He was born June 25, 1918, in Neshoba County to the late John Edward and Mabel Sansing Land, both of Philadelphia. He was a graduate of East Central Junior College and Mississippi State University. He retired in 1983, having served as an assistant county agent and then as an agricultural teacher after more than 33 years at Union High School. He was an avid fisherman and a professional photographer who delighted in capturing special moments and occasions for others.

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He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Union, a Mason and was active in the Shriner Lodges of Philadelphia and Meridian.
He served as a volunteer for a number of years providing assistance and support for others. James received a number of recognitions and awards over the years, including a distinguished achievement award from East Central Community College in 2000 due to years of support and contributions to the college. He was a doting grandfather who was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by his family.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Thelma Skipper Land; sons, Larry Land of Paris, Tenn., James Lesley Land of Baton Rouge, La., and Thomas David Land of Houston, Texas; grandchildren, Kevin, Kristen and Christopher Land of Houston, and Garrett Michael Land of Paris; and a sister, Martha Kate Phillips of Calhoun City.
The family requests the memorials be made to Shriner's Hospital for Children, 815 Market St., Galveston, TX 77550.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Sam Thomas
Retired service representative
PHILADELPHIA Services for Sam Thomas will be held Friday at 3:30 p.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Service Chapel with the Revs. Mack Alford and Dr. Dan Howard officiating. Burial will be in Cooks Chapel Cemetery.
Mr. Thomas, 72, of Philadelphia, died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2003, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in Korea.
He was a native of Neshoba County and lived in New Orleans, Knoxville and Nashville for several years before retiring to Neshoba County in 1980.
He was a 1950 graduate of Philadelphia High School, where he was an outstanding athlete who made the All-State basketball team. He later attended ECJC and graduate from the University of Southern Mississippi. He was a member of Mt. Nelson Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Claudine Anderson Mabry Thomas of Philadelphia; stepdaughters, Gayle Ethridge and Lynn McWilliams and a stepson, Leland Mabry, all of Meridian; a sister, Frances Williams of Philadelphia; brothers, Jim Thomas of Laurel, Bo Thomas and Bob Thomas of Philadelphia; five step-grandchildren, several step-great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be today 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Janice Kay Mingo
Homemaker
SEBASTOPOL Services for Janice Kay Mingo will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church with Father David Hamm officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with Milling Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Mingo, 36, of Philadelphia, died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2003, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include her husband, James Mingo, two daughters, McKala Mingo and Meridith Mingo, a son, Michael Mingo, two brothers, Mark Ben and Christopher Ben, two sisters, Daphane Lewis and Senna Carter, all of Philadelphia; and several nieces and nephews.
Orby Hickman
Retired from Flinkote
Services for Orby Hickman will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Eight Avenue Church of God with the Rev. Glen Hall officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery with Berry and Gardner Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Hickman, 90, of Meridian, died Sunday, Jan. 5, 2003, in his home.
Survivors include two sons, Orby C. Hickman of Lancaster, Calif., and Charles Edward Hickman and his wife, Barbara, of Long Beach, Calif.; and a sister, Zula Mae Hickman of New York.
Visitation will be Friday 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Robert E. Holliday
Carpenter
DEKALB Services for Robert E. Holliday will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Brown Ridge Baptist Church in DeKalb with the Rev. Bennie Hopkins officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Grove Church Cemetery in DeKalb. E.E. McDonald Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Holliday, 54, of DeKalb, died Monday, Jan. 6, 2003, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include his children, Tabitha and Odell Holliday, both of Chamberburg, Pa.; his parents, Earline Goss and Robert Naylor of DeKalb; brothers, Willie C. Holliday of DeKalb, Oscar Holliday and his wife, Marilyn, of Hattiesburg; a sister, Ella Mae Overstreet of DeKalb; two grandchildren, several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents.
Visitation will be Friday 1 p.m.-5 p.m. at the funeral home.
Robert Ward
Self-employed landscaper
Services for Robert Ward will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Thirty First Avenue Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. S.L. Thompson officiating. Burial will be in Meridian Memorial Park Cemetery. Berry and Gardner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Ward, 45, of Meridian, died Monday, Jan. 6, 2003, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include his mother, Rosie Ward Gulley of Meridian; five sisters, Evelyn Ward, Margie Ward, Lavesha Gulley and Aretha Ward, all of Meridian, and Martha Powe of Anderson, Ind.; a brother, Billy Ward of Meridian; his step-father, William Gulley of Meridian; a daughter, Clintasha Moffite and a son, Damaino Moffite, both of Meridian; and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be Friday 7 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Betty C. Shanks
Retired from Burlington Industry
Services for Betty C. Shanks will be held Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at First United Missionary Baptist Church in Stonewall with the Rev. Willie Hood officiating. Burial will be in Bethlehem Cemetery with Berry and Gardner Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Shanks, 68, of Stonewall, died Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2003, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include three daughters, Elaine Cotton and Lora Logan, both of Columbus, and Shelia Trotter of Barnett; two sons, Michael Cotton and Alvin Cotton, both of Columbus, Ohio; a sister, Lorene Hunter of Stonewall; 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Visitation will be Friday 7 p.m.-8 p.m. at the church.
Ester Lewis
Services for Ester Lewis will be held Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church with the Revs. John Griggs and Curtis Davis officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery in Collinsville with Enterprise Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Lewis, 89, of Collinsville, died Friday, Jan. 3, 2003, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include her sons, William O. Lewis and Ronnie Lewis of Collinsville, Amos E. Lewis of Chicago, Ill., Willie M. Lewis of Meridian and Jessie W. Lewis of Palo Alto, Calif.; daughters, Elaine Lewis and Betty Lewis of Collinsville, and Mary N. Staton of Jackson; and a sister, Navada Donald of Harrisburg, Pa.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Lewis and a daughter, Cester Lewis.
Visitation will be Friday 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the funeral home.