JOSEPHINE BRADSHAW
Josephine Heard Bradshaw, 90, formerly of Phoenix died Oct.  9, 2011, in her home at the Aldersgate Retirement Community in Meridian.
She was born January 15, 1921, in Indianola to Annie Mae Cooper Heard and William Franklin Heard III, and reared in Jackson.  She was married to John W. (J.W.) Bradshaw II, in 1941.  They lived briefly in Phoenix,  before moving with their young family to Cotton Valley, La., where she and her husband managed a branch of the family’s home-furnishings business. Josephine maintained a busy schedule with church, children’s school and civic activities, and work.
In 1963, Josephine and J.W. returned to Mississippi, first to Jackson, where Josephine worked for Batte Furniture Company, and upon her retirement, to the Bradshaw family farm in Phoenix.  She took great pleasure in the restoration of the 160-year old Bradshaw farm house, involvement in Wesley Chapel Methodist Church, and a range of volunteer activities, especially her work with the Yazoo Historical Society. She also became an intrepid researcher of family histories—her own and others’.
Josephine moved with her husband in 1993 to Meridian’s Aldersgate Retirement Community and a wealth of new friendships, activities, and interests, taking particular pleasure in the weekly music recitals.  Toward the end of her life, she delighted in watching her great granddaughter in the recent film, “Babies.”
She was preceded in death by siblings, William Franklin Heard IV, May Phillips Heard Mayberry and Robert Pearce Heard of Jackson, Edward Cooper Heard of Reno, NV, and Thomas Melvin Heard of Meridian.
Besides her husband of 69 years, she is survived by her son, John W. Bradshaw III, his wife, Mary Webb Bradshaw of Montrose, Ala., and daughter, Mary Irene Bradshaw of Washington, DC. She is survived also by three grand children: John Frazer Bradshaw and his wife Susie Wise of Oakland, Calif., Danner Webb Bradshaw of Joshua Tree, Calif., and Benjamin Bradshaw Tolson of Austin, Texas, and one great granddaughter Hattie Anne Bradshaw of Oakland.
Nieces and nephews include: Cecille Bonney Hintson of Redwood, Evelyn Mayberry McLaurin of Raleigh, Kathleen Heard McNeil formerly of Meridian but now of Madison,  Thomas Melvin Heard Jr, and Michael Thomas Heard of Meridian, Margaret Heard Reihle of Brandon, William Franklin Heard V, of Dallas, Texas,  Dorothy Heard of Hattiesburg, Mary Adcock Hynum, of Jackson, Margaret Adcock Montgomery of Crystal Springs, and Edward Adcock of Denton, Texas.
Surviving cousins include Billie Jo Medders, of Bakersfield, Calif., Roberta Dayton, of Seattle, Wash., and Mel Cooper, of Bradenton, Fla. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, October 16, at 2 p.m. at Aldersgate Retirement Community, 6600 Poplar Springs Drive, Meridian, MS, 39305. Visitation will follow.
Memorials may be made to the Mississippi Senior Services Sunday Fund, a fund for elders who have outlived their financial resources (MSS Sunday Fund, Aldersgate Retirement Community, 6600 Poplar Springs Drive, Meridian. MS, 39305) or the charity of your choice.

CHARLES ABLES
Charles Edward Ables, 74, died Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011 at home.
Funeral services were Tuesday at Satartia First Baptist Church with Rev. Danny Duggan officiating. Services were under the direction of Stricklin-King Funeral Home.
Mr. Ables was born Feb. 7, 1937 in Yazoo County to Edward E. and Lucille Hawk Ables. He was a retired farmer and a member of First Baptist Church of Satartia.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Leola Ables; a brother, James Nobert Ables and a daughter, Stacey Ables.
Survivors include three sons, Michael Edward Ables of Yazoo City, Christopher Charles Ables of Vidalia and Daniel Frank Ables of Yazoo City; three brothers, Billy Ables (Patsy) of Holly Bluff; and Rayford Ables (Geraldine) of Batesville; a sister, Mary Leila Turnage (Jay) of Yazoo City; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

ROBERT HICKS Sr.
Robert A. “Bob” Hicks Sr., 69, died Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2011 at home.
Funeral services were Friday at the Stricklin-King Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Allen Winters officiating. Burial followed at Glenwood Cemetery.
Mr. Hicks was born Dec. 18, 1941 in Yazoo County to Willie Elvin Hicks and Annie Mae Hicks. He was a technician for Sears and a member of First Baptist Church of Satartia.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, William Darrell Hicks Sr., Meadie Allen Hicks Sr., Marvin Thomas Hicks and Carl Jackson Hicks Sr.; a sister, Janie Sue Killebrew; a grandson, Charles Allen Scarborough and a son-in-law, Thomas R. Potter Sr.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara Hicks of Wesson; three daughters, Karen Anne Hicks of Brookhaven, Laneita Gayle Gary (Elwin) of Bentonia and Melissa Michelle Tanksley (Bobby Wayne) of Wesson; a son, Robert Hicks Jr. (Susan) of Fairbanks, Alaska; three brothers, Elvin Hicks Jr. (Bobbie) of Napoleonville, La., Jimmy Dale Hicks (Pam) of Madison and Donald Peyton Hicks (Frances) of Canton; a sister, Barbara Ann Hawthorne (Tommy) of Bossier City, La.; granddaughters, Amanda Hughes, Nikkie Sue Potter, Kayla Gary, Misty Michelle Tanksley and Jessie Tanksley; grandsons, Jordan Ward, Thomas Randal Potter Jr., Jason Gary, Michael Sebastian Luke, Zachary Hicks Luke, Jeremy Tanksley, Robert Hicks III and Hunter Mitchell Hicks; and great-grandchildren, Jadon Keith Hughes, Mary Martin Hughes and Hannah Gary.

WILLIAM PLUNKETT
William K. Plunkett, 61, died Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011 at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson.
Funeral services were Friday at Concord Baptist Church with Rev. Gowan Ellis officiating. Burial followed at Concord Cemetery under the direction of Stricklin-King Funeral Home.
Mr. Plunkett was born Nov. 2, 1942 in Yazoo County to Richard L. and Evelyn A. Kirk Plunkett. He was a production manager for Georgia Gulf and a member of Concord Baptist Church. He was an Independent candidate for Yazoo County District 1 Supervisor.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Richard L. Plunkett Jr.
Survivors include his daughters, Erica Leigh Plunkett and Liza Bayles Plunkett, both of Atlanta, Ga.; a brother, Alfred W. Plunkett of Yazoo City; three sisters, Charlotte McCool of Panama City, Fla., Lena Claire Davis of Lexington and Susan McCulley of Nesbit; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Sonny Harpole, Herbie Kirk, Henry Kirk, Raymond Kirk, Kirk Harpole, Michael Bates, John Kirk and Billy Ray Harber.
Honorary pallbearers were Joe Perry, Ty Durden, Brian Burrough, Kyle Langford and Billy Sharpe Campbell.