Florine Abrams

Services for Florine Abrams, of Brookhaven, were 11 a.m. today,Jan. 25 at Brookhaven Funeral Home with burial in RosehillCemetery.

Miss Abrams, 94, died Jan. 23, 2005.

Miss Abrams spent her entire life in Brookhaven. She wasco-owner with her brother Clifford Abrams, of Abrams MercantileCompany, where she was secretary and bookkeeper most of her adultlife. Miss Abrams was a member of B’nai Shalom Synagogue. She was avery loyal member of the Brookhaven Duplicate Bridge Club and lovedher fellow members

Preceding her in death were her brother, Clifford Abrams; hersisters, Roselyn Schlesinger and Evelyn Cline.

Survivors are her sister, Vera Davis of Jackson; several niecesand nephews; her faithful friend, Myrtle Crossley; and her loyalcare giver, Lenora Rials Vidrine.

Jo Ann Price Coke

Services for Jo Ann Price Coke, of Hazlehurst, are 2 p.m.Wednesday, Jan. 26 at Harrigill Funeral Home Chapel with burial inPleasant Valley Church Cemetery.

Visitation is today from 5-9 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mrs. Coke, 55, died Jan. 24, 2005, at Hardy Wilson MemorialHospital in Hazlehurst. She was born in Copiah County on Dec. 11,1949, to John Randolph Price and Henrietta Smith Price.

She was a homemaker. She was a member of Pleasant Valley UnitedMethodist Church.

Preceding her in death were her parents.

Survivors are her husband, Pierce Dean Coke; her daughter, EmilyC. Hoeniges, of Brookhaven; her sisters, Glenda P. Cupit, ofNatchez, Toni P. Goza, of Hazlehurst, Mona P. Maxwell, of Wesson,and Mary P. Brownlee, of Hazlehurst; and one grandchild, MatthewHoeniges.

Robert Webb Cothern Sr.

Services for Robert Webb Cothern Sr., of Lafayette, La., were 11a.m. today, Jan. 25 at Community Funeral Services with burial inJayess Cemetery.

Mr. Cothern, 58, died Jan. 19, 2005, at Beauregard MemorialHospital. He was born in McComb on Sept. 24, 1946, to Otho Cothernand Evelyn Cothern.

He was retired.

Preceding him in death was his mother.

Survivors are his father, Otho Cothern and his wife, Willie FayeCothern, of Jayess; his son, Robert Cothern Jr. of Atlanta, Ga.;his sisters, Pat Greenlee, of Jayess, Patty Ann Martin, of NewJersey, and Diane Palmer, of Wisconsin; his brothers, ZackieCothern, of Vidalia, La., Joel Cothern and Shelton Cothern, both ofJayess, Tommy Cothern, of Ocean Springs, Richard Cothern, ofEnterprise, and Jerry Cothern, of Jayess; one grandchild,Lauren.

Ned Ray Phipps

Services for Ned Ray Phipps, of Brookhaven, are 2 p.m. today,Jan. 25 at Brookhaven Funeral Home Chapel with burial in PleasantHill Baptist Church Cemetery.

Mr. Phipps, 71, died Jan. 23, 2005, at St. Dominic/JacksonMemorial Hospital. He was born in Maysfield, Ky., on Aug. 24, 1933,to John Walter Phipps and Mary Ellen Purkle Phipps.

He was retired after 20 years in the Army. He served in theVietnam War. He was the recipient of several medals andcommendations, including the National Defense Service Medal withoakleaf cluster, the Vietnam Service Medal with one silver star,the Army Commendation Medal with oakleaf cluster, the Bronze Starand was awarded the Good Conduct Medal six times. He was awardedthe Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with palm, the Republicof Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Civil ActionsHonor Medal, and the European Occupational Medal (Germany). He wasalso awarded the expert marksmanship badge with the M-16 rifle. Hislast overseas assignment was in Germany.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his sister, LeonaPhipps Bales; and his brothers, Jimmy Phipps and Paul Phipps.

Survivors are his wife, Alfea Phipps of Brookhaven; his son,Dennis Ray Phipps and his wife, Ana, of Austin, Texas; hisgranddaughter, Kayleigh Magana; and many nephews and nieces, greatnephews and nieces, and great-great nephews and great-greatnieces.

Hilda McGehee Childs Ritchie

Services for Hilda McGehee Childs Ritchie, of Brookhaven, are 11a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26 at Franklin Funeral Home Chapel with burialin Midway Cemetery in Meadville.

Visitation is today from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mrs. Ritchie, 85, died Jan. 23, 2005, at Haven Hall NursingHome. She was born in Franklin County on Oct. 23, 1919, to Perry C.McGehee and Luna Porter McGehee.

She was a retired registered nurse.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husbands, GroverChilds and Vivian Ritchie; one sister, Lucille Dillon; and twobrothers, Elmo and Bracy McGehee.

Survivors are her daughter, Faye Hill and her husband, Tommy, ofBrookhaven; her sons, Hugh Murray and his wife, Lynda, of Atlanta,Ga., and Mike Childs and his wife, Mary, of Gunnison, Colo.; fourgrandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Cleolia Sanders

Services for Cleolia Sanders, of Brookhaven, are 2 p.m.Thursday, Jan. 27 at St. James M.B. Church with burial in HillcrestCemetery.

Visitation is Wednesday from noon until 7 p.m. at R.E. TylerFuneral Home. Family will be present from 6-7 p.m.

Ms. Sanders, 66, died Jan. 21, 2005, at her residence. She wasborn in Brookhaven on June 9, 1938, to J.T. Sanders and ArdellaDixon Sanders.

She was a graduate of Alexander High School. She attended AlcornState University and graduated from Tougaloo College with a degreein early childhood education. She worked for the Head Start Programfor 25 years. She was later employed at Wal-Mart Supercenter. Shewas a member of St. Mark M.B. Church, where she taught SundaySchool and was a member of the Junior Mission.

Preceding her in death were her parents; and two brothers, JohnPaul Sanders and J.W. Sanders.

Survivors are her daughter, Lisa Smith, of Loganville, Ga.; herson, Victor Hugh Sanders, of Harker Heights, Texas; her sisters,Pauline Smith, of Brookhaven, and Dorothy Spencer; her brothers,Otis Sanders, C.L. Sanders, Ivy Lee Sanders Sr., and Charlie D.Sanders, all of Brookhaven, and Willie Ray Sanders, of Springfield,Mass.; two grandchildren, Jasmin Gardner, of New Jersey, andJayvick Brandon Sanders, of Harker Heights; and a host of niecesand nephews.