JOYCE ANDERSON
Joyce Marie Anderson, 50, of Yazoo County, died on Dec. 12, 2012.
Funeral services were held Saturday at St. James Church of God in Christ in Vaughan with Elder Samuel Lee Anderson officiating.
Joyce was born on April 4, 1962 in Yazoo County to Rosie Winford Anderson and Joseph Williams.
She was a graduate of Benton High School, class of 1981. She worked as a certified nurse assistant, where she was able to work with senior citizens.
She joined Water Grove AME Church at an early age. She later united with the St. James C.O.G.I.C., where she served as an Assistant Sunday School teacher, choir member, deaconess missionary and was a member of the Missionary Circle. Her favorite song was “I Know the Lord Will Make a Way.”
Survivors include two sons, Joshua and Jeffrey Anderson, both of Yazoo City; granddaughter, Madyson Danielle Bassett; six brothers, Major Anderson, Arthur Anderson, Nathan Anderson, Joseph (Olivia) Anderson, Rickey (Brenda) Anderson, all of Yazoo County, and Zion Anderson of Chicago; seven sisters, Carol Hicks of Europe, Birdie (Henry) Brown, Dorothy Anderson, Lettie Jones, Josephine Anderson, Rosie (Archie) Vanzant, Julia (Anthony) Luckett, Shirley (Christopher) Anderson, all of Yazoo County; two adopted brothers, Williams Luce and Jesse James Brown, both of Yazoo County; an adopted sister, Helen (Elvis) Wilburn of Texas; and a host of family and friends.

DOROTHY HOBSON
Dorothy Lee Hopson, 73, died Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012 at King’s Daughters Hospital.
Funeral services were Saturday at First Apostolic Church. Burial followed at Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Hobson was born May 6, 1939 in Yazoo City to Jesse and Mittie Smith. She was a 1958 graduate of N.D. Taylor High School and attended Booker T. Washington College of Business in Memphis, Tenn. She was a retired certified nursing assistant of Heritage Manor, where she worked for 20 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, two sisters and her husband, George Hobson.
Survivors include her son, David George Hobson (Vanessa); sister, Lillie Mae Robinson; stepchildren, Clara Mae Porter, Georgia Mae Brown and Dorothy Jean Hobson, all of Detroit, Will Roy Hobson of Chicago and Elizabeth Carter of Yazoo City; and a host of other relatives and friends.

JAMES JOHNSTON
James E. Johnston died peacefully in his home in Yazoo City Dec. 13, 2012.
Funeral services were Monday at First Baptist Church.
He was the finest man, the hardest worker, and the best provider many of us will ever have the good fortune to know.
Mr. Johnston was born on May 6, 1926, in Yazoo County, Miss., the fourth of eight  children of Henry Alexander and Tennie Sims Johnston.   
He entered the U.S. Navy in 1944, serving during World War II on the USS Guam as a gunner’s mate, and was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, with one star, and the Philippine Liberation Medal.     
After returning from the service, Mr. Johnston pursued his lifelong ambition of farming.  He was, throughout his life, a landowner, a cotton farmer and a timber grower. He also worked at Mississippi Chemical Corporation in Yazoo City for 30 years as an operator.  After retiring from the chemical plant, he continued to farm fulltime.  He was also an active member of the Piney Creek Watershed Association.
Mr. Johnston was a long-time member of First Baptist Church, Yazoo City, where he was a Sunday school teacher, discipleship leader, and deacon.  He was also a Mason and a Shriner.
He is survived by Hazel Ward Johnston, his wife of 66 years; his son, Travis H. Johnston, of Eden; and daughter, Cheryl J. Matthews, of Clinton.  Also surviving him are five grandchildren: James N. Matthews, Emily J. Quinones, Christer D. Matthews, Alexander L. Johnston, Lucy J. Josey.  He is also survived by eight great-grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were siblings Lena J. Hood, Lois J. Reeves, Kathryn J. Pierce, Herbert H. Johnston, Mary Ann J. Burns and Paul W. Johnston.  He is survived by a brother, Fred Johnston.   

LLOYD MCNEAL
Lloyd C. McNeal, 75, of Yazoo City, died on Nov. 23, 2012.
Funeral services were held Nov. 29 at New Covenant Baptist Church in Phoenix, Ill. with Pastor Dr. Richard McCreary officiating. Burial followed in Lincoln VA  National Cemetery in Elwood, Ill. under the direction of W.W. Holts Funeral Home.
Mr. McNeal was born on Dec. 25, 1936 in Yazoo City to Montess Carter and Vernon McNeal.
He graduated from Yazoo City Training School. He then joined the United States Army, from which he was honorably discharged. He later received a degree in welding from Greer Technical College. He would then work at Navistar for 42 years.
He married Elizabeth A. Myles. To this union, two children were born.
He accepted Christ at an early age at St. Peter Baptist Church in Yazoo City. Upon his death, he was a dedicated servant for the Lord at New Covenant Baptist Church, where he worked in the Sunday School and Finance Ministries. He also sang in the male chorus for 15 years until his health began to fail a few years ago.
He was preceded in death his parents and sister, Charlean Wade.
Survivors include his wife; daughter, Cheryl Renee McNeal of Chicago; son, Lloyd McNeal Jr. of Mesa, Ariz.; three brothers, Robert (Barbara) Ball of Chicago, Melvin (Mary) McNeal of Richton Park, Ill. and Andrew Carter of Yazoo City; sister, Alma J. Hill of Chicago; special brother, Harry Williams of Park Forest, Ill.; special aunt, Irola Williams of Yazoo City; two God children, Quiana Moreno and Diamond Baker; special friend, Deacon Booker Sanders; and a host of family and friends.
Honorary pallbearers were Robert Ball, Melvin McNeal, Andrew Carter, Johnny Myles, Harry Williams and Lloyd McNeal Jr.
Pallbearers were Charles Cooper, Gerald Myers, Rev. Joe Johnson, Rev. Winston Perkins, Michael McNeal, Charlie Washington and Booker T. Washington.

JERRY WARREN Sr.
Jerry Warren Sr., 72, of Yazoo County, died on Dec. 9, 2012.
Funeral services were held Saturday at Beulah Land M.B. Church with Pastor Johnny Hughes officiating. Burial followed in Cypress Gardens under the direction of Shaffer and Collins Funeral Home.
Mr. Warren was born on Feb. 5, 1940 to the late Mr. Dan and Mrs. Martha Christopher Warren in Yazoo County.
He accepted Christ at an early age at Hickory Grove Baptist Church, later joining Beulah Land M.B. Church.
He joined the United States Army in 1962 and lived in Waco, Texas for a short while. He returned home in 1976 and reunited with Beulah Land, where he served in the church as a deacon, Sunday School Superintendent and custodian until his death.
In 1962, he married Gracie Lee Green and to this union five children were born.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; son, Jerry Warren Jr., and siblings Dave Reed and Rebecca Winters.
Survivors include his twin sister, Jean Warren Robinson; six children, Linda Kay Warren, Karen Faye Warren and Ken Robinson of Yazoo City, Jacqueline (Kevin) Young of Augusta, Ga., Nicholas Warren of Hinesville, Ga. and Terry Jean Travis of Sacramento; 11 grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; God daughter, Ebony Preston; and a host of family and friends.
Honorary pallbearers were Leon Johnson, Robert Robinson, Herbert Scott Jr., Herbert Scott Sr. and Jessie Vaughan Jr.
Pallbearers were Willie Lear, Jairon Scott, Jaimar Scott, Bennie Stewart, Frank Love and Eddie Joe Crockett.