J.W.
J.W. "Papa Joe" Torrence
d. July 30, 2014
J W Torrence
Morton, MS
J W Torrence, 85, a resident of the Branch Community, went home to the Lord Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at Hospice Ministries in Madison. Visitation was held 5-8pm Friday, August 1, 2014 and 9-10am Saturday, August 2, 2014 at Ott & Lee Funeral Home, Morton, MS. Funeral services were held 10am Saturday , August 2, 2014 at Ott & Lee Chapel in Morton with burial in Branch Baptist Church Cemetery. Reverend Michael Giles officiated the services. Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Morton.
J W was born in the Red Oak Community in Rankin Co on August 28, 1928. He is the son of Richard (Dick) Torrence and Maude Harrell Torrence. The family moved to the Branch Community in 1933 and he graduated from the Branch School in 1949.
J W married Mary “Sue” Coward on April 8, 1949 and they were happily married for 65 years. They continued to live in the Branch Community until 1955 when they moved to the greater Jackson area and retired back to Branch in 1979.
He was a member of the Branch Baptist Church.
J W loved his family very much and they were the light of his life. He enjoyed the family visits and often had grandchildren and great grandchildren staying over. He also loved riding horses and tending to his cows. Hunting was a favorite pastime. When he was growing up, his nick name was “J bird”. He was known as, “Papa Joe,” to all the grandkids and close friends.
He retired from Delta Cotton Oil and Fertilizer Co/Jackson Oil Mill Inc in 1987 after 32 years.
He is preceded in death by his parents Richard (Dick) and Maude H Torrence, sister Julia Smith, brothers C H Torrence and James “Johnny” Torrence.
He is survived by his wife, Sue Torrence of Branch, daughter Darlene Slater (Steve) of Pearl, sons Jerry Torrence (Hollie) of Florence, Danny Torrence (Jennie) of Branch and Timothy Torrence (Karen) of Branch, thirteen grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren. He is also survived by three sisters, Flossie Prestage, Justine Toney and Geneil Richardson and one brother Donald Torrence.
Pallbearers were grandsons; Jeremy, Joshua, Matthew, Crisler, Joseph and David Torrence. Honorary pallbearers were, grandson, Nicols Torrence; grandson-in-laws; Joey Kellum, Wesley Clark, Jonathan McPhail and Clay Bates and great grandsons; Vance Bardwell and Jarret Bardwell.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland for kind and loving service.
Memorials may be made in his honor to the Branch Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.
Morton, MS
J W Torrence, 85, a resident of the Branch Community, went home to the Lord Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at Hospice Ministries in Madison. Visitation was held 5-8pm Friday, August 1, 2014 and 9-10am Saturday, August 2, 2014 at Ott & Lee Funeral Home, Morton, MS. Funeral services were held 10am Saturday , August 2, 2014 at Ott & Lee Chapel in Morton with burial in Branch Baptist Church Cemetery. Reverend Michael Giles officiated the services. Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Morton.
J W was born in the Red Oak Community in Rankin Co on August 28, 1928. He is the son of Richard (Dick) Torrence and Maude Harrell Torrence. The family moved to the Branch Community in 1933 and he graduated from the Branch School in 1949.
J W married Mary “Sue” Coward on April 8, 1949 and they were happily married for 65 years. They continued to live in the Branch Community until 1955 when they moved to the greater Jackson area and retired back to Branch in 1979.
He was a member of the Branch Baptist Church.
J W loved his family very much and they were the light of his life. He enjoyed the family visits and often had grandchildren and great grandchildren staying over. He also loved riding horses and tending to his cows. Hunting was a favorite pastime. When he was growing up, his nick name was “J bird”. He was known as, “Papa Joe,” to all the grandkids and close friends.
He retired from Delta Cotton Oil and Fertilizer Co/Jackson Oil Mill Inc in 1987 after 32 years.
He is preceded in death by his parents Richard (Dick) and Maude H Torrence, sister Julia Smith, brothers C H Torrence and James “Johnny” Torrence.
He is survived by his wife, Sue Torrence of Branch, daughter Darlene Slater (Steve) of Pearl, sons Jerry Torrence (Hollie) of Florence, Danny Torrence (Jennie) of Branch and Timothy Torrence (Karen) of Branch, thirteen grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren. He is also survived by three sisters, Flossie Prestage, Justine Toney and Geneil Richardson and one brother Donald Torrence.
Pallbearers were grandsons; Jeremy, Joshua, Matthew, Crisler, Joseph and David Torrence. Honorary pallbearers were, grandson, Nicols Torrence; grandson-in-laws; Joey Kellum, Wesley Clark, Jonathan McPhail and Clay Bates and great grandsons; Vance Bardwell and Jarret Bardwell.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland for kind and loving service.
Memorials may be made in his honor to the Branch Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.
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