Obituaries published in the Tueday, May 16, 2006 edition of The Natchez Democrat

Services Today

Preston Welch

2 p.m. Young’s Funeral Home, Ferriday

John Herbert Thompson

11 a.m. Laird Funeral Home South Chapel

Bentley Brodick Scott

5 p.m. Pinehill Cemetery

Donnie Hugh Hedgepeth

2 p.m. Riverwood Chapel

Billie M. Taylor

3 p.m. Laird Funeral Home Union Street Chapel

Donnie Hugh Hedgepeth

Mar. 18, 1944-May 14, 2006

BOGUE CHITTO-Services for Donnie Hugh Hedgepeth, 62, of Bogue Chitto, who died Sunday, May 14, 2006, at Saint Dominic Hospital, will be at 2 p.m. today at Riverwood Chapel.

Burial will follow in Riverwood Memorial Park under the direction of Riverwood Family Funeral Service.

Mr. Hedgepeth was born Mar. 18, 1944, the daughter of Toxie and Zelma Lee Dunn Hedgepeth. He was a truck driver and a roughneck. Mr. Hedgepeth was a Vietnam veteran of the United States Army. He was a member of the Hog Chain Volunteer Fire Department.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Toxie Jerrell Hedgepeth.

Survivors include his wife, Nila Conley Hedgepeth; sons, Donnie Jason Hedgepeth and wife Karen and William James Hedgepeth; a step-son, Bruce Pierce; daughters, Connie Douglas and husband Ronnie, Deborah Pierce and husband Barrett and Judy Ellzey and husband Everett; step-daughter, Pamela Sellers; two brothers, James Hedgepeth and Carl Hedgepeth; four sisters, Nellie Turner, Dorothy Boyd, Ruth Nations and Geneva Nations; 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild; a very special friend, Chico.

Bentley Brodrick Scott

May 11, 2006-May 11, 2006

NATCHEZ-Services for Bentley Brodrick Scott, infant, of Natchez, who died May 11, 2006, at Natchez Community Hospital, will be at 5 p.m. today at Pinehill Cemetery in Natchez with Jonathan Hargrave officiating.

Burial will follow in Pinehill Cemetery under the direction of George F. West Funeral Home.

Bentley was born May 11, 2006, the son of Brock and Glennese Scott.

He was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Mrs. Thelma W. Smith and grandfather, Lawrence Ray Henry.

Survivors include his parents; grandparents, Mandy Smith and husband Johnny, Glenn Smith and wife Veronica and Sybrenna Scott; great-grandparents, Mr. Henry L. Smith Sr. and Mrs. Helen Scott; brother, DeQuan Seals; sisters, Lexus and Camry Scott; aunts, Tawona and Amanda Smith; uncle, Landell Scott; special aunt, Mrs. Ira S. Young and husband Andre; a host of other relatives and friends.

Pallbearers will be family and friends.

John Herbert Thompson

July 3, 1922-May 13, 2006

NATCHEZ-Services for John Herbert Thompson, 83, of Natchez, who died Saturday, May 13, 2006, at University Medical Center in Jackson, will be at 11 a.m. today at Laird Funeral Home South Chapel with the Rev. Steve Pearson officiating.

Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Mr. Thompson was born July 3, 1922, in Collins, the son of Samuel Elijah and Addie Delane Pickering Thompson. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of WWII.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Bobbie Jean Thompson.

Survivors include two sons, Herbert R. Thompson of Vinegar Bend, Ala. and John W. Thompson of Natchez; three daughters, Brenda T. Sawyer of Atlanta, Texas and DeLain T. Robinson of Lake St. John, La. and Maggie Clements of Marrero, La.; 14 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; a sister, Martha E. Jacobi of Ocala, Fla.

Pallbearers will be Greg Thompson, Richard Thompson, Jesse Thompson, Troy Eliser, Donald Chapman and Jason Mann.

Memorials may be made to Community Chapel Church of God Building Fund.

Hillary Anthony Portier Sr.

ALBANY, LA.-Services for Mr. Hillary Anthony Portier Sr., 77, who died at his residence in Albany on Sunday, May 14, 2006, will be held 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 18, 2006, at St. Margaret Catholic Church in Albany.

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

Visitation will be Wednesday from 6 to 10 p.m. at Geisler Funeral Home of Albany and Thursday from 8:30 to 10:45 a.m. at the funeral home.

Mr. Portier was a native of Bourg, La., a member of St. Margaret Catholic Church, American Legion Post #258, a US Navy veteran of World War II and a retired diesel mechanic in the oil field industry.

He was preceded in death by one son, Michael J. Portier Sr.; one brother, Adrian Portier; 2 sisters, Zillah Paolini and Thelma Hymel.

Survivors include his wife, Georgia Johnson Portier, 3 sons, Charles R. Portier of Baton Rouge, Guy A. Portier of Albany and Hillary “HAP” A. Portier Jr. of Albany; 2 daughters, Catherine P. Konieczka of Springfield and Amanda P. LeBouef of Albany; his mother-in-law, Thelma Pritchard Rogers of Albany; 12 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to North Oaks Hospice, P.O. Box 2668, Hammond, LA. 70404

Billie M. Taylor

January 6, 1930-May 11, 2006

NATCHEZ-Services for Mrs. Billie M. Taylor, 76, of Natchez, who died Sunday, May 16, 2006, in The Woodlands, Texas, will be at 3 p.m. today from Laird Funeral Home Union Street Chapel.

Burial will follow at Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be today from 2 p.m. until service time.

Mrs. Taylor was born January 6, 1930, in Horatio, AR, the daughter of Thomas Edison Minx and Jewell April Miller Minx.

She was a member of Pilgrimage Garden Club. She married Dr. John M. Taylor, Jr. on September 8, 1949 and they resided in Lubbock, TX for over 30 years before moving to Natchez.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dr. John M. Taylor, Jr. and a son, Thomas Michael Taylor.

Survivors include a daughter, Cindy Taylor Ohlms and husband, Jim; granddaughters, Stephanie Ohlms and Lindsey Ohlms, all of The Woodlands, TX.