WILBURN FOUCHE

Wilburn Holmes Fouché, 73, of Somerville, born to the late Walter and Allene Fouché of Yazoo City, died May 26, 2012 at Methodist Hospital in Germantown.  He was a devoted and active member of Wesley Chapel C.M.E. church.  He earned a B.S. in Business from then Tennessee A&I University and a M.N.A. from Texas Southern University.  He was a lifetime member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.  He worked at several colleges during his lifetime including Alcorn, MSCU, Kentucky State, Lemoyne-Owen and Morris Brown.  
He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Doris; one daughter, Twyla McBride (Marlon); one grandson, Matthew McBride whom he affectionately called “Bobo”; one sister, Precious Banks of Yazoo City; two brothers, Winston Fouché of St. Louis, MO, and David Fouché (Burnette) of Jackson, MS; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  Visitation was held May 30 from 6-8 p.m. at Wesley Chapel C.M.E church.  Alpha Phi Alpha Omega service followed visitation.  
Services were held May 31 at 11 a.m. at Wesley Chapel C.M.E. Church with burial following.  


FANNIE GERALDS

Fannie Wilson Geralds, 101, died June 1, 2012.  
Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 9, at 1 a.m. at Mt. Nebo M.B. Church with Rev. Darryl Phillips officiating in Bentonia.  Burial will be at Cypress Garden in Yazoo City under the direction of Scott Memorial Funeral Home.
Mrs. Fannie W. Geralds was born March 13, 1911 to the late Andrew Wilson Sr. and Annie Whooper Wilson on Schaffer Plantation in Yazoo County.  She was preceded in death by her companion, Charlie Geralds and sisters Agnes Green, Arlee Sutton and Hattie Rucker; and brothers Amos Wilson, Andrew Wilson Jr., and Frank Wilson; children, Charlie Lewis and Lenard Lewis.  She was a midwife for over 30 years.
Survivors include her children, EsQueen Geralds (Riley) of Benton ,  John Henry Murphy of Chicago, IL, Charlie James (Elizabeth) Geralds, Mary Jackson and Grover Geralds, all of Marian, IN, Stella Combes of New Orleans, LA and Arthur Lee Haymer of Chicago, IL; 59 grandchildren; 73 great grandchildren; 17 great great grandchildren; one great great great grandchild; and two special sons she cared for as her own, Johnny Freeman and Lewis Gibbs.  

FLORENCE NICHOLAS

Florence Hood Nicholas died June 10 at Martha Coker Green Houses, surrounded by her family.
Mrs. Nicholas was born March 21, 1924 in Midway, the fifth child of Nettie Gilmore and John Wesley Hood. Her great-great grandfather, John Hood, had moved to south central Mississippi from North Carolina shortly after statehood. As a young girl, Florence, called “Sister,” moved with her family to the Delta, where they farmed for shares. After the death of her father in 1929 they returned to Midway. She raised a calf to buy her class ring in 1944, and at the age of 20, graduated from Benton High School. According to the Benton senior annual, her favorite expression was “Jeepers.” Having learned to read as a teenager, she became a lifelong reader and patron of Ricks Memorial Library. One of her favorite books was Jane Eyre.
After World War II, Florence worked briefly as a telephone operator in Yazoo City, where the Hood family had relocated. There, at Anderson’s Drug Store, she met Solomon Thomas Nicholas Jr. Soon he was making telephone calls just to hear her voice. On May 21, 1950 they married in a double-ring ceremony at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She carried a single orchid and a copy of the New Testament.
Six children followed: Deborah Adele; Edward Sheridan and Fred Joseph, twins who died at birth;  Teresa Avila; Solomon Thomas III; and Lisa Maria.
After converting to Catholicism, she was a member of St. Mary’s congregation. She was an excellent seamstress and cook, and in later life she could often be seen taking her daily walk on Grand Avenue. Those who knew her admired her strength, courage, sense of humor, modesty and fierce love of family.
Survivors include her sister, Ada Brase; sister-in-law, Willie Belle Hood, who was like a sister to her; her daughters, two sons-in-law; two granddaughters; a great-grandson and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her three sons, her husband, and eight siblings, including her twin brother, Lawrence. The family wishes to thank her caregivers, especially Dr. Will Thompson and the staff of Martha Coker Green Houses. Donations may be made to Martha Coker.