Tony Glen Chance

On March 18, 2025, Tony Glen Chance met his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in heaven. He was born on April 21, 1949, and grew up in Columbia, MS. He graduated from Columbia High School in 1967 where he was a three-sport letterman and was voted Mr. CHS. He went on to attend the University of Southern Mississippi earning degrees in both finance and accounting. During his time there, he played on the USM baseball team coached by the legendary Pete Taylor and is listed in the record book there for playing every inning of every game for all four years.

After graduation, he joined the National Guard and served honorably for six years. On May 31, 1971, he married his high school sweetheart Margaret Rochinski, and they enjoyed almost 54 years of marriage together.

Tony began his career as a CPA in 1974 in Jackson, MS, and then moved to Forest in 1980 and became a sole practitioner under the name of Tony Chance and Company. He was active in the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants,  serving as chairman of the Insurance Trust  Committee for over 20 years and then as President of the MSCPA in 2002. He was known to be an honest and dedicated CPA who gave attention to every detail. He considered each and every client to be a personal friend.

He was a leader in the community for many years, serving as President of the Chamber of Commerce and President of the Rotary Club where he was a Paul Harris fellow. He was devoted to Forest Baptist Church where he actively served in various capacities. He was a Sunday school teacher, deacon chairman, and finance chairman for many years.

Tony is survived by his wife, Margaret Rochinski Chance; three children, Lindsay Chance Nixon (Eric) of Cullman, AL, Haley Chance Bounds (Corey), of Decatur, MS, Drew Edward Chance (Candace) of Brandon, MS; eight grandchildren, Kase, Lily Claire, and Lakynn Nixon; Maggie, Chance and Brady Bounds; Logan and Keeton Chance; sister Cornelia Cooper (Fred) of Columbia, MS and sister in law Barbara Broome of Baton Rouge, LA. He is preceded in death by his parents Andrew William and Lillie Johnson Chance and his parents in law Helen and Eddie Rochinski.

Tony will be remembered as a man of integrity and compassion who lived his faith daily and led his family by example. His family finds their comfort in knowing that he heard his Savior say “well done thy good and faithful servant”.

Visitation will be Saturday, March 22, 2025 from 10 am to 12 pm at Forest Baptist Church in Forest, MS, under the direction of OTT and LEE Funeral Home. The service will be held at Forest Baptist Church at 12 pm. Interment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia, MS at 4pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Forest Baptist Church, 439 East First Street, Forest, MS 39074.

Ott and Lee Funeral Home is honored to serve the Chance family.