Rev. Gerald Toney

Gerald Hobson Toney, 89, passed away on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022 at the Chateau Pines Assisted Living Center in Brandon, MS. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022 from 5pm-7pm at Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Brandon, MS. Funeral Services are 10am on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022 at Crossgates United Methodist Church in Brandon, MS with burial to follow at Crestview Memorial Gardens in Brandon, MS.

Hobson, “Hop” as he was called, was born May 1, 1933 in Kokomo, Marion County, Mississippi to Thad William and Irma Rowley Toney. Hobson married Irene Elizabeth Speights in 1955. She was a blessing to him and an excellent assistant “pastor”. He graduated from Columbia High School and studied at Pearl River Jr. College and the University of Southern Mississippi and Candler School of Theology. As an Ordained Elder he served 56 years (1953-2009) in the United Methodist Church.

Rev. Toney was an Ordained Elder in The United Methodist Church and the pastor of the following churches: Prentiss, Bassfield, Dixie, Mize, McLain, Beaumont, Adams, Satartia, Mount Olivet, Wesley Chapel, Roxie, Greendale, Vicksburg Northview, Benton, Midway, Florence, Morton, Wiggins, Forest Hill, Waynesboro, and Newton. In retirement he served: Monterey, Leavell Woods, and Forest Hill. In his retirement, he served as a Greeter/Hostess for the Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Richland and Brandon before retiring again in 2017.

Hobson had many talents; he loved working with wood and plants. He had a passion for hand-making intricate crosses to share biblical stories. At the age of 80, he became a Master Gardener and gave many presentations on garden preparation, planting and growing of plants. He enjoyed nursing a sick plant back to health.

He lived life fully and “died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life”. Hobson was preceded in death by his wife, Irene Speights Toney; parents, Thad and Irma Toney; sisters, Peggy June Thornhill, Billy Sue Toney and Mary Jane Upton.

He is survived by his daughter, Rebecca Lynn (Becky) Fisher and husband Sammy Fisher; son, David Gerald Toney and wife Lesia; three brothers, Charles William Toney and Terry Melton of Poplarville, MS and Jack Gould Toney and wife Martha of Kokomo, MS; grandchildren, Elizabeth Ann Fisher Shipp and husband Dave, Toney Fisher and wife Bree, Alison Toney Cambell and husband Clark, Blair and Cara Toney and his great grandchildren,  Annadell, Nona Lynn, Hattie Claire, Kaide, Jax and Wells.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the “Sunday Fund” United Methodist Church MS Methodist Senior Services at P.O. Box 1567 Tupelo, MS 38802-9915.