Martha Blakeney

Services for Martha Blakeney, of Biloxi, are 2 p.m. Wednesday,Feb. 2 at Bethel Baptist Church in Monticello, with burial in thechurch cemetery. Wilson Funeral Home in Monticello, is in charge ofarrangements.

Visitation is Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. at the church.

Mrs. Blakeney, 85, died Jan. 29, 2005, at Gulf Coast MedicalCenter in Biloxi. She was born in Lawrence County on April 25,1919, to the Rev. Jessie James Hedgepeth and Sarah ElizabethHancock.

She was a homemaker. She was a former member of the EasternStar. She had lived in the Biloxi area since the mid 1960s and wasa member of Bay Vista Baptist Church of Biloxi.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, WilliamBurnice Blakeney; two brothers, Harvey Hedgepeth and J.J. HedgepethJr.; and one sister, Maxie Ruth Brake.

Survivors are her sons, Bruce Blakeney, of Biloxi, and AndrewBlakeney, of Seekonk, Mass.; her sister, Sarah E. Hedgepeth Young,of Biloxi; and her grandson, Alex Blakeney of Seekonk.

Ronnie James Nickles

Services for Ronnie James Nickles, of Summit, are 2 p.m. today,Feb. 1 at East McComb Baptist Church with burial in Reeves Cemeteryin McComb.

Visitation is today from noon until 2 p.m. at Hartman FuneralHome in McComb.

Mr. Nickles, 49, died Jan. 30, 2005, at the University ofMississippi Medical Center in Jackson, following a lengthy illness.He was born in Framingham, Mass., on Oct. 8, 1955, to KorsagNickles and Julia Lee Nickles.

He was retired. He was a member of East McComb Baptist Church.He loved his church family and enjoyed photography and fishing.

Preceding him in death were his father; his uncle, William “Dub”Hamilton; and an aunt, Mary Lee Hamilton.

Survivors are his mother; his wife of 24 years, Susan PowellNickles, of Summit; his sons, Ryan C. Nickles and Stephen B.Nickles, both of Summit; his sisters, Janice Holden and herhusband, Raymond, of Independence, La., and Helen Nickles, ofFramingham; his brother, Jerry Nickles and his wife, Louise, ofJayess; his mother-in-law, Hazel Hensley, and her husband, Larry,of Sontag; his father-in-law, Marvin F. Powell, and his wife,Joyce, of McComb; his brothers-in-law, Thomas Powell and his wife,Jennifer, and Marvin “Brother” Powell; one sister-in-law, CarolynDistler and her husband, Dale; five nephews, Joseph Holden and hiswife, Marcie, Bosco Holden and his wife, Kristy, Kevin Nickles andhis wife, Katie, Thomas Powell Jr. and his wife, Brandy, andJonathan Powell; four nieces, Shelley Nickles, Crystal Powell,Sarah Distler and Brandy Roberts; three great-nephews; two greatnieces; many aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives, and manyspecial friends.

Pallbearers will be his nephews, cousins and a friend, JosephHolden, Bosco Holden, Kevin Nickles, Thomas Powell Jr., JonathanPowell, Kenny Powell and Cody Bates.

Honorary pallbearers will be the Adult Sunday School Class atEast McComb Baptist Church.

Willie R. Rutland

Services for Willie R. Rutland, of Ruth, are 11 a.m. Wednesday,Feb. 2 at Tilton United Methodist Church with burial in RobertsMemorial Cemetery in Lawrence County. Brookhaven Funeral Home is incharge of arrangements.

Visitation is today from 4-9 p.m. at the church.

Mr. Rutland, 75, died Jan. 30, 2005, at King’s Daughter MedicalCenter. He was born in Lawrence County on Nov. 4, 1929, to WalterF. Rutland and Gladys Smith Rutland.

He was retired from the Mississippi Highway Department, where hehad worked for 38 years. He attended Copiah-Lincoln Junior Collegeand served in the Army for four years. He was a member of TiltonUnited Methodist Church.

Preceding him in death were his parents; and his brothers,Alfred and Alcus Dale Rutland.

Survivors are his nieces, Mary Diane Nations, and her husband,Jerry, of Roxie, Peggy Lynn Jones and her husband, Wayne, ofHartselle, Ala.; his nephews, Greg Rutland, and his wife, Trudy, ofSalem, Mo., and Ricky Rutland, and his wife, Terri, of Atlanta,Texas; and his sister-in-law, Olean Rabb, of Natchez.

Margaret Webb

Services for Margaret Webb, of Roxie, were 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan.30 at Roxie Baptist Church with burial in Green Lawn Memorial Parkin Natchez. Franklin Funeral Home in Meadville was in charge ofarrangements.

Mrs. Webb, 86, died Jan. 27, 2005, at Franklin Memorial Hospitalin Meadville. She was born in Arkansas on Jan. 15, 1919.

She was a homemaker and once manager of the Natchez Children’sHome. She was a member of Roxie Baptist Church and a member of theEastern Star.

Preceding her in death were her father, Lonzo Erwin; her mother;her husband, Maxie Webb; two grandsons; one brother; and oneson.

Survivors are her son, Larry Webb, of Roxie; her sisters, MinnieTears, of Lake Charles, La., Bessie Nelson, of Water Proof, La.,and Ada Williams, of Ferriday, La.; five grandchildren; and eightgreat-grandchildren.