May 8, 1917 – March 29, 2014

NATCHEZ — Services for Melba Wilkinson Stone, 96, of Natchez, who died Saturday, March 29, 2014, at her residence, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dan Wynn and the Rev. Jeff Brewer officiating.

Burial will follow in Reeves Cemetery in McComb at 3 p.m. under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the funeral home.

Mrs. Stone was born March 8, 1917, in McComb, the daughter of Emerson Bailey Wilkinson Sr. and Ida Elizabeth Reeves Wilkinson.

She grew up in the Friendship community of McComb with her brother and sisters before moving to Natchez.

Mrs. Stone was a member of Parkway Baptist Church from 1952 until her death. She was active in various aspects of the church but especially loved working in the youth department.

She was a licensed cosmetologist and worked 27 years at Heatherly’s Beauty Salon before retiring at age 70.

She and her husband, Harry, loved to travel all over the country. She lovingly took care of our father until his death in 1995.

She enjoyed gardening, working in her yard, traveling and especially loved spending time with her family and her grand dog, Storm.

Survivors include two daughters, Lyndell Stone Gautreaux and husband, Charlie, of Clinton, and Marilyn Stone Kennedy and husband, Kerry, of Hazlehurst; five grandchildren, Renee VanSittert, Charles Gautreaux, Jonathan Stone Gautreaux, Lindsey Kennedy and James Kennedy; six great-grandchildren, Robby VanSittert, Ryan VanSitteret, Genevieve Hyatt, Anna Grace Gautreaux, Jonathan Stone Gautreaux Jr. and Anthony Lee Gautreaux.

Pallbearers will be Price Wilkinson, Jonathan Stone Gautreaux, Anthony Gautreaux, Charles Gautreaux Jr., Len VanSittert, Jeff Harrison and Wesley Strong.

The family would like to thank Ashley Wilson and Jackie White for their loving care of Mom during her brief illness.

Memorials may be made to a charity of choice.

Online condolences may be sent to lairdfh. com.