J.L. Slay, Jr.

J.L. Slay, Jr.

Pearl, MS

J.L. Slay, Jr., passed away at home on Thursday, July 26, 2018, at the age of 76.  J.L. was born in Quitman, MS on December 16, 1941, to Mr. and Mrs. Julian Lawson Slay.  He was a 1959 graduate of Quitman High School and 1963 graduate of Mississippi State University with a degree in Vocational Agriculture.

After a brief stint as an agriculture teacher at West Tallahatchie High School, J.L. began working for the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation serving first as a Field Representative in the Mississippi Delta and then as the Director of Commodities in Jackson, a position he held until his retirement after 36 years of service to our state’s agriculture community.

J.L.’s greatest impact was felt in his lifelong service to his church family.  J.L. was a member of First Baptist Church Brandon for 43 years.  Throughout his life he served his church and his community well as a Deacon, Sunday School teacher, song leader, missions leader and pre-school worker.  For over 40 years, J.L. served as a lay pastor to the residents of Brandon Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center at Crossgates, faithfully ministering to, and delivering the Word of God to, the residents on Sundays and Wednesdays.  For nearly 20 years, J.L. served as the organizer and lay leader of the church’s Hospital Visitation Team, faithfully ministering to hospital bound church members and friends with prayer support and encouragement.  He was driven to organize this group of faithful laymen through a recognition that encouragement of those in the hospital is like a good medicine. The Visitation Team has served faithfully for nearly two decades.  He leaves behind a legacy of committed service to his church and his community that continues to touch lives.

Affectionately known as “Pop” to his family, J.L. was embarrassingly proud of his granddaughters, Caroline and Anna Beth, both of whom understood that Pop loved them dearly and had high expectations for them.  He was especially proud that Caroline serves her Jacksonville, Florida, community as a Registered Nurse with Baptist Health Systems and that Anna Beth is a sophomore at his beloved alma mater, Mississippi State University.

J.L. is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 56 years, Carolyn; his son and daughter-in-law, Craig and Anita; his granddaughters, Caroline and Anna Beth; a sister, Jane Freeman (Doyle); a brother, John (Glenda); and a host of extended family.  He is preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Sharolyn.

Services will be held on Sunday, July 29, 2018, at First Baptist Church Brandon, 175 Boyce-Thompson Drive in Brandon.  Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. and the service will begin at 3:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Brandon Memorial Gardens in Brandon, MS.  The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, friends consider a donation to the FBC Brandon Missions Fund c/o Nahna Stovall, 309 South College Street, Brandon, MS  39042.