NATCHEZ — Services for Esaw Chatman Jr., 69, of Natchez, who died Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, in Jackson, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Holy Family Catholic Church with the Rev. John O’Hallern officiating.
Burial will be Monday, Feb. 2, 2009, at the Natchez National Cemetery under the direction of Webb Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.
Mr. Chatman was born Dec. 26, 1939, in Natchez, the son of Esaw Chatman Sr. and Mary L. Murphy. He was baptized at an early age and joined Daughter of Zion Baptist Church under the leadership of the Rev. Willie S. Scott. In his early teenage years, Mr. Chatman converted to Catholicism and became a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, where he sang in the choir until his health began to fail.
Mr. Chatman was a graduate of Sadie V. Thompson High School. After completing high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served for a number of years. After his service in the military, he attended Natchez Junior College where he received an associate of arts degree in 1972. He also attended Alcorn State University.
His employment included Armstrong Tire and Rubber Company, later becoming Pirelli Armstrong, and Britton and Koontz Bank for many years until his retirement.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Henry L. Chatman; and one son, Henry “Hank” Edney.
Survivors include twin sons, whom he loved dearly, Eric Raymon Chatman Sr. and wife, Sabrina, and Elliott Randall Chatman and wife, Veronica, all of Gulfport; one sister, Dorothy Chatman-Mosby; one brother-in-law, James Mosby, all of Ridgeland; four grandsons, Eric Raymon Chatman Jr., Myles Guy-Thomas, Kaleb Sabron Chatman and Colin Randal Chatman, all of Gulfport; devoted nephews, Demetrius Chatman and wife, Glory, both of Chicago and Gregory Chatman and wife, Ava, both of Quartz, Calif.; a devoted niece, Sheri Mosby-Fitzgerald of Greensboro, N.C.; one cousin, Mary Straus; six devoted friends, Joe Merrick, Richard Lewis, Joe Good, Y.Z. Eely, G.F. West and Charlie Harris; and a number of other friends; nieces, nephews and other close relatives.