Obituaries for Thursday, March 20, 2003

By Staff
Retired
Services for Julian Dickie Hammond Sr. will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at James F. Webb Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Tom Sikes officiating. Burial will be in Magnolia Cemetery.
Mr. Hammond, 92, of Alexandria, La., died Saturday, March 15, 2003, in Alexandria. He was a native of Meridian. He operated the Hammond Photo Service after the death of his father for several years eventually selling the business.
He was a retired manufacturer's representative for several companies. He was a graduate and the quarterback for the Meridian High School Wildcats football team in 1928, 1929 and 1930. He was elected captain of the team in 1930.
He was a member of the Meridian "Nite" Lions Club, past president of the Meridian Quarterback and "M" clubs, Meridian Chamber of Commerce and was active in several civic projects.
Mr. Hammond was a member of Central Presbyterian Church, of which he was a deacon and president of the "Young Couples" Sunday school class.
He was a 32nd degree Mason, a Shriner, an avid golfer and a veteran of World War II. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout at age 14, making him one of the youngest to ever receive this honor in scouting.
Homemaker
Services for Ruth Irene McKeithen Pelo Vinson will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church with the Rev. Allen Dearing officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Grove Cemetery. Stephens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Vinson, 76, of Marion, died Tuesday, March 18, 2003, at Guardian Angel Healthcare. She was a member of Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her daughters, Betty Dorough and Linda F. Traweek, both of Meridian, Cecilia P. McCracken of Houston, Texas, and Dona M. Thorley of Arlington, Texas; a son, George H. Pelo of Safety Harbour, Fla.; 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; sisters, Helen Joiner, Mamie Webb, Marty Jean Hughes, Clarice Smith, Viola Rae Henderson and Janie Mosely, all of Meridian.
She was preceded in death by her parents, George O. and Willie Mae McKeithen; husbands, Harold I. Pelo Sr. and James W. Vinson; a son, Harold I. Pelo Jr.; a grandson, Ronnie McCracken Jr.; and a brother, Albert L. McKeithen.
Pallbearers will be Jason Traweek, Earl Hitt, Terry McAdam, John Engle, Jack Van Dorough and Norman Mosely.
Visitation will be Friday 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Horticultural assistant
PHILADELPHIA Services for Royce Bell Sr. will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at Bogue Chitto Indian Baptist Church with the Rev. Charles Doby Henry officiating. Burial will be in Mingo Cemetery in Winston County. McClain-Hays Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Bell, 58, of Philadelphia, died Wednesday, March 19, 2003, in his home. He as a horticultural assistant for the Department of Agriculture with Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
Survivors include his daughters, Debra Bell, Mary Bell, Evelyn Bell and Evalene Clemons, all of Philadelphia; sons, Royce Bell Jr. and Curtis Bell, both of Philadelphia; 17 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; a special friend, Clara Cotton of Philadelphia; sisters, Joyce Joe and Hattie Joe of Philadelphia, and Janice Robinson of Kemper.
Visitation will be today at beginning 2 p.m. at the family home in the Bogue Chitto Community.
Retired nurse
LA MESA, Calif. Graveside services for Hazel M. Risher were held Monday at 1:30 p.m. at El Camino Memorial Park Cemetery in San Diego with the Rev. David Peterson officiating. El Camino Memorial Encinitas Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Risher, 85, of Poway, Calif., formerly of Meridian, died Thursday, March 13, 2003, at Villa Monte Vista Skilled Nursing Facility in Poway. She was a long time resident of Meridian and worked for many years as a nurse at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center, before retiring and moving to Southern California.
Survivors include her daughters, Linda Lukerchine of Ramona, Calif., and Ramona Hodges of La Costa, Calif.; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lt. Sam T. Risher; and a daughter, Patricia June "Pat" O'Brien.
Arrangements were incomplete at James F. Webb Funeral Home for Hattie Hinds, 92, of Meridian, who died Wednesday, March 19, 2003, at Queen City Nursing Home.