Obituaries published in Thursday, May 21, 2004, edition of The Natchez Democrat

Services today

No services are scheduled for today.

Minnie Trusty Joseph

MEADVILLE – Services for Minnie Trusty Joseph, 93, of Meadville, who died Wednesday, May 19, 2004, at Franklin Memorial Hospital in Meadville, will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Franklin Funeral Home Chapel in Meadville.

Burial will be in Ozion Baptist Church Cemetery in Franklin County under the direction of Franklin Funeral Home.

She was a homemaker.

Billy Charles &uot;Bill&uot; Porter

May 4, 1932 – May 18, 2004

JONESVILLE, La. – Services for Billy Charles &uot;Bill&uot; Porter, 72, of Jonesville, who died Tuesday, May 18, 2004, in Pineville, La., will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Jonesville with the Rev. Jessie Watkins and the Rev. Mickey Hudnall officiating.

Burial will be in Heard Cemetery in Manifest, La. under the direction of Comer Funeral Home of Ferriday.

Visitation is from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday at the church.

Mr. Porter was born May 4, 1932, in El Dorado, Ark., the son of Brownie C. and Alice H. Porter.

He had been a resident of Jonesville since 1941 and was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Jonesville. Mr. Porter was a veteran of the Korean Conflict serving in the U.S. Navy. He was an independent oil field switcher retiring in 1996.

Mr. Porter was preceded in death his parents; two brothers, James Porter and C. Vaughn Porter; and a step-son, Timmy Beatty.

Survivors include his wife, Margie Kirkland Porter of Jonesville; son, Edward Porter of Jonesville; step-son, Paul Beatty of Jonesville; two daughters, Lori White and Carolyn Smith and her husband, Curtis, all of Jonesville; four sisters, Dorothy Towler of Ypsilanti, Mich., Mary Lou Hampp of Easton, Md., Faye Neighbors of Roswell, Ga. and Marjorie Murph of El Dorado, Ark.; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Brad Cockerham, Bill Cockerham, Donnie Collins, Bill Nolan, Bob Porter and David Miller.

Myrtle Lipsey

MONTEREY, La. – Services for Myrtle Lipsey, 85, of Monterey, who died Wednesday, May 19, 2004, at her residence, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at New Era Baptist Church with the Rev. Huey Tarpley and the Rev. Mike Stowell officiating.

Burial will follow at the church cemetery under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home of Ferriday, La.

Visitation is from 6 p.m. today until service time Friday at the church.

She was a homemaker, was a charter member of the New Era Baptist Church and the Womens Missionary Union and taught Sunday school for many years.

Mrs. Lipsey was preceded in death by her husband, Ivy Lipsey; father, Jimmy Paul; mother, Almedia Paul; son and daughter-in-law, Wilbur and Kathy Lipsey; sister, Evie Bounds; brothers, Willie W. Paul and Raymond Paul.

Survivors include son, Paul Lipsey and wife, Barbara of Monterey; daughter, Valda Greene and husband, Curtis of Monterey; brother, James Clay Paul of Monterey; sister, Eva Moreland of Monterey; eight grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons.

Memorial donations may be made to the New Era Baptist Church Building Fund.

Gloria Frances Edwards Frost

June 4, 1922 – May 19, 2004

VIDALIA, La. – Services for Gloria Frances Edwards Frost, 81, of Vidalia, who died Wednesday, May 19, 2004, in Natchez, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Vidalia with the Rev. Paul Kunnumpurrum officiating.

Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery in Sicily Island under the direction of Comer Funeral Home of Ferriday, La.

Visitation is from 11 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.

Mrs. Frost was born June 4, 1922, in New Orleans, La., the daughter of Emile W. Sr. and Louise B. Edwards.

She had been a resident of Vidalia since 1977. She was a secretary with Bell South retiring in 1977 and was a member of the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Vidalia.

Mrs. Frost was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Emile W. Edwards Jr.; and a sister, Gladys Riviere.

Survivors include her husband, William R. Frost of Vidalia; son, George John Novakov Jr. of New Orleans; two nephews, Donald Riviere of Metarie, La. and Billy Edwards of Chalmette, La.; two grandchildren, Jay Novakov and Jaime Novakov, both of New Orleans; great-grandchild, Christopher Matthew Novakov of New Orleans.

Dorothy &uot;Bit&uot; McNair Reed Smith

Nov. 4, 1925 – May 18, 2004

SICILY ISLAND, La. – Services for Dorothy &uot;Bit&uot; McNair Reed Smith, 78, of Sicily Island, who died Tuesday, May 18, 2004, at her residence, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Sicily Island United Methodist Church with the Rev. Bill Foster officiating.

Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery in Sicily Island under the direction of Comer Funeral Home of Ferriday, La.

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mrs. Smith was born Nov. 4, 1925, in Baskin, La., the daughter of Jack G. and Jessie Chisum McNair.

&uot;Bit&uot; was a graduate of Sicily Island High School and Louisiana State University, where she received a B.A. in Elementary Education. She was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and was one of the university’s most avid sports fans. &uot;Bit&uot; married Joseph Lyle Reed and made a home in Vinton, La., where she was a teacher in the Calcasieu Parish School System. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star No. 153 in Vinton. After Jody’s death she continued to teach there until her retirement. After marrying Charles Smith, they returned to Sicily Island and built a home where she resided until her death. &uot;Bit&uot; was a dedicated teacher who spent most of the latter years substituting in Sicily Island classrooms. She was adored by faculty and students alike. A member of the Sicily Island First Unite Methodist Church, she served on many committees and was Sunday School Director for several years. Her church and church family were very important to her and she supported them in every way.

Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Joseph Lyle Reed; her second husband, Charles Smith; sisters, Eva McNair and Kitty McNair Nolen; and brother, Jack McNair, Chisum &uot;Son&uot; McNair and Charles McNair.

Survivors include nieces and nephews, B. G. Hair of Springfield, La., C. B. Hair of McKinney, Texas, Nancy Burleigh of Kinder, La., Libba Watkins of Welsh, La., Mary C. Krause of Fort Pierce, Fla. and M. B. Nolen III of Sicily Island; and a number of great nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be B. G. Hair, C. A. Hair, M. B. Nolen III, Albert Krause, Russell Burleigh, Bobby Watkins, Rusty Burleigh and Dr. Albert N. Krause.

Honorary pallbearers will be Lynn Evans, Roy Evans, Charles Miller, Dr. Billie Coney, Aubrey Chisum and M. B. Nolen Jr.

Mary McCoy

Funeral arrangements for Mary McCoy, 39, of Vidalia, La., who died Wednesday, May 19, 2004, at Ochsner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans, La., are incomplete at Concordia Funeral Home of Ferriday, La.