W.B. Ainsworth

Services for W.B. Ainsworth of Simi Valley, Calif. are 11 a.m.,Monday, March 1, at Brookhaven Funeral Home Chapel with burial inEasthaven Cemetery.

Visitation is Sunday from 7-9 p.m., at the funeral home.

Mr. Ainsworth, 90, died Feb. 25, 2004, at Los Robles Hospital inThousand Oaks, Calif. He was born in Lincoln County on June 7,1913, to John Ainsworth and Ester Brewer Ainsworth.

He was retired from Haliburton Oil Company. He was a member ofthe Methodist church.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Vergie MaeSmith Ainsworth; four sisters; and two brothers.

Survivors are his daughter and son-in-law, Gail and Dale Nowellof Simi Valley, Calif.; his sister, Zeatice Upton of Mendenhall;and his grandchildren, Tristie Mitlyng of Sterling, Va., and TrentNowell of Atlanta, Ga.

Pallbearers will be Dale Nowell, Bennie Haley, John SaulRoberts, Trent Nowell, Dave Mitlyng and Asem Zeini.

Brenda Porter Dillon

A memorial service for Brenda Porter Dillon of Brookhaven willbe held at 3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 28, at Brookhaven Living WordChristian Center. Williams Mortuary is in charge ofarrangements.

Mrs. Dillon, 45, died Feb. 21, 2004, at her residence. She wasborn in Copiah County on April 13, 1959, to Glossie MaeEdwards.

She was a seamstress and a beautician. She attended AlexanderHigh School. She was a member of Brookhaven Living Word ChristianCenter.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her son, John Porter;and a brother, R.W. Benson Jr.

Survivors are her daughters, Arletha Porter and Natasha Porter,both of Brookhaven; her sisters, Margarette Ross of Dover, Del.,Shirley Mason of Virginia Beach, Va., Luada Smith of New York,N.Y., Laura Young of Baton Rouge, La., and Diane Benson ofBrookhaven; her brothers, Bobby Joe Smith and Edward Benson, bothof Brookhaven; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

George Melville “Buddy” Thomas Jr.

Services for George Melville “Buddy” Thomas Jr. of Brookhavenare 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 28, at Laird Funeral Home South Chapelin Natchez with burial in Damascus Baptist Church Cemetery nearLucien. Services will be conducted by the Rev. WinstonWinstead.

Visitation is Friday from 5-8 p.m., at the funeral home.

Mr. Thomas, 59, died Feb. 26, 2004, at King’s Daughters MedicalCenter. He was born in Natchez on April 12, 1944, to GeorgeMelville Thomas Sr. and Mary Alice Druetta Thomas.

He was retired from International Paper Company after 38 yearsservice. He was employed with Wolf Hollow golf course atCopiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson. He was a Navy veteran.He was a graduate of Natchez High School and attended University ofMississippi.

Survivors are his mother, Mary Alice Thomas of Natchez; hiswife, Billie Jean McKamie Thomas of Brookhaven; his daughter andson-in-law, Laura and Greg Pickering of Wilmington, N.C.; his sonand daughter-in-law, Bill and Candi Thomas of Natchez; his sister,Kit Hightower of Natchez; his granddaughters, Morgan Thomas,Mackenzie Thomas and Kaycee Pickering; his nieces, Lisa Byrnes andhusband Harry of Destin, Fla., and Cheri Walden of Natchez; and hisnephews, Chris Walden and Bryan Walden, both of Natchez, and ShawnByrnes and William Byrns, both of Destin, Fla.

Pallbearers will be Gery Cupit, Edward Lee Murray, Carl Bateman,Warren King, Joe Stedman, Richard Brock and Jack Smith. Honorarypallbearers will be J.E. Pickering, Mike Graves, Danny Weeks,Shorty Rushing, Steve Bass, Walter Dawkins, Toxie Burnette, ScottGoodman and Danny Jackson.