Services for Paul Melton Sykes, of Brookhaven, are 11 a.m.Saturday, Sept. 27, at Central Baptist Church with burial in UnionBaptist Church Cemetery. The Rev. Ryan Thurman and the Rev. HalHatten will officiate.

Visitation is Friday from 5 until 9 p.m. at Brookhaven FuneralHome on North Jackson Street and Saturday from 9 until 11 a.m. atthe church.

Mr. Sykes, 83, died Sept. 24, 2008, at King’s Daughters MedicalCenter in Brookhaven. He was born in Lincoln County on March 1,1925, to John H. Sykes and Mamie Rials Sykes.

He was a captain for the Brookhaven Fire Department for 46 yearsand six weeks. He was a member of Central Baptist Church.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Melba LeeSmith Sykes; and his eight brothers and sisters.

Survivors are his sons, Paul Michael Sykes and wife, Donnie Kay,of Bogue Chitto, Henry Sykes and wife, Gloria, of Kenner, La., GarySykes, of Bogue Chitto, Frankie Sykes and wife, Tina, and RandySykes, all of Brookhaven, and Johnny Sykes and wife, Donna, ofFlorence; his daughters, Frances Newell and husband, Johnny, ofBrookhaven, Dorothy McMath and husband, George, of Gainesville,Ga., Patsy Thornton, of Marietta, Ga., and Mary Guess and husband,Mike, of Brookhaven; a sister, Evon Hewitt, of Brookhaven; his 21grandchildren; his 18 great-grandchildren; and his twogreat-great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers are Captain Billy Beeson, Captain Ray Allen,Inspector Andrea Spiller, Captain Donald Sterling, Captain ScottySmith and Shift Captain Darrel Davis.