LULA PILGRIM
Lula Charlene Saxton Pilgrim, 80, died Thursday, September 27, at Madison County Nursing Home in Canton.  
Funeral services were Sunday Pickens Presbyterian Church with Rev. David Schultz and her grandson, Rev. Brad Adcock, officiating.  Burial followed in the Harttown Cemetery  
A lifelong resident of Yazoo County, she was born March 27, 1932.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Jim and Lula Saxton, two sisters, Eloise Warren and Louise Triggs, and a grandson, Clayton Pilgrim.
Survivors include her husband of 64 years, James Earl Pilgrim; four sons, David, Phillip (Shirley), Mike (Jo) and John (Kelli); two daughters, Janie Adcock and Elizabeth (Jim) Golden; eleven grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren; her twin brother, Charles Saxton; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.  
Charlene was an active member of Pickens Presbyterian Church and had a deep, abiding faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  She was a devoted wife and mother, doting grandmother, and a gentle soul whose caring for others was always evident.  
Serving as pallbearers were her grandsons.
Memorials may be made to Pickens Presbyterian Church at P.O. Box 490, Pickens, MS 39039 or Gideons International, P.O. Box 1111, Yazoo City, MS 39194.
For online condolences please visit www.culpepperfuneralhome.com

WILLIE SMITH
Willie Lee Smith, 95, died Sept. 18, 2012.
Funeral services were Saturday at New Zion M.B. Church with Rev. Willie Smith officiating. Burial followed at Glenwood Cemetery under the direction of Century Funeral Home.
Mr. Smith was born Jan. 5, 1917 in Covington, Tenn.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Virge and Laure Wilks Smith; brothers, Virge Jr., Booker T., Jimmy, John and Eddie B. Smith; and one sister, Lottie Smith.
Survivors include a sister, Hattie; a sister-in-law, Magnolia Smith; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Sidney D. Smith, Perry Falls, Cleotha Smith, Lee Smith, Virge Falls and Mitchell Falls Jr.

MIKE WATTS
Robert Michael “Mike” Watts, 66, died Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012 at University Medical Center in Jackson.
Funeral services were Tuesday at the Stricklin-King Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Marshal Stokes officiating. Burial followed at Lakewood Cemetery in Jackson.
Mr. Watts was born April 3, 1946 in Jackson to Cleveland and Erma Eubanks Watts. He was a salesman for Hemphill Foods Inc. and a member of Old Towne Church of God.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Watts of Yazoo City;  sons, Robert M. Watts Jr. of Yazoo City and Jason Watts of Jackson; daughters, Cecelia Boyer of Brandon and Susan Watts of Jackson; mother, Erma Watts of Jackson; brother, David Watts of Fayetteville, Ark.; two stepdaughters, Kay Helms of Spokane, Wash. and Michelle Hogan of Yazoo City’ a stepson, Bud Helms of Yazoo City; and 10 grandchildren.

GLORIA HARPER
Gloria Ballard Harper, 90, of Yazoo City, passed away September 26, 2012. Funeral services were held Friday, Sept. 28, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where she was a lifetime member.
Mrs. Harper was born August 18, 1922 in Hinds County. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James (Buck) Nierman Ballard. She was a devoted wife, loving mother and “Nannie” to her grandchildren, and friend to all who knew her. Gloria worked in retail in Yazoo City for more than 50 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Joseph Harper. Survivors include daughters, Jo B. George of Yazoo City and Glo Wright (Charles) of Greenwood; sons, Frank “Buck” Harper (Michelle) of Brandon and Ken Hill (Bonnie) of Santa Barbara, Cali.
She is also survived by six granddaughters, Shelly Merek, Sterling Milligan, Blair Mize, Varner, Jessica and Sarah Harper and seven great grandchildren and a special friend, Floyd Churchwell.
Memorials may be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 2131, Memphis, TN 38101.

BILLY WILBURN
William Wyche “Billy” Wilburn, 90, died at home on Sept. 25, 2012 after a lengthy illness.  
Funeral Services were Thursday at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Bill Poole officiating. Burial followed at Glenwood Cemetery under the direction of Stricklin-King Funeral Home.  
Mr. Wilburn was born in Aiken, South Carolina on March 27, 1922, son of Ruth Coleman Wilburn and William Wyche Wilburn.  His family returned to their original home in Yazoo City in 1928.  He  was preceded in death by his parents and an older brother, George Mason Wilburn.
Billy graduated from Yazoo City High School where he participated in Band, Boxing, and Football.  He also attained the rank of Eagle Scout.  He was a graduate of Mississippi State University where he earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering.  Billy was a member of the Mississippi State Band and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
His college days were interrupted when he enlisted in the Naval Air Corps as a radioman in World War II.  While stationed in the Philippine Islands, Billy was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.  He served one year of active duty.
After graduation Billy worked at the Mississippi Rating Bureau in Jackson.   Later he was employed by Mississippi Chemical Corporation in Yazoo City, MS.  He farmed his own Yazoo County land and was owner of Wilburn Realty Company.
Billy was a member of First United Methodist Church having been active on the Official Board, the Men’s Club, and the Disciple Sunday School Class.  He was a member of the Yazoo Historical Society and Veterans of  Foreign Wars.  A former member of the Yazoo Country Club, he was an avid golfer.
Survivors include the five women in his life.  JoAnn Turner Wilburn, wife of 59 years.  Daughters: Dr. Ruth Wilburn and husband Dr. Don Jackson of Olive Branch,  Stacy Wilburn West and husband Stan West of Martin, TN, Joanna Wilburn of Olive Branch and Sally Ross Wilburn Davis and husband Roger Davis of Ruleville.
Grandchildren include: Carter Wyche West (Lauren) of Memphis, TN, Katie West of Martin, TN, Kelli West of Martin, TN, Turner Davis of Ruleville and  Mason Davis of Ruleville.  Sisters in law:  Sally Turner Walker of Jackson and Stella Turner Melton of Yazoo City.
Memorials may be sent to First United Methodist Church Building Fund, P O Box 444, Yazoo City, MS 39194.
Serving as pallbearers were  Don Jackson, Stan West, Carter Wyche West, Roger Davis, Turner Davis, Bill Walker.

MATILDA DANDRIGE
Matilda Wilburn Dandridge, 88, died Sept. 14, 2012 at King’s Daughters Hospital.
Funeral arrangements are pending with Knight & Lindsey Funeral Home.
Mrs. Dandridge was born Sept. 28, 1923 in Indianola to Elester and Cora Lee Collins Wilburn.
Survivors include a son, Willis E. Cattron of Los Angeles, Calif.; one granddaughter, and godson, Terry Sherman of Yazoo City.

EDDIE FOREMAN
Eddie “Good” Foreman, 79, died Sept. 2, 2012 at his home in Yazoo City.
Funeral services were Sept. 8 at Rose Hill M.B. Church with Rev. Curtis Strong officiating. Burial followed at Glenwood Cemetery under the direction of Knight & Lindsey Funeral Home.
Mr. Foreman was born March 13, 1933 in Yazoo County to Nick and Annie Gibbs Foreman. He was a Baptist.
Survivors include his wife, Eliza Foreman of Yazoo City; three children, eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a sister, Leslie Cage of St. Louis, Mo.; a brother, Lloyd Foreman of Chicago; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Robert Cage, Andrew Price, Robert Smith, George Collins, Joe Shelby and Paul Young.
Honorary pallbearers were Quincy Haymer, James Richardson, Keith Foreman, Nathaniel Clark, Robert Collins and Clarence Haymer.

BETTY KNIGHT
Betty Marie Knight, 61, died Sept. 2, 2012 at King’s Daughters Hospital.
Funeral services were Sept. 8 at Mt. Zion Scotland Baptist Church with Rev. Isaiah Jackson officiating. Burial followed at Days Cemetery under the direction of Knight & Lindsey Funeral Home.
Ms. Knight was born Aug. 9, 1951 in Yazoo County to Sammie and Maggie Coleman. She was a 1969 graduate of N.D. Taylor High School.
Survivors include a daughter, Latrice Knight Wade (James); two grandchildren, Brittany and Zaria; a great-grandchild, Neveah Marie; three sisters, Earlean Allen, Enola Robinson and Lorene King (Walter); four brothers, Leroy Knight, Herbert Knight (Carolyn), Albert Knight (Eliza) and Rev. Calvin Knight (Annie B.) and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Rodrick Knight, Rev. Edwin B. King, Theretius Knight, Oscar Daryl Knight, Norvel King and Calvin Knight Jr.
Honorary pallbearers were Leroy Knight, Albert Knight, Rev. Calvin Knight Sr., Herbert Knight, Walter King Jr. and Prentiss Vaughan.

ELIZABETH LEE
Elizabeth Lee, 58, died Sept. 12, 2012.
Funeral services were Saturday at New Pilgrim Rest M.B. Church with Rev. Gregory D. Taylor officiating. Burial followed under the direction of Century Funeral Home.
Ms. Lee was born Feb. 25, 1954 in Indianola to the late Robert and Ora D. Lee. She and her family moved to Yazoo City when  she was young, and she continued her education in the Yazoo City School District. She was a member of New Pilgrim Rest M.B. Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and a son, Keith Z. Lee.
Survivors include, a daughter, Tiffany Lee; three sons, Derrick Lee, Dion Lee and Patrick Lee; six sisters, Bernice Vaughan (Jessie) and Hilda Lee of Yazoo City, Betty Jean Lee of Jackson, Georgia Wilson Hamlin of Collins, Joyce Lee of Indianola and Gloria Wilson of Los Angeles; five brothers, Sammie Lee of Byram, Roger Lee and Bobbie Joe Wilson of Yazoo City, and Nelson Lee and Robert Lee of Indianola; three grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Xavier Lee, Jerome Lee, Timothy Hoston, Jeffrey Montson, Roland Jones Jr., JaDarious Lee and Marcus Meadow.
Honorary pallbearers were Sammie Lee, Roger Lee, Robert Lee, Bobbie Wilson, Nelson Lee and Jessie Vaughan Jr.

VIRGINIA MARTIN
Virginia Martin, 79, of Ridgeland, died Thursday at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland.
Funeral services were held Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church with Rev. Caleb Clark officiating. Burial followed at Glenwood Cemetery under the direction of Stricklin-King Funeral Home.
Mrs. Martin was born on Nov. 25, 1932 in Carrol County to Grady Misskelley and Gladys Walters.
She was married to George “Rooster” Martin of Yazoo City. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and worked in the print department of Southern Bag Corporation.
She was preceded in death by her son, Joseph Anthony Corley; two brothers, Grady Sanders and James William Misskelley; and sister, Carleen Wofford.
Survivors include her husband; daughter, Sandra (Steve) Sessums of Hattiesburg; three sons, Cecil (Penny) Martin and Edward Allen Corley, both of Yazoo City, and Larry Dale Corley, of New Orleans; 12 grandchildren; a host of great grandchildren; two sisters, Lura Kate Neal of Carrolton and Elizabeth Ann Jordan of Olive Branch; and two brothers, Robert Cecil Misskelley and Cooper Leroy Misskelley, both of Carrolton.

JAMES ROSS JR.
James H. “Bubba” Ross, 39, of Vicksburg, died on Sept. 11, 2012.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Mr. Ross was born on March 28, 1973 in Vicksburg. He was a truck driver.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, James and Glenda Ross of Yazoo City and Earline and Boatner Duchesne of Vicksburg.
Survivors include his mother, Donna Ross of Holly Bluff; father, James Ross of Holly Bluff; a daughter; siblings, Kim Ryan of Satartia, Shonda Mathis of Holly Bluff, B.J. Ross of Vicksburg and Shelly Hicks of Yazoo City; and ten nieces and nephews.

WILLIE TAYLOR
Willie B. Taylor, 65, died Sept. 6, 2012.
Funeral services were Sept. 15 at Big Mount Zion in Thornton with Rev. C.D. Mitchell officiating.
Mrs. Taylor was born on July 7, 1947 in Holmes County the late Mr. Joseph and Iola Newton.
She was a member of Little Walnut Grove M.B. Church. She was married in 1971. To that union, five children were born.
She was preceded in death by her parents; granddaughter, Taniya Taylor; and three brother-in-laws.
Survivors include her husband and five children, Roosevelt (Carolyn) Newton of Tchula, Teresa Newton and Erica Taylor, all of Yazoo City, Jennifer Taylor of Gulfport and Timothy Taylor of Ridgeland; 11 grandchildren; five great grandchildren; six sisters, Willie Mae Weathers  of Milwaukee, Mary Ann (Willie) Mayze, Suzie Newton and Mary Sanders, all of Tchula; Rosie (A.D.) Brown and Hattie Burdine of Chicago; three brothers, John W. Newton of Milwaukee, Joseph Newton Jr. and Solomon Newton, both of Tchula; and a host of family and friends.

BLANCHE ALLEN
Mrs. Blanche Doler Allen, 94, retired homemaker, died September 17th at the North Ms. Medical Center Long Term Care Unit in Eupora.
Funeral Services will be 3:00PM Saturday September 22nd at Oliver Funeral Home Chapel with burial in the Old Bethany Cemetery in Webster County. Visitation will be 1:00PM until 3:00PM Saturday at the funeral home. She is survived by two daughters; Cecelia Allen (Harold) Middleton, Benton, Ms. and Betty Allen (Bert) Nail, Starkville, Ms., two sons; William W. (Elsie) Allen, Jacksonville, NC., and Sidney Clayton (Linda) Allen, Eupora, Ms.,  a sister; Robbie Watson, Houston, Ms. and a sister in law; Neva Doler, Eupora, Ms., nine grandchildren, twenty one great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren. The Family requests memorials be made to The Gideons International or the church of your choice. Oliver Funeral Home of Eupora is in charge of all arrangements.

RICHARD ALLEN Sr.
Richard Lamer Allen Sr., 79 years young, went to God in Glory on Sept. 17, 2012.
Funeral services are Thursday at the Stricklin-King Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Lloyd King officiating.
Mr. Allen was born Feb. 16, 1933 in Belzoni. He was a veteran of the Korean War and a retired salesman for Holsum Bread.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Eddie Green Allen and Rena Waldon Allen; sister, Francis Smith; and a brother, Edward L. Allen.
Survivors include his three daughters, Katrina Burns (Clifton) of Baton Rogue, La., Ramona Phillips of San Diego, Calif and Teresa Scott (Sidney) of Greenville; a son, Richard Lamar Allen Jr. of Eden; three granddaughters, Michelle McIntyre (Clifton), Jennifer Reed and Emily Hodges; five grandsons, Frank McIntyre, Albert Shoffner, Will Scott, Marshall Scott and Matthew Scott; two brothers, Wayne Allen Sr. and Gerald Allen of Yazoo City; a sister, Karolyn Bratton of Houston, Texas; and seven great-grandchildren.

RAY BECKHAM
Rae Kelley Beckham, 73, of Yazoo City and formerly of Inverness died Monday, Sept. 17, 2012 at University Medical Center in Jackson.
Funeral services were Friday at Burton Funeral Home  in Indianola. Burial followed at Hickory Grove Cemetery in Inverness.
Mrs. Beckham was born Dec. 2, 1938 to William Elbert and Oree Kelley Landrum in Holly Bluff.
She was preceded in death by her husbands; Herbert Stricklin, Cleveland Jones, and James Beckham; and a daughter, Rhonda Stricklin Starling.
Survivors include her niece, Sherry L. Crowe of Memphis; son; Cleveland Staples "Dusty" Jones, Jr. of California; four daughters, Renee Stricklin (Dan) Runkle of Clinton, Phyllis Stricklin (Emerson) Tyson of Bentonia, Tammie Stricklin (Dale) Bright of Yazoo City; and Andrae Jones (Kevin) Henderson of Okinawa, Japan; brother, Jack Landrum of Scotland, MS; 13 grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.
An online guestbook may be signed at www.burtonfuneralhome.net

JAMES HANCOCK
James Andrew Hancock, 56, died Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012.
Funeral services were Friday at the Stricklin-King Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Charlie Harris and Rusty Nixon officiating. Burial followed at Oak Grove Baptist Cemetery.
Mr. Hancock was born Sept. 18, 1956 in Vicksburg to A.J. and Hazel Jones Hancock. He was a caretaker for Bear Creek Farms and a member of Center Ridge Baptist Church. He was an avid outdoorsman and a lifelong resident of the Phoenix community.
He was preceded in death by his father.
Survivors include his mother, Hazel Hancock; three sisters, Patricia Burt (Andy) of Vicksburg, Linda Kennedy (Todd) and Glenda “Bit” Creech Tait; four nieces; and four nephews.
Serving as pallbearers were Charles Creech, Joshua Busby, Donald Scoby, Jeremy Creech, T.J. Kennedy and Joseph Brooks.

CHARLES SLIGH
Charles F. Sligh, 83, died Monday, Sept. 17, 2012 at Baptist Medical Center in Jackson.
Funeral services were Wednesday at Parkview Church of God with Rev. Ken Lynch officiating. Burial followed at Glenwood Cemetery under the direction of Stricklin-King Funeral Home.
Mr. Sligh was born July 21, 1929 in Leflore County to Marvin and Willie Mae Meeks Sligh. He was a retired farmer and a member of Parkview Church of God.
He was preceded in death by a son, William Michael Sligh; a brother, James Ray Sligh and a sister, Melba Sligh Coker.
Survivors include his wife, Faye Sligh of Yazoo City; three daughters, Glenda Wells (Billy) of Yazoo City, Wanda Sligh of Yazoo City and Latrice Mahalitc (Russell) of Glen Allen; a brother, Fred Sligh (Recil) of Bentonia; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Serving as pallbearers were Brad Wells, John Kinch Wilson, Skip Bilbro, Chase Mahalitc, David Burke and Jeff Nipper.
Honorary pallbearers were J.C. Bilbro, Justin Nipper, Daniel Coleman, Jimmy Lester, Douglas Moore, J.W. Jones, Will Nipper, Cecil Coleman, Bubba Bradley, Ellis Willard, Tom Bates and Sylvester Williams.