NATCHEZ – Services for Akeem Olajuwon “Big Firl” Firley, 24, of Natchez, who died Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008, at Natchez Regional Medical Center, will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Zion Hill No. 1 Baptist Church.
Burial will follow at Mercy Seat Baptist Church Cemetery under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from noon until service time Sunday at the church.
Mr. Firley was born Jan. 27, 1984, in New Iberia, La., the son of Anthony Charles Vangure and Vee Firley Vangure Bacon.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Roy Lee Firley Sr., Sarah Firley Flowers, Arthur Vangure and Mary L. Green Vangure; one brother, Courtland Jones; two aunts, five uncles and three cousins.
Survivors include his mother and her husband, Peter, both of Natchez, and father and his wife, Deborah, both of New Iberia; three sisters, Venicia Firley of Baton Rouge, Jade Thibodeaux and Kasadian Beals, both of New Iberia; six brothers, Carl Firley and wife, Shaunequa, both of Natchez, Anthony Thibodeaux, Jason Jones, Anthony Vangure and DeAnthony Vangure, all of New Iberia and Tyson Ameen Wilson of New Orleans; six aunts, Doris Firley George, Sarah Firley Weathersby and husband, James and Lutannueal Flowers, all of Natchez, Arthur Jean Jefferson and husband, Earnest, Elnora Green and Rose Mary Hamilton and husband, Carlton, all of New Iberia; seven uncles, Roy Lee Firley Jr. and wife, Lucy and Ronald House, all of Milwaukee, Wis., Warren Vangure, June Vangure and wife, Ann, Larry Vangure and wife, Connie, Michael Vangure and wife, Joyce and Donald Ray Vangure and wife, Stella; three nieces, eight nephews; and a number of other relatives and friends.