YVONNE BROWN
Yvonne Latina Rayford Brown, 59, died April 23, 2012.
Funeral services were Saturday at New Jerusalem Church in Jackson with Rev. Tony Reimonenq officiating. Burial followed at Rosebank Cemetery under the direction of Century Funeral Home.
Mrs. Brown was born Sept. 8, 1952 in Chicago to Bennie and Hilda Debro Rayford. She was raised in Toledo, Ohio and earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Jackson State University.
In 1995 she and her husband, Rev. Robert C. Brown, moved to Holmes County to begin Grace Community Church. It became a platform for a food pantry, GED and computer classes, after school tutoring and mission projects for the Delta.
In 2001 she became the first black female Republican elected as mayor in Mississippi when she was elected mayor of Tchula. She was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 2004. After an unsuccessful race for the 2nd Congressional District she did not seek re-election as mayor, but instead chose to accept a position as Human Service County Director for Lowndes County DHS in Columbus.
Survivors include two daughters, Nichole Barnett and Aliya Barnett; mother, Hilda D. Rayford; sisters, Lavonne Rayford Chestang, and Gail Rayford Ambeau (Dexter); two granddaughters; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Randolph Chestang IV, Renwick Chestang, Van Chestang, Bennie Chestang, Donovan Ambeau, Dee Brown, Drexter Ambeau and Lea Seaton.

BILL JONES
William H. "Bill" Jones, 81, died Sunday, May 6, 2012 at Brandon Courts Rehabilitation Home.
Funeral services are today at 11 a.m. at Midway Baptist Church with Rev. Dan Malone officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery under the direction of Stricklin-King Funeral Home.
Mr. Jones was born April 21, 1931 in Yazoo County to William Harrison Jones and Susie Saxton Jones. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran and served as Yazoo County’s purchasing clerk for 30 years. He was a member of Midway Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon for 45 years.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Garnett Jones; and a sister, Josephine McDaniel.
Survivors include his wife, Jo Ann Jones; sons, Billy Jones (Ginny)  of Benton and Brad  Jones  (Amy Warren) of Brandon; seven grandchildren; brothers, Madison Jones of Winona, Oscar Jones of Walden, Colorado, Louis Jones of Durby, Kansas, James S. Jones of Saucier, and Sam Jones of Moss Point.
Memorials be made to Midway Baptist Church.

DELORES JONES
Delores Jones, 57, died April 27, 2012.
Funeral services were Saturday at Promise Land Baptist Church in Thornton with Rev. Henry Pittman officiating. Burial followed at Sweet Canaan Church Cemetery.
Mrs. Jones was born May 14, 1954 in Lexington to Ethel Mae Cooks and Cornelius Pinkey. She graduated from Tchula Attendance Center in 1973 and then from Holmes Junior College and Delta State to earn her CNA, SNA and associate’s degree. She worked at Lexington Manor, the Yazoo Hotel, Motel Sleeper and as manager of child nutrition at Mileston Middle School for 20 years.
Survivors include two sons, Michael Jones (Carla) of Greenwood and John Jones of Thornton; three daughters, Jennifer Jones of Greenwood, and Mary Jones and Deonna Jones, both of Mileston; a sister, Ophelia Jones of Los Angeles, Calif.; six grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

RUBY KING
Ruby Evans King, 94, died Friday, May 4, 2012 at home.
Funeral services were Monday at the Stricklin-King Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Bill Poole officiating. Burial followed at Glenwood Cemetery.
Mrs. King was born Sept. 20, 1917 in Yazoo County to Charles Marion Carson and Lucy Everett Carson. She was  a 1935 graduate of Yazoo High School and a 1937 graduate of Holmes Junior College. She was the retired owner of Yazoo Florist, which she founded with Rebecca Hammonds in 1963, and an active member of First United Methodist Church. She was a past president of the Four Seasons Garden Club and served on the boards of the Triangle Cultural Center and the Homemakers Club.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Ernest Evans and C.T. King; three sisters, Lilly Carson Martin, Sylvia Carson Carter and Pauline Carson Trammell; and a grandson, Wes King.
Survivors include two sons, Ernest C. Evans (Lou Anne) of Crystal Springs and Noel L. Evans (Theresa) of Louisville, Kentucky; two stepsons, Camp King and Jim King of Yazoo City; a brother, Charles M. Carson Jr. (Jean) of Lexington; two sisters, Maxine C. Langston and Bettye Lou Clark (John), both of Jackson; four grandchildren, Mark Evans (Michelle), Randy Evans (Jenny), Eric Evans and Jennifer Lingle (C.L.); and three great-grandchildren, Will Lingle, Liz Lingle and Maya Evans;  and a host of other relatives and friends.
The family wishes to thank sitters Jeaneane Jenkins, Linda Hilderbrand and Hospice Ministries.

EDDIE PETTUS
Eddie "Foots" Pettus, 60, died May 1, 2012.  Funeral services were held May 3, 2012 at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Lexington.  Burial was in the church cemetery.  
Survivors include his aunt, Stacye Robertson Hartzog of Jackson, a number of cousins and a host of friends.

LARRY PORTER Sr.
Larry Gene Porter Sr., 55, died Sunday, May 6, 2012 at Baptist Medical Center in Jackson.
Visitation is tonight from 5-7 p.m. at Stricklin-King Funeral Home.
Funeral services are Thursday  at 2 p.m. at the Stricklin-King Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at Central-Holmes Cemetery.
Mr. Porter was born March 27, 1957 in Yazoo County to Millard and Elizabeth Richardson Porter. He was a lumber inspector and a Baptist.
Survivors include his wife, Brenda B. Porter of Yazoo City; a daughter, Brandi Porter of Yazoo City; two sons, Larry Porter Jr. and Kevin Porter of Yazoo City; three sisters, Patricia B. Daffron of Carthage, Gloria Parker of Yazoo City and Denise Hammock of Pearl; and three grandchildren.