Services for Joseph B. Spring, of Smithdale, are 11 a.m.Saturday, March 25, at Mt. Olive Baptist Church with burial in thechurch cemetery. Hartman Funeral Home in McComb is in charge ofarrangements.

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

Mr. Spring, 78, died March 23, 2006, at Southwest MississippiRegional Medical Center. He was born in New Orleans, La., on July9, 1927, to Walter and Amazon Spring.

He was retired from International Paper Company, of Natchez,after many years. He was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church,where he served as a deacon and chairman of the Building andGrounds Committee. He served proudly in the U.S. Navy. He was anactive member of Lakeview Golf Course in Summit.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his brothers, William,Elwin, Floyd, George, Claude and Dekalb Spring; and his sisters,Lilly Dillon, Mavis Dillon, Elizabeth Reilly and MarthaCallender.

Survivors are his wife of 57 years, Nellie Joyce Smith Spring;his sons, Michael Spring and his wife Polly, and Phillip Spring andhis wife Pam, all of Smithdale; his grandchildren, Jessica S.Freeman and husband Jeff, of Liberty, Clint Spring, Conner Springand his fiancee, Amber Murray, and Shannon Spring, all ofSmithdale; his great-granddaughter, Jolie Freeman, of Liberty; andhis close friend, Louann Madison and husband, Fred, ofSmithdale.

Pallbearers are Gary Steele, Stan Hilton, Ronnie Perry, LeeDunnam, Randy Dickerson and Terry Burris.

Honorary pallbearers are the deacons of Mt. Olive Baptist Churchand lifelong friend, Kenneth Allred.