Tom ‘Sonny’ Bibbins Jr.

Services for Tom “Sonny” Bibbins Jr., of Vidalia, are 11 a.m.Thursday, July 26, at Beulah Baptist Church in Natchez with burialin Natchez National Cemetery. Marshall Funeral Home is in charge ofarrangements.

Visitation is Wednesday from 6 until 8 p.m. at the church, andon Thursday from 9 a.m. until the time of the service.

Mr. Bibbins, 77, died July 19, 2007, at Riverland Medical Centerin Ferriday, La. He was born in Adams County on April 4, 1930, toThomas Bibbins and Melinda Seals.

He served his country during World War II and earned a VictoryMedal.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his stepmother, GracieWhite; and his brothers, Charles White and Jonas Bibbins.

Survivors are his wife, Ruby L. Bibbins, of Natchez; hisdaughters, Murry Dean Blanton, of Milwaukee, Wisc., Tammy Williamsand Deonnia Fleming, both of Natchez; his son, Tommy Bibbins, ofSt. Louis, Mo.; his stepdaughter, Roselyn Thomas, of Houston,Texas; his stepsons, Johnny Scott, of Gulfport, John Hawkins, ofFerriday, and Alex Hawkins, of Vidalia; his sisters, Pauline Whiteand Patricia Neal, both of Ferriday, and Mary Hawkins, of ColoradoSprings, Colo.; his brothers, Williams White, of Atlanta, Ga., andCharlie White, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; his stepsisters, RosieWhite and Arlene Anderson; his stepbrother, David White; his 24grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives andfriends.

Rachel Scott Buckles

Services for Rachel Scott Buckles, of Denver, Colo., formerly ofNatchez, are 11 a.m. Thursday, July 26, at Pleasant Valley BaptistChurch in Eddiceton. Laird Funeral Home in Natchez is in charge ofarrangements.

Visitation is Wednesday from 6 until 9 p.m. at the funeral home,and on Thursday at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of theservice.

Mrs. Buckles, 83, died July 20, 2007, at Evergreen TerraceNursing Home in Denver. She was born on Nov. 30, 1923, to A.J.Scott Jr. and Lois Elizabeth Murray Scott.

She was a loyal and devoted wife and mother her entire life. Shewas a devoted Christian of the Baptist faith, serving her church asa pianist and Sunday school teacher for many years. Gardening,gospel music and spending time with family and friends were hergreatest interest and pastime.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, ClaudieEverett Buckles; her sisters, Allene Scott and Janette Scott Smith;her brothers, Ernest Scott, A.J. Scott, John Scott and Thomas AaronScott; and her grandson, Timothy Rydzewski.

Survivors are her daughter, Patsy Irene Ramirez and husbandPete, of Denver; her sons, Leland Wallace Buckles and wife Sandra,of Byhalia, and Everett “Gene” Buckles and wife Betty Gill Buckles,of Brookhaven; her sisters, Francis Scott Flowers and Winnie Scott,of Eddiceton; her brother, Sherrod Scott and wife La Ferrye Lynn,of Pensacola, Fla.; her granddaughter, Angela Crowley and husbandChris, of Starkville; her grandsons, Thomas Bradley “Brad” Buckles,of Brookhaven, and Gregory “Greg” Dean Buckles, of Mangham, La.;her stepgrandsons, Dustin “Dusty” Keene, of Brookhaven, TrentWalker, of West Virginia, and Brad Walker, of Natchez; her 14great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

Raymond Lloyd Davis

Services for Raymond Lloyd Davis, of Brookhaven, are 2 p.m.Wednesday, July 25, at First United Methodist Church of Brookhavenwith burial in Oaklawn Cemetery in Centreville at 4 p.m. The Rev.Dr. H. Wayne Webster will officiate. Brookhaven Funeral Home is incharge of arrangements.

Visitation is Wednesday from 1 p.m. until the time of theservice at the church.

Mr. Davis, 87, died July 22, 2007, at his residence. He was anative of Phoenixville, Penn.

He was a retired banker. He was a graduate of Drexel University,in Philadelphia, Penn, and a United States Army Veteran of WorldWar II. He had served as president of the Mississippi BankersAssociation and was former president and chief executive officer ofBrookhaven Bank and Trust Co. He was past president of theBrookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce, and the formerchairman of the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Industrial DevelopmentFoundation. He was an active member of the Brookhaven LittleTheatre where he served on the board of directors and played anumber of supporting acting roles. He was a member of First UnitedMethodist Church of Brookhaven, where he served as district layleader, finance chairman, trustee and Sunday school teacher. Afterhis retirement, he enjoyed working at the Food Bank of Brookhavenand teaching in the Adult Literacy Program.

Preceding him in death were his father, Ralph Elmer Davis; hismother, Elizabeth Campbell Davis; his son, Kenneth Raymond Davis;and his brother, John E. Davis.

Survivors are his wife, Elsie Kathryn Carroll Davis, ofBrookhaven; his son, Omer C. Davis and wife Marybeth, of BatonRouge, La.; his grandchildren, Sarah Davis North and husband Denny,of Mountain View, Calif., and John Wood Davis, of Nashville, Tenn.;his brother, Richard K. Davis and wife Kay, of Elkton, Md.

Honorary pallbearers are Mitchell Davis, A.G. Black, Owen Carty,Dave Pace, F.J. Rein, Dr. David Strong, and the members of theFirst United Methodist Church Lost and Found Sunday SchoolClass.

The family has requested that memorials be given to the FirstUnited Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 358, Brookhaven, MS39602.

Emma Grace Hayes

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in mymother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfullymade.” – Psalm 139:13-14.

Emma Grace Hayes, born March 29, 2007, went to be with the Lordon July 20, 2007, at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville,Tenn., due to pre-surgical complications from a congenital heartdefect. Emma Grace went peacefully into God’s presence in the armsof her father and mother, Robbie and Emily Hayes of Southaven,Miss., and formerly of Madison.

Although Emma Grace faced many physical challenges during hershort life, she touched the lives of countless individuals and wasa vessel of God’s love and light to her family, friends, and allthose who cared for her. Because Emma Grace was unable to be takenhome, the special love and care she received from all who attendedher at Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women, LeBonheur Children’sHospital, and Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital was deeplyappreciated. Emma Grace’s family is particularly grateful to Dr.Vijaya Joshi for his care and support through many difficultdays.

Along with her parents, Emma Grace is survived by her “bigbrother” Rob Hayes, age 3; maternal grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. BillTurner, of Malden, Mo.; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. BobbyHayes, of Liberty; great-grandmothers, Mrs. R.B. Schaffer, ofMantee, and Mrs. Harry Turner, of Lilbourn, Mo.; Uncle Kyle Turner,of St. Charles, Mo.; Aunt Susan and Uncle Dade Davis, of Watson,La., and cousins Payten Robertson, Keely Davis, Julia Davis, andReagan Davis, and many precious extended family members andfriends.

Emma Grace was welcomed into heaven by her paternalgreat-grandparents, Clyde and Julia Wilson, and Henry and DollieMae Hayes, and cousin, Mitch Moore; her maternalgreat-grandfathers, R.B. Schaffer and Harry Turner; andgreat-great-grandmother, Emma Schaffer, for whom she was named.

The family will receive visitors on Tuesday, July 24, 2007, from6 until 9 p.m. at Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home, 1161 HighlandColony Parkway, Ridgeland. The service will be held Wednesday, July25, 2007 at 11 a.m. at Pinelake Baptist Church, 6071 Highway 25Brandon. Interment will follow at Parkway Memorial Cemetery, 1161Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland.

Prior to the service, visitation will be held at 10 a.m. at thechurch. Designated memorials may be sent to LeBonheur Children’sHospital – Pediatric Cardiac Care, 50 Dunlap, Memphis, TN 38103, orCentral Mississippi Down Syndrome Society, P.O. Box 2189, Brandon,MS 39043.

Carol Pace

Graveside services for Carol Pace, of Monticello, are 11 a.m.Friday, July 27, at Rocky Branch Cemetery in Monticello. WilliamsMortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation is Thursday from 1 until 5 p.m. at the funeral home.A wake will be held on Thursday from 6 until 8 p.m. at the RockyBranch Missionary Baptist Church in Monticello.

Ms. Pace, 55, died July 20, 2007, at Central Mississippi MedicalCenter. She was born in Chicago, Ill., on May 5, 1952, to Joe Paceand Lena Mae Martin.

She was disabled. She was a member of Rocky Branch M.B.Church.

Preceding her in death was her mother.

Survivors are her brothers, James Griffin, of Silver Creek,Earnest Martin and wife, Mary, of Monticello, Carlos Pace, ofJackson, and Reginald Stringer, of Monticello; her sisters, EthelPace, Mae McClinton and Annie Peal McClinton, all of Monticello;and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Brooks Jackson ‘Jack’ Thomas

Services for Brooks Jackson “Jack” Thomas, a longtime residentof Hazlehurst, were 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 25, at 10 a.m. at FirstPresbyterian Church of Hazlehurst. A second service will be held at4 p.m. on Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church of Linden, Ala.,with burial at Half Acre Cemetery. Stringer Family Funeral Servicesin Hazlehurst is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Thomas, 61, died July 21, 2007. A native of Half Acre, Ala.,he was born on July 14, 1946, to William Gray Thomas and ElizabethRobbins Thomas.

He was an agent for State Farm Insurance for 27 years. He was anall-conference and all-state lineman for the Linden Red Devilsfootball team. He played football at Mississippi State University,where he lettered three years, was a member of the south squad inthe Blue-Gray Classic, and Most Valuable Player. All of MarengoCounty Alabama became St. Louis Cardinal fans when Jack was draftedto play in the National Football League in 1969. He spent a yearcoaching at Apopka High School in Orlando, Fla., and at CopiahAcademy for seven, where he was named Coach of the Year in 1979 bythe Mississippi Private School Association. He was very active inthe Hazlehurst community. He was a member of the First PresbyterianChurch, where he was an elder. He had served as Lion’s Clubpresident and was a Gideon. He will be remembered as a loyalfriend, and a loving father and husband.

Preceding him in death were his parents.

Survivors are his wife, Melanie Campbell Thomas; his sons, JasonThomas, of Wesson, Granville Engle, of New York City, and MichaelEngle, of Vicksburg; his daughters, Stefanie Moore and husbandKris, of Taylorsville, Katherine Thomas, of Starkville, BrookeThomas, of Taylorsville, and Campbell Engle, of Washington, D.C.;his sisters, Jane Beck of Sweetwater, Ala., Anne Schroeder andhusband Jerry, and Sarah Drinkard and husband Reid, all of Linden;and his brother William Thomas and wife Anne, of Myrtlewood,Ala.

Pallbearers are Tommy Bufkin, Wayne Garrett, Tommy Jones, Dr.Jim Hall, Dr. John Long, Kent Newman, Buddy Prestridge and ChipSanders.

Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Ricky Akin, Eustace Conway, RonnieGray, Neil King, Max Phillips, Shag Pyron, Mel Stegall, Dr. CharlesHall, Dr. Jerry Long, Jackie Lindsey and the State Farm Family.

Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church inHazlehurst, P.O. 769, Hazlehurst, MS 39083.