Services for Elven Raiford Dykes Sr., 84, of Mandeville, La., formerly of Natchez, who died Thursday, March 8, 2007, in Mandeville, will be 11 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church, Natchez, with Dr. Waylon Bailey officiating.

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

Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until service time Monday at the church.

Mr. Dykes was born June 20, 1922, in Smithdale, the son of Thomas Ewell Dykes and Alma Lea Stone Dykes. He was a resident of Natchez from 1942 to 1999 before making his home in Mandeville. He was a member of First Baptist Church, in Covington, and a former member of First Baptist Church and Parkway Baptist Church in Natchez. He was a World War II veteran serving the United States Air Force in the South Pacific. He was a longtime Shriner and Masonic Mason. His faith in Jesus Christ was unwavering to the end and he loved to spend time with family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Thomas Dykes.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Ann Russell Dykes; a son, Elven R. Dykes Jr. and wife, Lucy Redd Dykes, of Mandeville; grandchildren, Kevin Dykes and wife, Angelique, of Madison, Tracy Volante and husband, Kenny, of Covington, Melanie White and husband, Shelby, of Nashville, Tenn., George Forbes and wife, Stephanie, of Gretna; nine great-grandchildren; brother, Bobby Dykes of Kingsport, Tenn.; and sisters, Janie Williamson of Ridgecrest and Annie Laurie Caston of Elizabethton, Tenn.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Pallbearers will be Donald Estes, Paul Green, Sam Gwin, Bruce Lewis, Bobby Moore and Don Saucier.

Honorary pallbearers will be Allen Johnson, Stanley Novak, Ralph Redd, John Saunders, and Van Stewart.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Love Fund of First Baptist Church, Natchez or the Building Fund of First Baptist Church, Covington, La.