Elsie Wilkinson Boyd

Elsie Wilkinson Boyd, 83, of Summit, passed away April 7, 2009,at the Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson.

Visitation will be Thursday from 5 until 8 p.m. at Jones FamilyFuneral Services in McComb with visitation again on Friday from 9until services at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Summit.The Rev. Larry Leblanc will officiate; burial will be at theHollywood Cemetery in McComb.

Mrs. Boyd was born Feb. 17, 1926, in McComb to Lee Wilkinson andLillian McMichael Wilkinson. She retired from First Federal Bankand worked at the family restaurant, Justin’s on the Lake. She wasa faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Summit and theOmega Class Sunday school class. She was a devoted wife, mother,nannie, aunt, sister and friend to all who met her. She loved anyoccasion that would bring all of her family together. She was ashining example of God’s love and acceptance to everyone sheknew.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Jack L.Wilkinson; and her sister, Dorothy W. Myers.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Milton Boyd; a sonand daughter in-law, Mike and Marshia Boyd; a daughter and sonin-law, Darlene and Mike Rawls; a brother, Jerry Wilkinson; fourgrandchildren, Missy Temple, Michelle Simmons and husband, Darryl,Justin Boyd and wife, Sydni, and Danielle Rayborn; and fourgreat-grandchildren, Hunter Temple, Camdyn Temple, Aubrey Raybornand Caston Rayborn.

Pallbearers will be nephews and great nephews, Joe Boyd, EricBoyd, David Gunther, Kyle Harvey, Danny Ray McGaugh, Bradley Rials,Chris Rutter and Nick Rutter.

Edward Charles ‘E.C.’ Byrd

Services for Edward Charles “E.C.” Byrd, of Brookhaven, are 2p.m. Friday, April 10, at New Vision Fellowship Hall in Brookhavenwith burial in Hillcrest Cemetery.

Visitation is Thursday from 1 until 7 p.m. at WilliamsMortuary.

Mr. Byrd, 53, died April 1, 2009, at Southwest MississippiRegional Medical Center in McComb. He was born in Lincoln County onFeb. 23, 1956, to Ossie Byrd and Ola Mae Byrd.

He was a retired from the City of Brookhaven. He was a member ofNew Vision Fellowship Hall, where he was a musician.

Preceding him in death were his parents; a stepmother, GloriaByrd; a wife, Tobias Adams Byrd; a son, Edward Charles Byrd Jr.;his sisters, Gloria Weathersby, Josephine Byrd and Wyline Byrd.

Survivors are his daughters, Misty Byrd, of Brookhaven, RuthPerkins, of Bogue Chitto, Falicia Daigins, of Monticello, Mya Boyd,of Alabama, Aretha Adams, of Jackson, Lamara Adams, of Brookhaven,and Alarice Adams, of Chicago, Ill.; his sons, Chalsey Byrd andLorenzo Powell, both of Brookhaven, Stanford Powell, of Indiana,Stacey Powell, of Memphis, Tenn., Lilwalt Adams, of Brookhaven, andWalter Adams, of Chicago; his sisters, Mary Henderson, of theSiloam community, Ernestine Burks, of Franklin County, and PhyllisPeartree, of Brookhaven; his brothers, Wayne Cooper, of Monticello,Corey Green, of California, and Guy Williams, of Brookhaven; his 40grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Alberta Byrd Campbell

Services for Alberta Byrd Campbell, of Indianapolis, Ind., are 2p.m. Saturday, April 11, at Willie Mae Tyler Memorial Chapel atR.E. Tyler Funeral Home in Brookhaven with burial in St. LukeCemetery in McCall Creek.

Visitation is Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the funeralhome with family present from 1 until 2 p.m.

Mrs. Campbell, 97, died April 1, 2009, at her residence. She wasborn in Brookhaven on April 6, 1911, to Cherry Byrd and MaryJenkins Byrd.

She was retired from Amtrak.

Preceding her in death were her parents.

Survivors are a daughter, Alberta Robinson, of Indianapolis; andher three grandchildren.

Gladys Beard Grady

Mrs. Gladys Beard Grady, a retired nurse, died on April 8, 2009,at her home in St. Catherine’s Village in Madison.

Memorial services will be at the Jones Family Funeral ServicesChapel in McComb. Visitation will be held Saturday from 9:30 untilservices at 11a.m. Bro. Ed Sudduth will officiate. Burial will bein the Collins Cemetery in Collins at 1:30 p.m.

Mrs. Grady was born in Columbia on Sept. 17, 1931. She was along-time resident of McComb. At the time of her death, she was aresident of St. Catherine’s Village in Madison.

She graduated from Columbia High School, received her diploma innursing from a program at Methodist Hospital in Hattiesburg andattended the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Memphis,where she became a certified registered nurse anesthetist. She alsoattended Southwest Mississippi Community College. She practiced fora number of years as a nurse anesthetist. After taking time off toraise her boys, Mrs. Grady spent her working career in a number ofhealth care areas: public health nurse, school nurse, hospitalnurse supervisor and infection control practitioner.

Mrs. Grady’s favorite job was being Nana to her fourgrandchildren and Aunt Glad to her nieces and nephews. Outside ofwork, Mrs. Grady was active in the McComb Junior Auxiliary and theParnassus Club. In retirement, she enjoyed playing bridge and cardgames with friends and family.

Mrs. Grady was preceded in death by her husband, Hershal Grady;her parents, E.E. and Sophronia Martin Beard; her brothers, AltonBeard and Earl Beard; and her sister, Louise Beard Jernigan.

Survivors include sons, David and wife, Marsha, of Iowa City,Iowa, and Phillip, of Brookhaven; four grandchildren, Lauren andMeagan Grady, of Brookhaven, and Robert and Alexandra Grady, ofIowa City; her brother, Julius, of Semmes, Ala.; and numerouswell-loved nieces and nephews.

Her family would like to thank the staffs of St. Catherine’sVillage and the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jacksonfor their loving care during the past few weeks.

Pallbearers will be her nephews.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Parkinson DiseaseAssociation, Mississippi Chapter, P. O. Box 5943, Brandon, MS39047; or First Baptist Church, 1700 Delaware Ave., McComb, MS39648 .

John Wesley ‘J.W.’ Jackson Sr.

Services for John Wesley “J.W.” Jackson Sr., of Natchez, are 2p.m. Friday, April 10, at Washington Baptist Church with agraveside service at 4 p.m. in New Prospect Baptist Church Cemeteryin Brookhaven. The Revs. Paul Southerland and Glenn Mullins willofficiate. Laird Funeral Home in Natchez is in charge ofarrangements.

Visitation is Thursday from 5 until 8 p.m. at the church.

Mr. Jackson, 73, died April 7, 2009, at his residence. He wasborn in Deemer on Feb. 14, 1936, to Martin M. and Inez StroudJackson.

He was retired from Armstrong Rubber Co. and the ConcordiaParish School Board and was presently working for the MississippiDepartment of Archives and History. He was well known for bakingmany birthday and wedding cakes, having done so for the past 32years. He was a deacon at Washington Baptist Church inWashington.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his first wife, JanetteMaples Jackson; a daughter, Lavena Marie Jackson; a sister, MargieSmith; a brother, Edwin Jackson; and a grandson, John WayneAnderson.

Survivors are his wife, Myra Johnson Jackson, of Natchez; a son,John Wesley Jackson Jr., of Natchez; his daughters, Twana Andersonand husband, Robert, of Marksville, La., Walea Nelson and husband,Rickey Sr., of Natchez, and Tanoa McConnell and husband, Frank, ofWoodstock, Ga.; his stepsons, Al Conn and wife, Mitzi Potts Conn,and Eddie Conn and wife, Kristie Earls Conn, all of Brookhaven; asister, Sybil Freeman, of Brookhaven; his grandchildren, TwanaDeCuir and husband, Richard, Shaunta Sikes and husband, David,Rickey Nelson Jr. and fiancé, Nikki Pilcher, Chadwick Barfoot andwife, Nicole, Chelsea McConnell, Sean McConnell, Trace Conn, CoreyConn, Thomas Conn, Sarah Conn, Brannon Conn, Scout Conn and DesireeBuie; his great-grandchildren, Cameron Sikes, Kaityln Sikes, JaylaPilcher, Alyssa Nelson, Landon DeCuir, Chadwick Barfoot Jr.

Pallbearers are David Sikes, Richard DeCuir, Rickey Nelson Jr.,Sean McConnell, John Jackson and Chad Barfoot.

Honorary pallbearers are Frank McConnell and Rickey NelsonSr.

Memorials may be made to the Annie Armstrong Missions.

Online condolences may be made to www.lairdfh.com.

Rosa Minton Portrey

Graveside services for Rosa Minton Portrey, of Zion, Ill., are10 a.m. Friday, April 10, at the Cline Family Cemetery in CopiahCounty. Riverwood Family Funeral Service is in charge ofarrangements.

Mrs. Portrey, 76, died March 14, 2009, in Waukegan, Ill. She wasborn on July 18, 1932, to Rowan Minton Sr. and Bessie ClineMinton.

Preceding her in death were her parents.

Survivors are her sons, James Roan Portrey, of Wesson, MichaelJoe Portrey, of Brookhaven, and Paul Bishop, of Columbia, S.C.; abrother, Rowan Minton Jr., of Conway, Ark.; a sister, Ada R.McCall, of Conway; her five grandchildren, James J. Portrey, JohnD.B. Portrey, Christopher J. Portrey, Michael Logan Portrey andTrevor C. Portrey; and her three great-grandchildren.

Gladys A. Greer Reeves

Services for Gladys A. Greer Reeves, of McComb, are 10 a.m.Friday, April 10, at Hartman-Sharkey Funeral Home Chapel in McCombwith burial in Reeves Cemetery.

Visitation is Thursday from 5 until 8 p.m. at the funeral homeand Friday from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m.

Mrs. Reeves, 77, died April 8, 2009, at McComb Extended CareFacility. She was born in Lincoln County on Feb. 24, 1922, toNewton Franklin and Emma Roxie Attaway Greer.

She was a homemaker and for many years served as secretary forReeves Well Service. She was a member of Fellowship Baptist Churchin Summit, where she sang alto in the choir.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, ChesterReeves Sr.; her brothers, Garvice Greer, Lesby Greer, the Rev.Alcus “Red” Greer and the Rev. N.F. Greer; and her three sisters,Dorothy Rutland, Audena Reeves and Wilma Grace Brister.

Survivors are her sons, Chester Reeves Jr. and Carl Reeves, bothof McComb; her daughters, Millie O’Neal and Peggy Hodges, both ofMcComb; a sister, Bernice Summerall, of Natchez; a sister-in-law; abrother-in-law; her 14 grandchildren; her 17 great-grandchildren;and numerous nieces and nephews.