‘A love offering’: Vicksburg funeral home provides final services for pair of veterans

Two deceased veterans, Jack Waters of U.S. Army and Richard Wetterling of the U.S. Navy, were buried in the Natchez National Cemetery Wednesday. The bodies of the two servicemen were unclaimed by their families upon their deaths, so the community stepped up to ensure they had a proper burial.

Larry Chisley, owner of the Dillon-Chisley Funeral Home in Vicksburg, donated the home’s services to the cause.

“We have been in business since 1936, and we’ve pretty much, during that entire time, we’ve been in the community and a part of the community to actually render help to those that need it,” Chisley said.

Chisley also mentioned why they decided to support this particular cause.

“We’ve done this…not so much for accolades or recognition. We were asked to render assistance,” Chisley said. “And I’m just glad we were able to be there to give what was asked of us.”

Mamie Brown, a Hinds County Veterans Services officer, said members of the community came together to give the fallen servicemen the burials they deserved.

“These veterans, they’re honorably discharged. They honorably serve their country, so they need to be buried in a place of honor,” Brown said. “And that’s the reason why we’re doing this.”

After reaching out to multiple funeral homes in Jackson with no luck, Brown contacted Chisley to see if they would help with funeral arrangements. They obliged.

Members of the Patriot Guard were also in attendance and joined the motorcade, which included personnel from the Warren County Sheriff’s Office providing escorts from Vicksburg to Natchez.

As the motorcade passed through different counties on its way to the cemetery, sheriff’s offices from those counties provided additional escorts beginning at their respective county line.

“I just felt that it was important that we show them the dignity they deserve,” Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said. “And I can’t say enough about Larry Chisley. Larry Chisley is the one that made this happen.”

Brown said, had the funeral home not stepped up, the two veterans would have been buried in pauper’s graves.

“They’re doing it as a love offering,” she said. “The caskets and everything. All the work and all.”