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Porter Funeral Home, 302 W Park Street, Louisville, MS (2025)

10/01/2025

Mr. Gregory Thomas “Greg” Clark, 66, passed away on Monday, September 29, 2025, at his home in Louisville, surrounded by his loving family. Graveside services and interment were held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, October 1st, at Chamberlain Cemetery in Kemper County, with Rev. Tyler Guy officiating. Porter Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Greg was born February 16, 1959, in Louisville. A 1977 graduate of Louisville High School, he dedicated 34 years of his life to serving and protecting his hometown with the Louisville Police Department, retiring as a detective. Greg stood for what was right and lived a life of service, protecting others, helping where there was a need, and leaving behind a legacy of justice and integrity.
Outside of his work, Greg loved the outdoors. He was a skilled hunter and fisherman, and a fi****ms expert often found building or working on a gun for his friends. He treasured trips to Kansas for deer season, bear hunting adventures in Canada, and days spent crappie fishing on Lake Washington with his family and friends. His stories and memories from those trips will continue to grow richer with each retelling.
Greg’s greatest joy, however, was his family. To his children, Colby and Kelli, he was a devoted father. To his grandchildren, he was “Pop,” a role he cherished beyond measure. Though he may no longer be with them in body, his spirit, love, and guidance will live on forever in their hearts.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Peggy Joyce and James Henry Clark. He is survived by his son, Colby (Rebecca) Clark of Louisville; his daughter, Kelli (Lloyd) Nanney of Alamo, TN; a sister, Jan Clark of Shuqualak, MS; a brother, Mike (Reatha) Clark of Oxford, MS; five grandchildren, Bryce Clark, Landon Clark, Brody Saylors, Eli Saylors, and Brylee Nanney; and his nephew, Jay Holdiness. Greg also leaves behind lifelong friends who were like family: Michael and Ginger Ming, Hunter Ming, Bobby Moore, Donnie Presley, and Bud Warren.
Pallbearers were Bryce Clark, Landon Clark, Brody Saylors, Eli Saylors, Cole Holdiness, and Hunter Ming.
Memorials in Greg’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society.

09/02/2025

Mrs. Sylvia Duck Clark, a cherished member of her community, passed on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at Winston Medical Center in Louisville, Mississippi, at the remarkable age of 91. Born on July 24, 1934, in Meridian, Mississippi, Sylvia's life was a tapestry woven with devotion, leadership, and a love for education and service.
Sylvia was the daughter of George and Camille Duck and grew up in Louisville, where she graduated from Louisville High School in 1952. At LHS, she was a majorette in the school band, Miss LHS, and Louisville’s Miss Hospitality. Further pursuing her passion for learning, Sylvia went on to earn a degree in elementary education from Mississippi State College for Women. At the W, she found friendships that lasted a lifetime. One of her favorite things were the yearly trips she and her friends shared over the decades. She married Robert E. “Bobby” Clark, Jr. They were married 65 years and together they embraced a life enriched by experiences.
Sylvia loved her and Bobby’s time in the military, especially the time spent in New York while Bobby was stationed at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. After returning to Louisville, Sylvia enjoyed being a homemaker, kindergarten teacher at First Methodist Church, and owning a dress shop, Mirror Mirror.
Her commitment to service shone brightly through her extensive involvement with First Methodist Church, where she not only sang in the choir but also served on numerous church committees. Sylvia's influence extended beyond her church as she took on active roles in the Mississippi University for Women Alumni Association, even proudly serving as President. Her contributions were recognized when she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the “W.”
Sylvia was a steadfast supporter of the Winston County Library and fervently involved with Friends of the Library, where she earned a place in the Friends of the Library Hall of Fame. She engaged actively in various organizations, including the daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Music Club, Fortnightly Club, Junior Auxiliary, Belle Arts, the Emmaus community, Republican Women, Friends of Legion Park, and was named Louisville/Winston County Woman of the Year.
Sylvia is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bobby Clark, and her parents. She is survived by her son, George Robert (Gwen) Clark of Noxapater, MS; and her daughter, Camille (Keith) Ball of Madison, MS; nine grandchildren: Mamie Clark (Kyle) Krebs, Carol Anne (Taylor) Bussell, Jackson (Abby) Clark, Amzi Ball (Ryan) Johnson, Story Ball, Callie Ball, Iris (Taylor) Dean, Watson Ball, and Joshua Ball; and four great-grandchildren: Jamison Krebs, Brody Bussell, Dylan Bussell, and Sylvie Camille Johnson.
Funeral services will take place at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, September 6th, at First Methodist Church, with Rev. Mike Childs and Rev. Damon Williams officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 1:00 P.M. until the service time. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, with pallbearers including Jackson Clark, Watson Ball, Joshua Ball, Kyle Krebs, Ryan Johnson, Taylor Bussell, and Taylor Dean.
The Clark would family would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Gentry and the staff of the Beehive for the excellent care they provided for Sylvia.
Sylvia Duck Clark leaves behind a legacy of love, service, and dedication that will be remembered fondly by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her life was a true testament to the power of community and the importance of giving back to a community that she loved dearly.
Memorials in Sylvia’s memory may be made to First Methodist Church, P. O. Box 523, Louisville, MS, 39339, or Friends of the Library, 100 West Park Street, Louisville, MS, 39339.

08/30/2025

Mrs. Charlene Allman Clark, 93, passed away on Friday, August 29, 2025, at the Beehive Home in Louisville, MS. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, September 1st, at Porter Funeral Home, with Rev. Mike Childs and Rev. Damon Williams officiating. Visitation will be Monday from 9:00 A.M. until service time at the funeral home. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Porter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Charlene was born October 12, 1931, in Winston County, MS. She was a graduate of Louisville High School, and William Carey University. Charlene was a school teacher for many years and served as Headmaster at Winston Academy. She was a faithful member of First Methodist Church.
Charlene was preceded in death by her parents, Charlie and Virgie Allman; a daughter, Peggy Estes; and a son, Mark Clark.
She is survived by her husband of 74 years, Bobby Clark; a son, John Clark and his wife, Carol, of Louisville; her grandchildren, Ty Estes, Chris Clark, Matthew Clark, Lauren Barrier, Lindsey Putnam, and Cameron Clark; and her great grandchildren, Kayden Wood, Ethan Wood, Emerson Wood, Beau Barrier, Addison Putnam, Rowen Putnam, Alexis Clark, and Tristan Clark.
Pallbearers will be Lenny Fulton, Kasey Sloan, Dusty Barrier, Craig Foster, John Putnam, and Johnny Mitchell. john
Memorials in Charlene’s memory may be made to First Methodist Church, P. O. Box 523, Louisville, MS, 39339

08/26/2025

Dr. Linuel D. Jayroe, age 87, passed away on Saturday, August 23, 2025, in Gadsden, AL. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, August 27th, at Porter Funeral Home, with Rev. Junior Davis and Dr. Greg Belser officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday from 9:00 A.M. until service time at the funeral home. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Porter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Linuel was born October 6, 1937, in Louisville, MS to Leroy Foster Jayroe and Lee Audis Nichols Jayroe. He was a graduate of Louisville High School and continued his education receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Mississippi College in Clinton, MS. He was also awarded a doctoral degree from the University of Mississippi in Oxford. Linuel was a Professor Emeritus of Education and Psychology at Mississippi College in Clinton until his retirement in 2002. He was also very involved in the Boy Scouts of America and served as Assistant and Scout Master of Troop 345 in Clinton. He was also an ordained minister and a member of Morrison Heights Baptist Church in Clinton and was a Sunday School teacher there at the church for many years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Leroy and Lee Audis Jayroe and his first wife Jan Gault Jayroe.

Linuel is survived by his two sons and their families - Will Judson and Melissa Jayroe and their son William Carter, and John Day and America Jayroe and their son Joshua Day and daughter Lydia Marie.

Linuel is also survived by his sister, Dr. Linda Jayroe Pepper and her husband Tim and their children Chris and Lucy Cournoyer (Jake and Owen); Lauren and Benji Foreman (Jack and Beau); Justin and Anna Pepper (Wilson and Anna Grace); and Eden D. Pepper.

From the Gault family, Linuel is survived by his brother-in-law Jimmy Gault and sister-in-law Sally Gault Scheibner, Evan and Kathy Gault and family, Dan and Vicki Farmer and family.

Linuel is also survived by his second wife Dianne Deevers Jayroe, and her children’s families Kimberly King and husband Mike (Finn), Amy Long husband Kerry (Josie and Mimi), Melissa Swingle (Isabel), Christy Kaplan husband Justin (Ezekiel and Gianna).

Serving as pallbearers will be John Jayroe, Will Jayroe, Joshua Jayroe, Chris Cournoyer, and Evan Gault.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Mississippi Baptist Children's Village, www.baptistchildrensvillage.com.

To sign the guestbook, please go to www.porterfuneralhome.net.

08/25/2025

Mrs. Sue Brown Gregory, 62, passed away on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at her home in Sturgis, MS.

Sue was born on January 30, 1963, in Hardin County, Illinois. She was a graduate of Hardin County High School. She was care giver in home health.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Fredrick and Sarah Mae Walker; a daughter, Sarah Brown; and three brothers, Fred Walker, David Walker, and Gary Clevenger.

She is survived by her husband, Tom Gregory of Sturgis; a step-daughter, Krista Kiser of Madison, AL; a step-son, Ryan Gregory of Madison, AL; two sisters, Sherry Walker of Hardin County, IL, Sally Edwards of Tennessee; two brothers, Bruce Walker and John Walker, both of Cave-in Rock, IL; three beloved step grandchildren, who called her “Gammie”; and a nephew she considered a son, Chevas Walker.

Memorials in Sue’s memory may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, September 6th, at Gum Branch Baptist Church, with Rev. Jonathan Peeples officiating. Visitation will be held one hour before the service.

To sign the guestbook, please go to www.porterfuneralhome.net.

A tribute written by her good friend, Dave Griswold:

Words. They can approximate, rarely clearly define, sometimes they even obscure. One of the younger ones asked me if I knew her well enough to write something about her and her life and if I would. Told him I would be honored to try, and I am, she was special. Spent some time today thinking about her and her life and realize I can only write about the part I know of. She was one of my wife's lifelong best friends, Teresa could have filled in a lot of my blanks, pretty sure Sue and Christine gave Teresa the nickname "Turtle Jack" she wore so proudly. I met her through some of her family I worked with at the Forest Service, she was from one of the Cave in Rock clans. City folk can't really understand rural extended families in isolated communities, generations of people that know each other in worlds that don't change much, the fierce pride in family that is almost tribal. The protectiveness that creates. Rural folk tell you about their family and they will be proud of their good ones, but they will also be proud of their bad ones in a different way, they will tolerate truths about them and hand them over for justice if deserved but best not talk s**t about them or try to screw them over in any way, water not a good comparison, rural blood thicker than tar. City folk don't know much about chickens either and it occurs to me that I'm not going to be able to finish this without mentioning them. I liked Sue from the moment I met her. First thing you'd notice about her was the smile and the laugh, she liked to smile and laugh. You know how in life you meet people that want to be center stage and in the spotlight all the time and how sad that can be? That wasn't Sue. She was the real deal, larger than life in every situation without even trying, and a lot of it was that smile and that laugh that would grab the spotlight and intensify it until you could see how much fun living life can be. And just how big her heart was. That was Sue in her prime when I knew her, she'd light up every room she was in with that joy of living. There's some fancy French phrase for that but now about chickens. I heard another friend that died recently described as "the neighborhood mom", perfect words that clearly defined. Been trying all day to come up with words for Sue Brown Gregory that would describe her best and the best I've come up with so far is "mother hen". In the best of ways, you ever raised chickens you know how they are with their brood. All the cooing and clucking and steering and worrying over them they do, how they constantly watch over them. That fierce pride in their eye as they dare you to mess with them. Sue had a big brood, everyone she knew was under her wings some way or another, she cared about people, and she cared about family most of all. I could see it back then when I first met her, could see it in her posts on here. We live our lives, years go by, people come and go. I married and raised my family, she did the same, eventually moved out of state. I kept up with her through Teresa, learned of her ups and downs, including the tragedy of her daughter that she never really got over. Rare times I'd see her though, there it was, that big smile and laugh, that joy of living. Coupled with that mother hen nervousness, that constant making sure everything was all right with her brood. I've kept up with her on here the last few years since Teresa died, her and her family, called her "one of the good guys" when informed of her death this morning. And she was, going to miss her being over there making the light brighter. And the great little side adventures like waiting in a parking lot to meet a third party like some sort of drug deal, waiting to pick up some frozen oysters that I'm reasonably sure were part of a complex pretty good natured prank she was playing on my wife, was never a dull moment when Sue was involved. Deepest condolences to friends and especially her family, every clan should have an advocate as strong as she was. Fare thee well old friend, rest proud, good job. Good job living, good job caring. Good job taking care of your brood. Written by Dave Griswold.

08/08/2025

Raymond Earl McKay, (“Ray or Mac”), age 90 of Bossier City, Louisiana passed away on August 6, 2025. He was born on November 28, 1934, to Lee Parks and Lucille Bessie in Winston County, grew up in rural community of Ellison Ridge. He finished High School at Louisville in 1953. Raymond retired from the United States Air Force with 23 years service in December 1977. Raymond earned Minor Psychology which he received over period at various colleges while serving in the Air Force. He was trained as Medical Technician at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. While in the service his primary specialty were Medical Laboratory Assistant, Medical Laboratory Technician, and Medical Medical Laboratory Superintendent. He served at the following military Air Force bases:

Lackland AFB Texas
Fort Sam Houston Texas Army for Medical Laboratory School
South Ruislip AFB England
Columbus AFB Mississippi
East Coast AFB England
Roswell AFB New Mexico
Barksdale AFB Louisiana
Clark AFB Philippines
Minot AFB North Dakota
Scott AFB Illinois ,during hospitalization at Scott AFB, he was awarded 100% Air Force disability separation.

Raymond had three children from first wife, Jean Patricia Chatt (deceased) who was from England. He outlived both of his sons, Scott Parks and Mitchell Earl. He has one daughter, Tracey Sarah who retired from Civil Service. Raymond has been married to a Filipina, Freny since 1994. They have no children. The first 10 years of their marriage was spent traveling all over the world. Raymond described Freny as a self educated, a smart woman much younger than him, and wanted a working career while he lives and travels the Philippines few months out of the year. Freny is now a retired Civil Servant. Raymond first traveled to the Philippines in 1973. While living in the Philippines, he stayed at the Marlim Mansions Hotel in Balibago, Angeles City, Pampanga for over 20 years before moving to a modern condominium at Kandi Towers in Angeles City. The Philippines was considered second home, meeting people from all walks of life, some he befriended over the years and considered extended family.

In the past 43 years, Raymond has traveled all over the Philippines and the world, visited all continents, except Antarctica. He has learned to cope with his medical conditions and lived life to the fullest, enjoyed history, travel, musicals, fine foods, and red wine.

The family will receive friends and relatives on Tuesday, August 12th, at 10:00 A.M. at Porter’s Funeral Home, with funeral services at 11:00 A.M. Rev. Keith Williams will be officiating. Interment will be in Louisville Memorial Park.

08/02/2025

William Page Goodrich was born in Louisville, MS at the Louisville Hospital on October 25, 1945, and passed away under the compassionate care of the staff at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo on July 26, 2025. He was preceded by his parents William Edward and Martha Elizabeth Goodrich and is survived by his brother Jefferson Shackelford Goodrich who resides in Scottsdale, Arizona.

He graduated from Murray High School in Jackson and later attended the University of Mississippi. His business career included working for several large corporations in various states, holding the position of sales manager at Shippers Express and, ultimately combining his extensive travel experience both in the United States and around the world to become a leading salesperson at AAA from 2006 to the present.

Page enjoyed all sports and became the announcer for all the football and baseball games at Ridgeland High School. In addition, he was a faithful volunteer for the Special Olympics games.
He will be missed by many, but none more than by all of his cousins who loved him.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, August 9th, at Porter Funeral Home. Visitation will be Saturday from 10:00 A.M. until the service time at the funeral home. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorials in Page’s memory may be made to the Mississippi Special Olympics, www.specialolympics.org .

To sign the guestbook, please go to www.porterfuneralhome.net.

08/01/2025

Mrs. Elizabeth Amanda Webb “Libby” Farish, 91, passed away on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at Winston County Nursing Home Dogwood Cottage in Louisville, MS. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, August 3rd, at Porter Funeral Home, with Rev. Trent Jaudon officiating. Visitation will be Sunday from 1:00 P.M. until service time at the funeral home. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Porter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Libby was born October 14, 1933, in Noxapater, MS. She was a graduate of Noxapater High School, where she met her beloved future husband, David Farish. She worked for many years for TRW, and later for Polo and the Best Western/Quality Inn. She was a member of the DAR and South Louisville Baptist Church. Libby was well known for her seamstress ability. She could sew beautifully and made her own clothes and those of her daughter. Libby loved her family and always put others' needs before her own.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Vida Edwards Webb; her husband, David E. Farish; her son, James David Farish and his wife Connie; two sisters, Walterine Tucker and Charlotte McCullouch; five brothers, Bryan Webb, Major Webb, John Presley Webb, Jerry Webb, and Billy Joe Webb; and her grandson, Scott Letteri.

She is survived by her daughter, Debbie (Gene) Holbrook of Madison; two sisters, Ruth Kitzelman of Omaha, Nebraska and Janice Carter of Louisville; her grandchildren Matthew (Stacey) Farish, Timothy Farish, Meagan (Gunnar) Boykin, and Jessica Stennett; and ten great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be nephews, Jerold Webb, Ken Carter, Terry Carter, BJ Webb, and Chuck McCullough and great nephew, Fred Tucker.

Memorials in Libby’s memory may be made to the United Network for Organ Sharing, www.unos.org.

To sign the guestbook, please go to www.porterfuneralhome.net.

07/23/2025

Mrs. Mary Hodge Darby, 92, passed away on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at her home in Noxapater, MS. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Friday, July 25th, at Noxapater Methodist Church, with Rev. Sara Windham officiating. Visitation will be Friday from 12:00 P.M. until service time at the church. Interment will be in Noxapater Methodist Cemetery. Porter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mary was born November 23, 1932, in Noxapater to Elsie Mae and Hayward Hodge. She was a graduate of Noxapater High School, and was a homemaker. She was a faithful member of Noxapater Methodist Church, where she was very active in every ministry of the church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband, Paul Darby.

Mary is survived by three sons, Paul (Leesa) Darby of Noxapater, John Walter Darby of Noxapater, and Timothy (Deedee) Darby of Aluacha, FL; six grandchildren, Matthew (Emily) Darby, Shay (Shelley) Darby, Zachary (Kori) Darby, Ashley Darby, Cameron (Devon) Darby, and Chase (Alise) Darby; and her grandchildren, Kooper Darby, Charlee Darby, Kye Darby, Lakelyn Darby, Koah Darby, Logan Darby, and Harper and Finley Macarages.

Memorials in Mary’s memory may be made to Noxapater Methodist Cemetery, P. O. Box 552, Noxapater, MS, 39346.

07/22/2025

Mr. James O. Thrasher, 94, passed away on Monday, July 21, 2025, at Oktibbeha County Hospital in Starkville, MS. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, July 25th, at Whitehall Cemetery, with Rev. Frank Keeton officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. at Whitehall Church. Interment will be in Whitehall Cemetery. Porter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
James was born August 15, 1930 in Noxapater, MS. He worked for many years in the furniture manufacturing industry, and retired from Flex Steel in Starkville. He was a member of the Church of Nazarene in Starkville, MS.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Robertson Thrasher; his parents, Amie Eaves and William Barton Thrasher, Sr; a son, Marty Davis Thrasher; two brothers, S. W. Thrasher and William Barton Thrasher, Jr.; and two sisters, Irma Jean Manning and Patricia Josey.
He is survived by a son, Boyd (Debra) Thrasher of Starkville; three daughters, Mary Alice (Frank) Keeton of Ackerman, Kathy (David) Wentworth of Memphis, MO, and Barbara (Jerry) Reitz of Pryor, OK; a sister, Virginia Parker of Starkville, MS; 11 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Willian Thrasher, Jr., Brian James Thrasher, Dewey Bostick, Conner Thrasher, Juan Gonzalez, and Sam Reitz. Honorary pallbearers will be Peter Miles and Austin Williams.

To sign the guestbook, please go to www.porterfuneralhome.net

07/18/2025

Mr. Jerry Kelley Nance, 75, passed away on Friday, July 18, 2025, at Winston Medical Center in Louisville, MS. Funeral services will be held at First Methodist Church at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, July 21st, with Rev. Damon Williams and Rev. Mike Childs officiating. Visitation will be Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. at First Methodist Church. Interment will be in Ellison Ridge Cemetery. Porter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Jerry was born August 14, 1949 in Louisville, MS, to R. B. and Modine Kelley Nance. He was a 1967 graduate of Louisville High School where he was a student bus driver. He attended East Central Junior College where he was a member of the Baptist Student Union, ECJC band, ECJC choir, and the Drama Club. Jerry earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree and Master of Music degree from Delta State College. He was instrumental in forming the DSC Music Alumni Association and served as the first president.
Jerry began his 54 year music career by becoming a church music director in 1968 at Good Hope Baptist Church. While at Delta State he served First Baptist Church in Boyle, MS. After moving back to Winston County he was choir director at Calvary Baptist Church for 13 years and First Methodist Church of Louisville for 36 years. He also worked as a partner with his father in the masonry contracting business. Jerry received his AA Nursing degree from ECCC in 2000 and was employed as a Registered Nurse for Winston Medical Clinic in Louisville.
Jerry was fundamental in the formation of Cornerstone Clinic offering free medical aid to the citizens of Winston County and was chosen Winston County’s Man of the Year primarily for those efforts. Jerry was a member of Winstonville Masonic Lodge, Louisville Shrine Club, Louisville Little Theater and Served 40 years as a member of the ECCC Board of Trustees. Jerry was also a member of the East Winston Volunteer Fire Department
Jerry was preceded in death by his father. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Joyce Freeman Nance; his mother Modine Nance: two sons, Richard (Rachel) Nance of Louisville, and Jason (Sara) Nance of Northport, AL; two sisters, Pam Nance of Louisville, and Patsy (John) Prisock of Craig Springs, MS; and two grandsons, Bryce and Sam Nance.
Pallbearers will be Cliff Hudson, Joe Morgan, Wade Baskin, Brent Gregory, John Clark, Dan Sullivan, and Ricky Hartness.
Memorials in Jerry’s memory may be made to First Methodist Church, P. O. Box 523, Louisville, MS, 39339.

06/14/2025

Mr. James Joel O’Briant, 85, passed away on Friday, June 13, 2025, at his home in Louisville, MS. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, June 16th, at Poplar Flat Baptist Church, with Rev. Doug Wise and Mr. Giles Ward officiating. Visitation will be Sunday from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at Porter Funeral Home. Interment will be at his beloved farm in Attala County.

James Joel O’Briant was born on March 2, 1940, and grew up in the Providence Community near Ethel, Mississippi. He graduated from Ethel High School, and then attended Holmes Junior College and Mississippi State University. After graduating from Mississippi State, Joel lived briefly in Jackson, Mississippi, where he married Marilyn Hunt in 1963. The couple moved to Laurel, Mississippi, where he began his career with Masonite Corporation.

In January 1966, Joel and Marilyn moved to Louisville, Mississippi, when he accepted a position with Georgia-Pacific. In 1973, they relocated to Crossett, Arkansas, as Vice-president of Industrial Relations for the Southeastern Division, before returning to Louisville in 1977, where he continued his work with Georgia-Pacific. He later served as President of Gulf Coast Plywood in Hammond, Louisiana. After four years, he returned once again to Louisville to where he was Executive Director of the Louisville-Winston County Economic Development Foundation, a role he held until his retirement in 2005. As part of his commitment to supporting Mississippi businesses, Joel was an active member, and committee chair, for the Mississippi Manufacturers Association.

Joel remained active throughout his life in entrepreneurial pursuits, including residential construction, small business ownership, and investment properties. In his later years, he found great joy in restoring and tending to the farmhouse and land where he was raised - a place that continues to bring together family and friends.

He was a faithful member of Poplar Flat Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; his daughter, Valerie Sullivan (Dan); his son, Jason O’Briant; his grandchildren, Tyler Sullivan (Chrissy) and Abby Sullivan; and his great-grandchildren, Ty and Stella Sullivan. He is also remembered with love by a host of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Evelyn and Carlton O’Briant, and his sisters, Sarah McKay and Janice Williams.

The family expresses deep gratitude to Genary Glenn, Horace Frazier, Vera Hathorn, Bertha Haynes, and Turkesa Shields who worked tirelessly and with great compassion, presence, and care, to bring comfort and dignity in his final days. The family also wishes to extend special thanks to Anna Leigh Whitehead and Christy Stockstill for their kindness and support as well as the team from Geneva Hospice for their compassion, comfort and professionalism. And a special thanks to Mr. Lee Mark Taylor and Mr. Ronnie Mullins for helping keep the grounds in perfect shape at the house and at the farm.

Serving as pallbearers will be Bit Belk, James Harvey Burchfield, Allen Watts, Terrell Bell, David Steward, Jr., Brian Williams, Steve McKay, Mike Forrest, Jerry Williamson, and Hap Hickman. Honorary pallbearers will be the SS Club at Poplar Flat Baptist Church, and Joel’s Sunday School class at Poplar Flat.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Poplar Flat Baptist Church, P. O. Box 684, Louisville, MS, 39339, or Haiti Mission Fund at First Methodist Church, P. O. Box 523, Louisville, MS, 39339.

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