Terry Headlight News

On Saturday morning, Susan Champion Yates announced the death of her father, J.B. Champion. This was particularly sad to most of us in town, as J.B. had built the car garage on Cunningham Avenue in between Sweeney’s Service Station and the Underwood home. His wife, Dot Champion, was a writer for the Terry Headlight for a while.

His obituary, along with that of Mr. William “Bill” Davis, follows: J.B. Champion

(June 7, 1933 - January 21, 2023) -- TERRY

J.B. “Buddy” Champion, Jr., age 89 – died January 21, 2023, in Jackson, after an extended illness. He was born in Macon, MS on June 7, 1933, to Naomi George and J.B. Champion Sr.

Visitation was Jan. 23, from 5 pm until 7 pm at Chancellor Funeral Home in the Byram area and again Jan. 24 from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. also at the funeral home. The service followed in the chapel at 10:00 a.m. with interment in Terry Cemetery.

Throughout his life, he served others in many capacities demonstrating his “big heart” and love for others, especially his family and wife, Frances. He served his country proudly during his time in the United States Army. Mr. Buddy enjoyed building bird houses which were considered immaculate if you ever were blessed to receive one. He also enjoyed working on cars and was an owner and operator in the wholesale/retail car business, something that was self-taught. Mr. Buddy was a member of Crystal Springs Bible Church.

A good summary of his life was found in a birthday card he received from one of his children and family as follows: “Dad, When I was little, I thought you were the best father anyone could ever wish for. I though you taught me more than anyone else could. I thought you understood me when no one else would, I thought you loved me better than any other father ever loved his children. I didn’t know what I’d ever do without you, because I loved you so much. Now that I’m not so little anymore, I just wanted you to know that some things never change – I still think you’re the best father a person could ever have, and I still love you – very, very, much!”

Mr. Buddy’s parents, J. B. Champion, Sr. and Naomi George Champion, and his first wife, Dorothy “Dot” Champion, preceded him in death.

Left to cherish his memory is his spouse of 14 years, Frances Champion of Terry; two sons, Jeff Champion of Byram and Johnny Champion of Terry; daughter, Susan Yates of Crystal Springs; three step-children: Barry Nash of Clinton, Eric Nash of Brandon, and Scottie Nash of Oxford; sister, Christine Stevens of Brandon; brother, Curly Champion of Terry; 5 grandchildren: Brian Champion, Amy Carraway, Andrew Yates, Nicole Perry, and John David Champion; eight great-grandchildren: Mason and Maddie Carraway, Braxton and Emma Kate Yates, Madden and Tate Ellis, and John Kolten and Carson Champion; and numerous other relatives and friends.

The family would like to extend their gratitude and thanks to the nursing staff at Select Specialty Hospital and to a very special friend, Stacy Connart, for their care and concern for Mr. Buddy and his family. William “Bill” M. Davis (April 17, 1926 - January 13, 2023)

William Mack “Bill” Davis, 96, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, January 13, 2023. Bill was a loving husband, devoted father, dedicated teacher, and life-long farmer.

Bill was born April 17, 1926, on his parents’ farm in Terry, Mississippi. A 1943 graduate of Terry High School, he continued his education at Hinds Community College and earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Education at Mississippi State University. To finance his education, he began as a student worker – “pulling corn from the field” – and when asked by his mother soon after starting school how college was, he answered, “Just like home.”

Bill played football at Terry High School and at Mississippi State University until he was accepted to the United States Merchant Marines Academy in 1944, where he also played football. After 18 months with the Merchant Marines, he joined the United States Army in which he served from 1946 to 1950 in the 511th Parachutist Infantry stationed in Japan as part of the occupation forces after World War II. And yes, he was a member of his unit’s football team, where he earned All-Conference honors.

After Bill’s time in the Army, he finished his undergraduate degree and began his teaching career at McComb High School in 1953. He also served as assistant football coach at McComb, and the team won the 1956 Big Eight Championship. The team did well in football but not quite as well in “pulling corn from the field.” They were not helpful on the farm, but they did make a fun memory. In 2003, he was invited to be the keynote speaker at a team reunion which coincided with the induction of former student Warner Alford into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

After earning his Master of Science Degree at MS College and continuing to advance his studies at the University of Alabama, he was chosen to study at Cornell University as part of a National Science Foundation Grant for the research of radiation biology and plant physiology.

From 1960 to 1961, he taught at what was then Mississippi State College for Women in Columbus, MS. In 1962, Bill became an instructor in the Science Department at the Raymond campus of Hinds CC, retiring in 1989 as Chairman of the department.

Bill had a passion for learning and sharing his extensive knowledge with others. Former students at Hinds CC will remember his parachute landing fall. Bill would jump off his desk and hit and roll, demonstrating what he learned as a parachutist in the army, which was a great way to grab their attention. Bill’s main interest was botany, and he would take his students around campus to mix academics with reality by showing them various plants and insects. Of course, he was one of few teachers at Hinds to take his classes outside. With his dendrology class, the first class for Forestry majors, Bill took the students off campus to Vicksburg, along the Natchez Trace, and to his farm in Terry for them to identify a variety of trees during all seasons.

Beginning in the 1970s he and his children worked together to deliver the Clarion Ledger and Jackson Daily News to Raymond residents. Bill, along with wife Bobbie, continued this service through the late 1980s. To this day, people in Raymond remark how the delivery of their newspaper was never better. Additionally, in the 1970s, Bill changed from raising cows to raising soybeans because soybeans “didn’t break down the fence in the middle of the night.”

In the late 1990s, both Bill and Bobbie became interested in tree farming and began taking classes in Forestry through the Mississippi State University Extension Service. As recently as one month ago, he inquired about the growth of their pine timber.

Bill took up wood-working in retirement, and upon retirement from Hinds CC, his colleagues gave him a gift certificate to purchase lumber for his new pursuit. The gift went to good use. He crafted beautiful furniture - the first and favorite of which was a buffet for his wife, Bobbie. His children and grandchildren have pieces such as bookcases, Adirondack chairs, tables, benches, and even toys. These were all handmade pieces that they still treasure.

Later in retirement, Bill and Bobbie worked crossword puzzles together each day, and Bill also played solitaire on the computer. His grandchildren fondly remember riding around the farm on his tractor, picking blueberries and blackberries, performing experiments in his office, and playing in his woodshop. He would give mini science lectures whenever he had a chance, and he loved to ask what they were learning in school. He was always ready to offer a quick hug and word of encouragement.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents Carruther and Eunice Davis, brother Carruther Jones Davis Jr., sister Madge Tabb Jones, brothers-in-law Dan Tabb and Justice Robert L. Jones, and sister-in-law Rita Heidisch-Davis.

Bill is survived by his wife of 71 years, Bobbie; brother Clifton B. Davis of Grand Rapids, Michigan; daughter Susan Davis Egger of Madison, MS; sons Mac Davis of Southlake, TX; Steve Davis of Germantown, TN; and Charles Davis of Raymond, MS; granddaughters Stephanie Davis Bailey, Lauren Egger Williamson, Emily Davis, and Abigail Butler; grandsons Matthew Davis, Justin Egger, and Andrew Butler; great-grandchildren Jackson Hasie, Livie and Wells Bailey, Tate and Andrew Williamson, and Mackenzie Egger; 1 niece Lara Davis Kessler; and two nephews Kirk Davis and Eric Davis and their children.

Visitation was held on Jan. 21, beginning at 12 PM at First Baptist Church in Raymond with the funeral service following at 2 PM. Interment was at the Raymond Cemetery with Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home handling arrangements.

The family extends their sincere gratitude to the staff at Beau Ridge Senior Living, Covenant Care-givers Home Care, and the dedicated professionals at MS Baptist Medical Center.

The family respectfully requests any memorial donations be made to Hinds CC General Scholarship Fund, the Memory Impairment and Neuro-degenerative Dementia Center (MIND Center) at the University of MS Medical Center, First Baptist Church in Raymond, or the organization of your choice.

District Attorney for Hinds County, Terry native and Terry High School graduate Jody E. Owens, II, is a candidate for re-election later in 2023. He plans a fund-raising reception to be held on this Wednesday, January 25 at the Iron Horse Grill in Jackson from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 PM.

I mentioned candidates for Fifth District Supervisor in last week’s column. Malcolm Johnson of Precinct 1 in Jackson had informed me that he would be a candidate in this race, but I did not list him last week because he had not officially announced. He officially entered the race last week, and his name will be appearing on the ballot in August. Voters in the Cayuga, Learned and Utica precincts should remember that they are now a part of District Five and will vote in this race on the Aug. 8 Primary Election Day. (Polls will open at 7AM and close at 7PM.)

Senator David Blount of Jackson, who represents Terry and the surrounding area, attended the announcement of the Jackson State University Public Health Informatics and Technology programs at the Jackson Medical Mall. He also enjoyed being with the MS Retired Public Employ-ees Association board. Senator Blount is one of the 4 legislators to serve on the advisory board members with PERS. He states that he is “dedicated to protecting PERS and earned benefits for our retired teachers and public employees.”

There was a specially called meeting of the Terry Board of Alders on Thursday evening. On Monday (for the first time), Municipal Court in Terry was held twice on Monday. There was a new Monday morning session at 9 presided by Judge Lee Agnew. The evening session at 6 was presided by Terry native and Terry High School graduate Edward Watkins. The town attorney is also a graduate of Terry High School, attorney Davis Gates.

Congratulations to Mr. Grady Taylor, who recently celebrated his 39th anniversary of employment by the Town of Terry! He was recognized with a certificate of appreciation from our mayor, Joseph O. Kendrick. Grady’s grandmother, Essie Green, was a long time nursery worker at Terry Baptist Church on Raymond Street and was also an employee of Toby and Lillie Rene Jones on Tank Road. She and her twin, Bessie Green, lived in the Avenue neighborhood of Terry. His older brother, Paul, was an employee of Mr. Quenton Sojourner at his service station on the corner of Utica Street and Cunningham Avenue for many years. They are both graduates of Terry High School and sons of the late Jenny Bee Green Taylor of Terry.

Jan. 29th, is the 5th Sunday of the new year and the 4th Sunday following the Epiphany. The scriptures for this Sunday are Micah 3:1-8 (the Lord’s case), Psalm 15 (what the Lord demands), 1st Corinthians 1:18-31 (Christ is God’s wisdom and power.) and Matthew 5:1-12 (Jesus teaches the people.).

The E.C.W. of the (Episcopal) Church of the Good Shepherd plan to meet on Feb. 5 following the church refreshment hour. Buisness will be discussed, and new officers will be elected.

Holy Communion was observed at the First Baptist Church of Terry last Sunday (the 22nd).

A Ladies’ Retreat will be this month from the 27th through the 29th. Also on the 29th in the evening, the congregation’s regularly scheduled Business meeting will take place. The Howard Buford Hall and education area will be dedicated on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 2PM. The Church’s Council meeting will follow at 4PM.

Recently celebrating their 52nd wedding anniversary were Billy Joe and Frances Moore McDonald. They have lived east of town on the McDonald place for many years.

Recently celebrated and upcoming birthdays include: Jan. 23: Catina Michelle Barnes, Debra Green Thomas; Jan. 24: Nish Davis, Supervisor Bobby “Bobcat” McGowan; Jan. 25: Misty Cohn Lyons; Jan. 26: Shannon Scott Jones, Linda Fay Buffington Wigley, Russ Granberry; Jan. 27: Yamily Bass-Choate; Jan. 28: Lewis “Buddy” McMaster, Congressman Bennie Thompson; Jan. 29: Moneke Jones Robinson, Tabitha Ward, James Duncan.

The following names should be added to prayer lists: H.S. “Jack” Broome, the Champion family, the Davis family, Jo Ann Combs Lawrence, Rhonda Mangold, and Glenn Yarbrough.

I close this week’s column with 2 hymns. The first, “O Lord, Our God Arise!” was written by the Scottish Presbyterian minister and writer Ralph Wardlow (1779 - 1853) in 1800.

1. O Lord our God, arise! The cause of truth maintain, And wide o’er all the peopled world Extend Thy blessèd reign.

2. Thou Prince of life, arise! Nor let Thy glory cease; Far spread the conquests of Thy grace, And bless the earth with peace.

3. Thou Holy Ghost, arise! Expand Thy quick’ning wing, And o’er a dark and ruined world Let light and order spring.

4. All on the earth, arise! To God the Savior sing; From shore to shore, from earth to Heav’n, Let echoing anthems ring.

The second hymn which I share was written by the great Charles Wesley (1707-1788) of Bristol, England, one of the founders of the Methodist movement, is entitled “Christ All in All.”

1. Holy, and true, and righteous Lord, I wait to prove Thy perfect will, Be mindful of Thy gracious Word, And stamp me with Thy Spirit’s seal.

2. Open my faith’s interior eye, Display Thy glory from above; And all I am shall sink and die, Lost in astonishment and love.

3. Confound, o’erpower me by Thy grace, I would be by myself abhorred; All might, all majesty, all praise, All glory, be to Christ my Lord.

4. Now let me gain perfection’s height, Now let me into nothing fall; Be less than nothing in Thy sight, And feel that Christ is all in all!

In order to submit, correct, or comment on this column, please contact me (terryj1@bellsouth.net or 601-878-5714). You are holding in your hands the best newspaper and the oldest newspaper in Hinds County, the weekly Hinds County Gazette. It has served Hinds County’s population and businesses since 1845. (Pray for peace, people everywhere!)