Hattiesburg American from Hattiesburg, Mississippi • 2

Mrs. Helen Floyd dies at 91 Mrs. Helen Smith Floyd, 91, 406 10th former employe of Citizens Bank, died Thursday morning at Autumn Leaves Nursing Home in Greenville Miss. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at St.

Paul Episcopal Church in Meridian with the Rev. Ben Bell, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, Hattiesburg, officiating. Interment will be in Rose HillMagnolia Cemetery with Boone Funeral Home of Greenville and Webb Funeral Home in Meridian in charger. Mrs. Floyd, a native of Butler, Ala.

and a former resident of Meridian and Jackson, moved to Hattiesburg in 1920 where her parents, the late Mr. and 2 Hattiesburg American Friday February 18. 1977 Mrs. Howard S. Williams were former owners and editors of The Hattiesburg American.

She was trust officer for many years at the Citizens Bank, until retirement in 1944. A member of Trinity Episcopal Church, she was active in the Trinity Guild and a member of the Hattiesburg Study Club. Survivors are a half-brother, Edward Earl Smith of Atlanta and a half-sister, Mrs. Herman Speed of Mobile, a niece, Mrs. Helen Williams Spiars of Greenville, and two nephews, Dr.

Howard S. Williams Jr. of Indianapolis and Dr. Alfred K. Williams of Atlanta, Ga.

Percy W. Watson in race for Beat One justice court judge Percy W. Watson today formally announced his candidacy for justice court judge of Beat One, Forrest County, in the special election to be held April 5. His statement follows: Maintaining that a lawyer should assist in improving the legal system, as stated in Canon Number Eight of the Code of Professional Responsibility, I formally announce my candidacy for the position of Justice Court Judge, District Number One of Forrest County, Mississippi. It is my considered opinion that my experience, training, and education, along with certain intangible "indigenous expertise," make me especially qualified to serve in this position.

The following vita outlines my qualifications which I am submitting to the voters of the District Number One for their consideration: I was born Gemini, twenty-five years ago, the fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. P.W. Watson, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. I was educated in the public schools of this city, and was graduated from L.J.

Rowan High School on May 26, 1969. At Rowan, I was active in numerous student organizations and received numerous honors which are too numerous to enumerate in this vita. I left Mississippi for my first extended stay in June, 1969 to attend the University of Iowa, located in Iowa City, Iowa. Anxious to enroll in law school, I completed four academic years at the University in three calender years and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science on May 26, 1972. This degree was conferred with Special Honors.

During my undergraduate years at Iowa, I was very active in numerous student organizations, and was selected to various committees established to make the University more responsive to the students. In recognition of my high attainments in liberal scholarship, I was made a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest and most prestigious honorary fraternity in America, by action of the Alpha of Iowa at the University of Iowa on December 10, 1972. I commenced my education only seven days after my graduation from the College of Liberal Arts. I was matriculated in the first two-year accelerated program at the University of Iowa College of Law in June, 1972. This program was successfully completed two calendar years from the date of my initial enrollment, and thus I was a member of the first class of students to graduate under this accelerated program.

My career as an attorney commenced five days prior to completion of my legal education, inasmuch as I was permitted to take and successfully completed the Iowa State Bar Examination prior to my graduation from law school. Seeking a little adventure, I journeyed to Anchorage, Alaska, located in the majestic "Land of the Midnight Sun" for my first position as an attorney. I was employed as an associate with the established law firm of M. Ashley Dickerson, for a year and a half. During my sojourn in Alaska, I was examined and successfully completed the Alaska Bar Examination.

After finding my practice in Alaska personally and professionally unfulfilling, I returned to Hattiesburg. This return trip was a fulfillment of my initial desire to practice law in my hometown. My first months back in the State of Mississippi were spent preparing for my third bar examination. I passed the Mississippi Bar Examination and was admitted as an attorney in this state shortly after receiving formal notification. My practice in this community was started from "scratch" in May of 1976, and it has progressed to the point that I am now representing clients throughout South Mississippi and in a number of adjoining Southern states.

My professional memberships and associations include: Iowa State Bar; Iowa State Bar Association; Alaska Bar Association; Mississippi State Bar Association; American Bar Association; Anchorage Bar Roscoe O'Neal Sr. services Saturday WIGGINS Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Moore Funeral Home chapel for Roscoe Lamar O'Neal 71, of Rt. 1, Perkinston, who died Thursday at his home. The Rev.

B.H. Stringer will officiate. Interment will be in Paramount Cemetery. A native of Stone County, Mr. O'Neal was a self-employed famer and timberman.

He was a Baptist. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Lesay B. O'Neal; a son, Roscoe L. O'Neal Jr.

of Rt. 1, Perkinston; a granddaughter; two sisters, Misses Mary and Huntas O'Neal, both of Rt. 1 1, Perkinston; a brother, Hulon O'Neal of Mobile; and a number of nieces and nephews. Friends may call after 4:30 p.m. today at the funeral home.

James E. Crane rites Saturday Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Moore Funeral Home chapel for James E. (Bud) Crane, 77, of Rt. 3, Hattiesburg, who died Thursday at the Methodist Hospital.

The Rev. Emmett Boone will officiate. Interment will be in Highland Cemetery. A native of Alabama, Mr. Crane had been a resident of Forrest -County for 70 years.

He had been employed by the city of Hattiesburg for 40 years before retiring in 1965. Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. A.J. Arron of Byars, and Mrs. Linda Carolyn Bjorklund of San Diego, two sons, Arthur Crane of Denver, and Sidney Crane of Pueblo, two step-sons, M.E.

Johnson of San Diego and R.H. Johnson of Jacksonville Beach, 12 grandchildren; two brothers, Frank Crane of Hattiesburg and George Crane of Missouri; and two sisters, Mrs. Zoey Take and Mrs. Willie Dora Tate, both of Millry, Ala. Friends may call at the funeral home after 2:30 p.m.

today. Mrs. Mable Slade rites Saturday LAUREL Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church for Mrs. Mable Slade, 69, of Laurel, who died Thursday at Jones County Community Hospital.

Father Liam Pentony will officiate. Interment will be in Lake Park Cemetery. A native of Ellisville, Mrs. Slade was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs.

Fred Watson. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. She was a retired from Fine Department Store where she had been a sales person for more than 30 years. Survivors include a son, James R. Slade, Jr.

of Laurel; a daughter, Mrs. Jerry W. Henry of Jackson; a halfbrother, the Rev. Billy Watson of Clinton; and a foster sister, Mrs. Annie Satcher Wells of Laurel.

Thompson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. George E. Lawless services are today LAUREL Services were to be held at 3 p.m. today at Rayner Funeral Home chapel for George E. Lawless, 56, of Laurel, who died Wednesday afternoon at Watkins Memorial Hospital in Quitman after suffering an apparent heart attack.

Father Liam Pentony was to officiate with interment following in Memorial Gardens Cemetery. A life-long resident of Laurel, Mr. Lawless was a Mason, a World War II veteran and a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. He had been a senior operator with Schlumberger Well Service for the past 30 years. Survivors include his wife, Mrs.

Virginia Reed Lawless of Laurel; a son, Ralph E. Lawless of Fort Walton Beach, a grandson, Jonathan Patrick Lawless of Fort Walton Beach; a sister, Mrs. Ella Dee Smith of Laurel; and two brothers, Gavin Paul Lawless of Birmingham, and Collette Lawless of Laurel. Mrs. Janie Martin services are held Services were held at 2 p.m.

Thursday at Rock Hill Baptist Church for Mrs. Janie Martin, 84, of Rt. 1, Sumrall, who died Wednesday morning at Covington County Hospital. The Rev. Earl Thompson, the Rev.

Donald Allums, and the Rev. Sam McRaney officiated, with interment following in the church cemetery. Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home was in charge. Pallbearers were Grady Aultman, James Davis, Lawrence Trigg, Marshall Trigg, Tibby Moree and Levon Shoemake. Survivors are a son, two daughters, eight grandchildren, 14 greatgrandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

Woman attempts New Beat One Justice County Judge Harold Cubley (left) administers the oath of office to interim Justice Court Judge for Beat One, Charlie Phillips, His office, located in Room 107 of the old Health Center on Forrest will be open from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Court will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday. Telephone number is 544-4045. Phillips will serve as Justice until a special election is held in April to fill the vacancy created by resignation of Paul McPhail. (Staff photo by Robert Miller) School segregation ruling dropped by Mississippi House JACKSON, Miss. (AP) The Mississippi House gave final legislative approval today to an amendment eliminating a constitutional requirement requiring the state to maintain racially segregated schools.

The measure, one of six approved without debate, before the House adjourned for the weekend, was offered as a proposal to repeal "sections outdated. not needed." The state, under federal court pressures, abandoned segregated schools more than a decade ago. Rep. Charles Capps of Cleveland, Mrs. John Madison dies in Biloxi; services Saturday Services will be held at 2 p.m.

Saturday at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home in Biloxi for Mrs. Hazel George Madison, 72, of 1600 West Howard Biloxi, who died Thursday morning at Howard Memorial Hospital in Biloxi. The Rev. J.K. Hegwood will officiate with interment following in Biloxi Cemetery.

Mrs. Madison was a member of First United Methodist Church in Biloxi and was an active member of Irish Hill Garden Club. Survivors are her husband, John H. Madison; a son, Jack V. Madison of Biloxi, formerly of Hattiesburg; two sisters, Mrs.

Marjorie Swanzy of Olympia, Wash. and Mrs. Inez Barnes of Biloxi, and three grandchildren. Alvin C. McCloud services Saturday LEAKESVILLE Services will be held at 11 a.m.

Saturday at Mt. Calvary Pentecostal Church for Alvin C. McCloud, 53, of Rt. 4, Lucedale, who died Thursday at Forrest General Hospital after a lengthy illness. The Rev.

Hall and the Rev. Lewis will officiate. Interment will be in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery. Survivors include his son, Jack McCloud of Rt.

4, Lucedale; his mother, Mrs. Ruby Townsend of Lucedale; a brother, Eddie McCloud of Lucedale; and two sisters, Mrs. Voncile Pierce and Mrs. Minnie Lou Beech, both of Lucedale. Friends may call at Mr.

McCloud's residence after 1 p.m. today. Freeman Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Samuel F. Mitchell services Saturday COLLINS Services will be held at 4 p.m.

Saturday at Willow Grove Baptist Church for Samuel Frazier Mitchell, 79, of Rt. 3, Collins, who died Thursday at Covington County Hospital. The Rev. William T. Evans Jr.

and the Rev. Alex Abercrombie will officiate. Interment will be in the church cemetery. A cattle farmer, Mr. Mitchell served 30 years as Justice of the Peace before retiring.

He was a member of the Collins Okatoma Masonic Lodge No. 604. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. S.S. Mitchell of Collins; two daughters, Mrs.

Lucine Perkins and Mrs. Joe (Grace) Leggett, both of Seminary; three sons, Charlie N. Mitchell of Victorville, the Rev. Dewitt Mitchell of Jackson and Granville Mitchell of Bombay, India; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a brother, Sherman Mitchell of Collins; and three sisters, Mrs. Grace Sanford and Mrs.

Charity Leggett, both of Seminary, and Mrs. Lula Whitehead of Collins. to regain custody of infant son CORINTH, Miss. (AP) A woman charged with manslaughter by culpable negligence in the death of her 2-year-old daughter will attempt today to regain custody of her infant son taken from her after her arrest. Mrs.

Charlene Bailey Boyd, 19, is to appear before Judge Sammy Smith of the Alcorn County Youth Court to plead for custody of Sidney Dorand Boyd, 5 months. Mrs. Boyd's daughter Catasha died Feb. 5 from a beating. Gregory Spears, the child's 11-year-old uncle, has been charged with sexual assault and murder in the death.

Mrs. Boyd and her husband Lewis, 23, were charged with manslaughter by culpable negligence for leaving the child in the care of young Spears. The couple is being held in Alcorn County Jail on bonds of $15,000. Mrs. Ezella Morgan services Saturday Services will be held at 2 p.m.

Saturday at Friendship Baptist Church for Mrs. Ezella Morgan, 79, of 607 South Tipton who died Monday at Methodist Hospital. The Rev. E.L. Jones will officiate.

Interment will be in Philadelphia Cemetery in Heidelberg. Family hour will be held from 7 to 9 o'clock tonight at Century Funeral Home. Survivors include two nieces, Mrs. Willie Mae Jones of Laurel and Mrs. Celia Mae Evans of Hattiesburg; three nephews, Jake Morgan and Henry Jones, both of Hattiesburg, and Roscoe McCormick of New Orleans; and 11 great-nieces and great-nephews.

Jack Bryan Rowell rites are today LAUREL Services were to be held at 2 p.m. today at Heidelberg First Baptist Church for Jack Bryan Rowell, 48, of Heidelberg, who died unexpectedly Wednesday in Waynesboro. The Rev. J.W. Tynes was to officiate with interment in Heidelberg Cemetery.

Mr. Rowell was a Korean War veteran. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Myrna Rowell of Heidelberg; a stepson, Glenn Frazier of Heidelberg; a brother, William Paul Rowell of Heidelberg; and three sisters, Mrs. Henry Natierata of Heidelberg, Mrs.

Prentiss Walker of Hattiesburg and Mrs. Herbert Yancy of Laurel. Memory Chapel Funeral Home was Association; South Central Mississippi Bar Association; and the Mississippi Association of Trial Lawyers. I am married to the former Dianne Davis of Jackson, Mississippi, and am the father of a two-year-old daughter, Ayanna Mandisa, and a one-year-old son, Jawanza Kobi. I am a member of the New Ebenezer Baptist Church.

As indicated above, attorneys, "as guardians of the law," should endeavor to improve both the legal and judicial systems. In order to improve these systems, attorneys must make themselves available for various positions within the respective systems. Attorneys serve the public not only by providing legal services, but also by serving in various adjudicatory positions. I have this at heart in submitting my name as a candidate for Justice Court Judge. In Mississippi, lawyers have been and continue to be the staunchest critics of the Justice Court System.

These critics usually contend that this system is an ineffective one for the reason that the persons sitting on the benches usually have no formal legal education. Thus, the proceedings before the justices are viewed as preparatory to the actual de novo trial of the matter on appeal in county or circuit court. Article 6, Section 171 of the Constitution of the State of Mississippi does not require a formal legal education or admission to the bar as a qualification for the office of Justice Court Judge. The only educational requirement, not including completion of the attorney general's course for non-lawyers, is a high school dipolma or general equivalency dipolma. I do not join the ranks of the critics who contend that the system is ineffective as it exists today; however, I do maintain that the system would be a more effective one if legally trained individuals held offices within it.

The -critics are in great positions to revamp and or improve the present structure of the system. The desire toimprove is the force which has compelled me to seek this office. The proceeding paragraphs should indicate that I have deep "roots" in this community and am very concerned about the quality of justice in this area. I have returned to this state in an endeavor to improve the present structure of affairs. Maintaining that I possessed the credentials needed for this office, many residents of District One have petitioned me to seek this office.

It is their collective opinion that my election would expedite a smooth transition. I earnestly solicit the votes and support of the citizens of District One and anxiously look forward to meeting and talking with you during this campaign. Respectfully submitted, PERCY W. WATSON PERCY W. WATSON 104 West Fourth Street Post Office Box 1767 Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39401 545-1051 545-6490 CHARLES NIX DIES LAUREL Charles Nix, 43, of Laurel died this morning at University Hospital in Jackson.

Funeral arrangements will be announced by Thompson Funeral Home. chairman of the House Constitution Committee, presented the six proposals as a package and said the measures, all approved earlier by the Senate, will be subject to ratification by the people in the November general election next year. The other five measures would: -repeal a constitutional prohibition against dueling; -permit any person to serve as state librarian, a job now restricted to women; -delete a section requiring that a railroad pass through the county seat if it were located within three miles of the town; -delete a never-used section providing for a state census every ten years; -and allow a defendant to waive indictment when he is represented by counsel and wants to plead guilty. Services Saturday for Sam Williams Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Priest Creek Baptist Church for Sam Williams, 85, of Palmers Crossing, who died last Sunday at Happy Acres Convalescent Center.

The Rev. Bennie Hinds will officiate with interment to follow in Community Cemetery. Family hours will be from 7- 9 o'clock tonight at Owens Funeral Home chapel. Survivors are four daughters, Mrs. Lilly Ponner, Mrs.

Eddie Mae Hall and Mrs. Eva Mae Russell, all of Hattiesburg, and Mrs. Beverly Jean Abron of Magee; a son, Sam Williams Jr. of Hattiesburg; a brother, Robert Williams, and a sister, Mrs. Evelyn McCharty, both of Jackson; 27 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Services are held for Ruben Holcolm Services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home for Ruben Holcolm, 77, of Rt. 1, Picayune, who died Tuesday night at Crosby Memorial Hospital in Picayune following a lengthy illness. The Rev. Herman Mitchell, the Rev.

James Broom and the Rev. Billy Mack Lowery officiated. Interment was in Rock Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers were Devid Graham, Steve Hudson, Junior Nobles, Wendell Penton, Marvin Bowen and W.L. Burns.

Survivors are his wife, two sons, four daughters, 20 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. CARTER MCMICKLES DIES Carter McMickles of Hattiesburg died this morning at the VA Hospital in Jackson. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Century Funeral Home. Hulett 0 Winstead Mrs. Myrtle Alford 105 Kimball Ave.

Services 11:00 Friday Wright Funeral Home Home Interment Cedar Lawn Cemetery Zettie Myers Baton Rouge, La. Graveside Services 3:00 Friday Leeville Cemetery NATIONAL SELECTED MORTICIANS Dial 582-1571 in charge of arrangements. A. G. Wilks rites are conducted LAUREL Services were held at 1 p.m.

Wednesday at Queen's Chapel Baptist Church for A. G. Wilks of 155 Bartlett Street who died Feb. 11. Interment was in Nora Davis Cemetery with Brown Funeral Hme in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Mary Wilks; two daughters, Lisa and Carmen Wilks, all of Laurel; two sons, Maxelle Spriggs of California and Darrell Spriggs of Hamton, a sister, Eula Mae Delaney of Laurel; and a brother, Clarence Ward of Laurel. E.B. SIMPSON DIES LAUREL Simpson of Rt. 1, Stringer, died Thursday afternoon at Bay Springs Hospital.

Funeral arrangements will be announced by Memory Chapel Funeral Home. MRS. J.H. DONALD DIES LAUREL Mrs. J.H.

(Catherine) Donald, 58, of Rt. 8, Laurel, died this morning at Jones County Hospital. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Memory Chapel Funeral Home. AS MOORE FUNERAL SERVICE HATTIESBURG WIGGINS James E. (Bud) Crane Services 2:00 Saturday Moore Chapel Interment Highland Cemetery Roscoe L.

O'Neal Services 10:00 Wednesday SERVICE MEASURED NOT BY GOLD THE ORDER BUT BY OF THE THE GOLDEN GOLDEN RULE.