Funeral services were held Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 2 p.m. in the Lee’s Chapel #2 Missionary Baptist Church for Martha A. Bannister, 63, of Picayune who passed away Thursday, December 17, 2009 in Slidell, La.

Burial followed in the Gipson Cemetery under the direction of McDonald Funeral Home.

The Rev. Johnny Smith officiated the service.

A native of Picayune, she was a homemaker and a member of the Baptist faith.

She was preceded in death by: her parents, Walter and Vonzel Bryant; and her husband, Larry Bannister.

Survivors include: her children, Dondi Thigpen of Carriere, Angela Hovious of Clovis, N.M., and Jason Bannister of Carriere; 16 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one brother, C.J. Bryant of Picayune; and two sisters, Marion Pratt of Worden, Ill., and Glendon Street of Laurel, Miss.

Visitation was held Saturday, December 19, 2009 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Lee’s Chapel #2 Missionary Baptist Church.

Obituary, register book and driving directions can be found on the internet page, www.mcdonaldfh.com.