Obituaries published in t he Friday, Aug. 8, 2003, edition of The Natchez Democrat

Services today

August 8, 2003

Charles Dennis, 11 a.m., New Zion Baptist Church.

Martha Lavaun Lawrence Cupit, 10 a.m., Brookhaven Funeral Home Chapel, Brookhaven.

Martha Mae Johnson Fleming, 2 p.m., Smithland Baptist Church.

Albert Watson

NATCHEZ – Dismissal service for Albert Watson, 86, of New Orleans, LA, who died Saturday, Aug. 2, 2003, at St. Charles General Hospital, will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Natchez National Cemetery.

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. today at D. W. Rhodes Funeral Home in New Orleans and from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday at George F. West Funeral Home.

Survivors include his wife, Rever Mae Lewis Watson; three sisters, Rosie Watson Lewis, Mabel Watson King and Julia Watson; and a number of other relatives and friends.

Pallbearers will be friends of the family.

Beatrice Fleming-Bell

FAYETTE – Services for Beatrice Fleming-Bell, 80, of Fayette, who died Saturday, Aug. 2, 2003, at River Regional Medical Center in Vicksburg, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Rose Hill No. 1 Baptist Church in Fayette with the Rev. Walter Chambers officiating.

Burial will be in the church cemetery under the direction of Spencer Funeral Home of Fayette.

Visitation is from 2 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home and from noon until service time Saturday at the church.

Alneter Hunt Butler

March 15, 1923 – Aug. 4, 2003

NATCHEZ – Services for Alneter Hunt Butler, 80, of Natchez, who died Monday, Aug. 4, 2003, at her residence, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Southwood Lodge Baptist Church with the Rev. James E. Lee officiating.

Burial will be in the church cemetery under the direction of Robert D. Mackel and Sons.

The procession will leave at 10:15 a.m. Saturday from the funeral home.

Visitation is from noon to 5 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mrs. Butler was born March 15, 1923, in Franklin County, the daughter of Lit Hunt and Mary Shepherd Hunt.

She was a housekeeper and a Baptist.

Mrs. Butler was preceded in death by her parents, four sisters, four brothers and her husband, Cleveland Butler, Sr.

Survivors include two sons, Cleveland Hunt and his wife, Edwrina of Monroe, LA and Frank Butler and his wife, Janie of Dallas, TX; three daughters, Claudia Davis, Florence Mosby and Mary Ann Butler, all of Natchez; one sister, Sadie Hunt of Natchez; two sisters-in-law, Lillie V. Hunt of Roxie and Lillie Hunt of Meadville; special friend, Elsie Smith of Natchez; god son, Edwin Smith of Natchez; and a number of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends.

Pallbearers will be Lonnie Hunt, Jerry Davis, Deselle Davis, James Davis, Craig Hunt and Edward Shropshire.

Birdie Lee Skipper

March 9, 1905 – Aug. 4, 2003

FERRIDAY, LA – Services for Birdie Lee Skipper, 98, of Ferriday, who died Monday, Aug. 4, 2003, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mercy Seat Baptist Church in Ferriday.

Burial will be in the Ferriday Cemetery under the direction of Tennant Funeral Home, Inc. of Rayville, LA.

Family hour will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at St. Reed Baptist Church in Ferriday.

She was a homemaker.

Barbara O’Neal Kornbacher

Aug. 9, 1922 – Aug. 3, 2003

FERRIDAY, LA – Services for Barbara O’Neal Kornbacher, 80, of Ferriday, who died Sunday, Aug. 3, 2003, at Rapides General Medical Center in Alexandria, LA, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at New Morning Star Baptist Church with the Rev. Johnnie Hollins officiating.

Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery on Lake St. John, Ferriday under the direction of Concordia Funeral Home of Ferriday.

Visitation is from 6 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Ms. Kornbacher was born Aug. 9, 1922, in Natchez, the daughter of Phil and Savannah Washington O’Neal.

Survivors include two daughters, Louise Jolla of Ferriday and Marie Tennessee of San Bernardino, CA; one brother, Joseph O’Neal of Baton Rouge, LA; six sisters, Lizzie Powell of Clayton, LA, Jessie Simms, Janie McClain, Willie Montgomery, Geneva Hall and Mildred Davis, all of Ferriday; eight grandchildren and a number of great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

James Smith Sr.

FAYETTE – Services for James Smith Sr., 95, of Metairie, LA, who died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2003, at Ochsner Hospital, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Pine Grove Baptist Church.

Burial will be in the church cemetery under the direction of Richardson Funeral Home.

Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Carter Beverly

May 18, 1921 – Aug. 3, 2003

FERRIDAY, LA – Services for Carter Beverly, 82, of Ferriday, who died Sunday, Aug. 3, 2003, at Riverland Medical Center in Ferriday, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Concordia Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Leroy Brown officiating.

Burial will be in Gravel Hill Cemetery in Fayette under the direction of Concordia Funeral Home of Ferriday.

Visitation is from 6 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mr. Carter was born May 18, 1921, in Lorman, the son of Mension Beverly and Louella Reed Beverly.

He was a retired steel worker and a Methodist.

Survivors include three brothers, James Beverly of Los Angeles, CA, Clarence Beverly of Baton Rouge, LA and Eddie Joe Beverly of Long Beach, CA; six sisters, Fannie Rushing of Ferriday, Laura Clark of Compton, CA, Erenstine Montgomery of Monterey, CA, Elizabeth Jackson of Coushatta, LA, Rose Riley of Los Angeles and Nellie Peaks of Cerritos, CA.

Martha Mae Johnson Fleming

May 21, 1951 – Aug. 4, 2003

NATCHEZ – Services for Martha Mae Johnson Fleming, 52, of Natchez, who died Monday, Aug. 4, 2003, at University Medical Center in Jackson, will be at 2 p.m. today at Smithland Baptist Church with the Rev. Percy Turner officiating.

Burial will be in the church cemetery under the direction of Robert D. Mackel and Sons.

Visitation is from 1 p.m. until service time today at the funeral home.

Mrs. Fleming was born May 21, 1951, in Adams County, the daughter of Joe Johnson and Carrie Washingon and was reared by James Ellis.

She was employed by Adams County Health Department as an assistant nurses aide and was a Baptist.

Survivors include her husband, Albert Fleming of Natchez; son, Tyrone Johnson and his wife, Stacy of Natchez; step-son, Micheal Ross and his wife, Lea of Seattle, WA; step-daughter, Shirley Fleming and her husband, Donald of Fayette; three brothers, Virgil Gibbs, James Gibbs and his wife, Earlene and James Washington and his wife, Jennifer, all of Natchez; five sisters, Carrie Clemons and her husband, Henry, Anita Smith of Kuwait, Iraq, Emily Sanders and her husband, Merrick of Chicago, IL, Laura A. Garner and her husband, Henry Mack and Gloria Washington, all of Natchez; two grandchildren, Julian Johnson of Magee and Kennedy Lauren Johnson of Natchez; god-child, Emanuel Hill of Natchez; eight aunts, Theresa Ford of Natchez, Hattie Crumb, Hazel Ford and Odessa Stevenson, all of Ferriday, LA, Dora Clemons and Barbara Griffin of Las Vegas, NV, Bertha King and her husband, Prince of Natchez and Emma Jean Clemons of Las Vegas; two uncles, Charlie Clemons and his wife, Emma and Ernest Clemons and his wife, Ethel, all of Natchez; god-sister, Ethel Clemons of Natchez; and a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Pallbearers will be friends of the family.

Ralph W. E. King

Aug. 15, 1945 – Aug. 3, 2003

NATCHEZ – Services for Ralph W. E. King, 57, who died Sunday, Aug. 3, 2003, at St. Dominic Medical Center in Jackson, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Jerusalem Baptist Church with the Rev. Ernest Ford officiating.

Burial will be in St. Paul AME Church Cemetery under the direction of Webb Funeral System.

Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mr. King was born Aug. 15, 1945, in Natchez, the son of Rev. Ned King Sr. and Irene Gaines King.

He was a graduate of Sadie V. Thompson, Co-Lin and Alcorn State University. He was retired from the United States Army where he served in the Vietnam War, was a Baptist and enjoyed fishing.

Survivors include his wife, Maple R. S. King; one son, Ralph King Jr. of Minneapolis, MN; three daughters, Doris M. King of Natchez, Cynthia D. King and Krystal King, both of Minneapolis; one god child, Shonda Washington of Natchez; eight grandchildren; four sisters, Katie L. Demby, Isabelle Anderson, Susie Bacon and her husband, Samuel and Ollie King, all of Natchez; three brothers, Ned King Jr., Isaac King and his wife, Mary and John L. King, all of Natchez; one adopted sister, Gwendolyn King.

Pallbearers will be Kenneth King, Thurston King, Brad King, Alfred King, Isaac King Jr. and Roderick King.