Fluvia Jan Ratliff Kessler

Services for Fluvia Jan Kessler of Delano, Calif., are 1 p.m.,Friday, Sept. 5, at First United Methodist Church in Delano withburial in North Kern District Cemetery. Lane Family Funeral Home isin charge of arrangements. Services will be conducted by the Rev.Scott Allred.

Mrs. Kessler, 71, died Sept. 1, 2003, in Delano, Calif. She wasborn in Brookhaven on Nov. 11, 1931.

She was a physical education teacher at Delano High School for26 years, and an avid golfer.

Survivors are her husband of 42 years, Elmer; her sons anddaughters-in-law, Dale and Michelle, and David and Trulie; hersister, Maydee Fields; her brothers, Charles, Norman, Jerry andLarry Ratliff; and one grandchild.

Memorials may be sent to City of Hope, P.O. Box 513477, LosAngeles, CA 90051-3477.

Paul Francis Reuter

Services for Paul Francis Reuter of Brookhaven were 11 a.m.,Wednesday, Sept. 3, at St. Francis of Assisi Church with burial inRiverwood Memorial Park Cemetery. Harrigill Funeral Home was incharge of arrangements.

Mr. Reuter, 76, died Aug. 30, 2003, at King’s Daughters MedicalCenter. He was born in Jenkintown, Pa., on May 13, 1927, to PeterReuter and Madeleine Assal Reuter.

He was retired as president of Potter Company in Wesson. He wasa World War II Navy veteran, and was a member of St. Francis ofAssisi Church. He was a charter member of Knights of Columbus,Chapter No. 7915 in Brookhaven, first becoming a knight inJenkintown, Pa. He was manager of the Brookhaven Duplicate BridgeClub, district coordinator for AARP Tax Aide Program in Brookhaven,and was an avid golfer.

Preceding him in death were his parents.

Survivors are his wife, Lois B. Reuter of Brookhaven; hisdaughters and son-in-law, Nancy Reuter of Houston, Texas, and Susanand Mark Smith of Clarksburg, Md.; his brother and sister-in-law,Charles and Eleanor Reuter of Franklin, N.C.; and twograndchildren.

Memorials may be made to Covenant House, 611 N. Rampart St., NewOrleans, LA 70112.

Otis “Byrd” Sparkman

Services for Otis “Byrd” Sparkman of Summit are 1 p.m., Sunday,Sept. 7, at Chisholm AME Church with burial in Upper Pleasant GroveCemetery.

Visitation is Saturday from 6-8 p.m., at Peoples FuneralHome.

Mr. Sparkman, 63, died Sept. 3, 2003, at his residence. He wasborn in Pike County on Oct. 1, 1939, to George Sparkman and AnnieMae Smith.

He was a retired machine operator at Byrd Lumber Company inLincoln County District Four, with over 30 years service.

Preceding him in death were his parents; a sister, Mattie LeePerkins; and two brothers, George Sparkman Jr., and JobySparkman.

Survivors are his wife, Marie Sparkman of Summit; his sisters,Delores Anderson and Dorothy Jean Wiggins, both of Biloxi; hisbrothers, Willie Sparkman of Gulfport, Herman Sparkman and PeterSparkman, both of Biloxi, and Randolph Sparkman of St. Louis, Mo.;two aunts; one uncle; seven sisters-in-law; six brothers-in-law;and a host of other relatives.

Dr. Thomas Beall Walden

Services for Dr. Thomas Beall Walden of Brookhaven are 2 p.m.,Friday, Sept. 5, at Brookhaven Funeral Home Chapel with burial inCalvary Baptist Church Cemetery.

Dr. Walden, 66, died Sept. 3, 2003, at his residence. He wasborn in Georgetown on April 15, 1937, to Will Lee Walden and VirgieHedgepeth Walden.

He was a pathologist, serving as chief pathologist at King’sDaughters Medical Center for over 30 years. He was a graduate ofMississippi College and University of Mississippi School ofMedicine. His residency training in pathology was at UniversityMedical Center. He came to Brookhaven in 1969 and established thepathology department and laboratory facilities at King’s DaughtersHospital. He served as a captain in the Air Force at McDill AirForce Base in Tampa, Fla. He was a member of First United MethodistChurch, and enjoyed gardening, distance running and reading,particularly classic literature and philosophy.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, GingerLeggett Walden; his brother, William “Pete” Walden; and a sister,Charlene Case.

Survivors are his daughters and son-in-law, Catherine WaldenKnott and husband, Shannon, and Christie Marie Walden, all ofBrookhaven; his sons and daughter-in-law, Dr. Thomas Eugene Waldenand wife, Annette, of Tupelo, and William Samuel “Sam” Walden ofBrookhaven; and his grandchildren, Tommy, Abby and Rachel, all ofTupelo, and Andrew of Brookhaven.

Memorials may be sent to Baptist Children’s Village, P.O. Box27, Clinton, MS 39060-9981.

Jack Osby Wilson

Graveside services for Jack Osby Wilson of Natchez were 10:30a.m., Sept. 3, in Natchez National Cemetery. Laird Funeral Home wasin charge of arrangements.

Mr. Wilson, 72, died Aug. 31, 2003, at ProfessionalRehabilitation Hospital in Ferriday, La. He was born in Brookhavenon Dec. 24, 1930, to Golia and Annie Carr Wilson.

He was retired from the Air Force as master sergeant with 22years service. He refinished antique furniture in his retirement.He was a 1976 graduate of University of Southern Mississippi.

Preceding him in death were his parents; a daughter, Gina WilsonGreen; and a brother, James Olia Wilson.

Survivors are his wife, Carolyn Adams Wilson of Natchez; hisdaughters, Sheree Bryant of Natchez and Amy Sanders ofPrairieville, La.; his stepdaughter, Rene Adams of Natchez; hisstepson, Richard Adams and wife, Tammy, of Columbus; his sister,Winnie Boylston of Sally, S.C.; his brother and sister-in-law,Percy O. and Jean Wilson of Brookhaven; his sister-in-law, LuraWilson of Port Neches, Texas; and his grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Charlie Cook, Ray Bryant, Fred Foster, KirkBartley, Hayden Petkovsek, John Holyoak, Cody Shappley and HunterShappley.