J.W. BARNETT
J.W. Barnett, 43, died Dec. 22, 2012 at home.
Funeral services were Wednesday at the Stricklin-King Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Gary Henderson officiating. Burial followed at Glenwood Cemetery.
Mr. Barnett was born April 8, 1969 in Yazoo County to Jasper and Charline Paker Barnett. He was an offshore oil worker and a Baptist.
Survivors include a son, Jasper Barnett of Yazoo City; daughter, Shannon Barnett of Yazoo City; mother, Charline Barnett of Yazoo City; four sisters, Mary Ray, Charlotte Seay and Bobbie Rodgers, all of Yazoo City, and Emma Kirkland of Arkansas; special grandchild, Noel Poore; and special friend, Toni Poore.

DORIS DAVIS
Doris M. Davis, 85, died Dec. 25, 2012.
Funeral services were Friday at Midway Baptist Church with Rev. Gene Richardson officiating. Burial followed at the church cemetery under the direction of Stricklin-King Funeral Home.
Mrs. Davis was born June 12, 1927 in Yazoo County to Floyd and Sally Guthrie Eldridge. She was a homemaker and a member of Midway Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Rayford Davis.
Survivors include three sons, Glyn Davis, Ronnie Davis and Ricky Davis, all of Benton; three daughters, Debbie Saxton of Slidell, La., Wanda McCallister of Brandon and Darlene Cooksey of Magee; 13 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.
Serving as pallbearers were Brian Davis, Lance Davis, Jacob Davis, Jason Davis, Brad Saxton and Greg Everett.
Honorary pallbearers were Schaeffer Caston, Hunter Saxton, Eric McCallister and Hugh Gordon Jr.

HARPER DUNSON
Harper Dunson, 85, of Natchez, died Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012 at his home.
Funeral services were Nov. 30 at Stanton Baptist Church with Rev. Steve Purvis officiating. Burial followed at the National Cemetery under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home.  
Mr. Dunson was born in Yazoo County and grew up near Benton, Mississippi. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War.  During his time in combat, he won several metals for bravery.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine Johnson Dunson, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wiley Dunson, a daughter, Sally Dunson, and a grandson, Jacob Denny.
Survivors include six daughters, Gail Atwood, Debra Green, Cathy Dunson, Marilyn Temple, Heather Hitt, and Betty Doyle; a sister, Mary Lee Davis of Houston, Texas, and one brother, Dave Dunson of Natchez.

GERTIE ELLIOTT
Gertie Claire Elliot, 67, of Winona died Dec. 22, 2012 at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.
Funeral services were Dec. 26. Stricklin-King Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Elliot was born Feb. 18, 1945 in Yazoo County to Eugene and Fannie McCurdy Pigg. She was a member of New Bethel Church of Carrollton.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis Elliot.
Survivors include two daughters, Marie Shelton of Carrollton and Janice Robertson of Winona; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

IDA FOUNTAIN    
Ida Mae Jones Fountain, 74, died Dec. 19, 2012.
Funeral services were Wednesday at New Zion M.B. Church with Rev. Steve Dennis officiating. Burial followed at the Jones Family Cemetery in Coffeeville under the direction of Century Funeral Home.
Mrs. Fountain was born Oct. 19, 1938 in Coffeeville to Jimmy D. and Mary Jane Jones. She spent the last 26 years working for the Yazoo City Public School System, and at Webster Elementary she was affectionately known as “Granny.” She was a member of St. Peter M.B. Church.
She married the late James Edwards Sr. in 1957, and they had six children together. She later married Joe Louis Fountain, and they had one child.
Survivors include her seven children, Stella, Wayne, James Jr., Carolyn, Maurine, Richard and Gloria; three sisters, Learteen, Carrie and Emma; four brothers, J.T., Jimmy D., Sylvester and Sykes; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Earnest Mills, Randy Richardson, Wendell Cork, William Richardson, Carlos Edwards, Justin Owens and Greg Young.
Honorary pallbearers were Richard E. Edwards, Mario D. Edwards, David L. Edwards, Y-Lund Edwards, Matthew Edwards Jr., Wayne Edwards, Steve Edwards, Corey D. Edwards, Zuriel J. Edwards and Martin Edwards.

VIOLA NICKERSON
Viola Gibbs Nickerson, 97, died Dec. 18, 2012.
Funeral services were Saturday at Rose Hill M.B. Church in Benton with Rev. Gregory Weathersby officiating. Burial followed at Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Century Funeral Home.
Mrs. Nickerson was born Sept. 15, 1915 to Joe and Maggie Gibbs. She worked as a sharecropper and also did domestic work. She was a member of Rose Hill M.B. Church.
Survivors include three children, William Nickerson of Detroit, Erma Coleman (M.L.) of Yazoo City and Leon Gibbs (Patricia)  of Jackson; a sister, Will Ella Giles; 24 great grandchildren; and a host of grandchildren, relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were her grandsons.
Honorary pallbearers were the deacons of Rose Hill M.B. Church.

EUGENE VANCLEAVE
Eugene P. Vancleave, 77, died Dec. 21, 2012 at the V.A. Medical Center in Jackson.
Funeral services were Dec. 22.
Mr. Vancleave was born Dec. 5, 1935 in Yazoo City to John T. and Linda Criswell Vancleave. He was a retired business manager and restaurant owner and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
He was preceded in death by John T. Vancleave Jr., Fredrick A. Vancleave, Wayne P. Vancleave, Virginia V. Bowling, Mary Ann Vancleave Ellis and Sharon V. McManaway.
Survivors include his wife, Susan Vancleave of Yazoo City; son, Eugene Paul Vancleave of San Antonio Texas; daughters, Rebecca Nichols of San Atonio, Texas and Sandra Vancleave of Yazoo City; a brother, Nate Vancleave of Yazoo City, two sisters, Gayle Boutwell of Yazoo City and Patricia Ketchum of San Antonio; a stepson, Paul “Trip” Waldrop; devoted friend, Lynn Wikerson; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

JUDY WARRINGTON
Judy Mason Warrington, 65, died Thursday, Dec. 20 at home.
Funeral services were Sunday at the Stricklin-King Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Glenn Warrington officiating. Burial followed at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
Mrs. Warrington was born July 2, 1947 in Harrisonburg to Chester and Mary E. French Mason. She was a food service director for Yazoo County Schools.
Survivors include her husband, Larry Warrington of Bentonia; two sons, Jim Zila of Magee and Glenn Warrington of Bentonia; a daughter, Lisa Warrington Koenes of Convington, Ky.; a sister, Paula McCool of Bentonia; a brother, Eddie Mason of Jackson; and eight grandchildren.
Serving as pallbearers were Chuck Hanna, Sidney Potter, James Pettis, Jimmy Zila, Ryan McCool, Jason Potter, Durwood Pettis, Jimmy Wayne Pettis, Dean McCool and Nolan Warrington.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church in Louise.

PAUL McGINTY
Paul Stanton McGinty, 78, died Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012.
Funeral services are today at 2 p.m. at Center Ridge Baptist Church with Rev. Daryl Oster officiating. Burial will follow at Center Ridge Cemetery under the direction of Stricklin-King Funeral Home.
Mr. McGinty was born Feb. 3, 1934 in Yazoo County to Owen and Martha Carley McGinty. He was a yard foreman for Burley Smith Lumber Company and a member of Center Ridge Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Maxine McGinty.
Survivors include his wife, Joycelle McGinty; four sons, Stan McGinty of Bentonia, Keith McGinty of Malta, Montana, Garry Melton McGinty of Yazoo City and John Thomas McGinty of Brussells, Belgium; three daughters, Karen Powell of Yazoo City, Martha Louise Davis of Richland and Ruth Wood of Corbin, Ala.; three stepsons, Ken Smith of Yazoo City, Kevin Smith of Byram and Brian Smith of Yazoo City; a sister, Mary Frances McCoy of California; 16 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

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.