William Edward Lovelady
Pearl, MS
William Edward “Bill” Lovelady, 73, completed his mission and joined his Heavenly Father on April 4, 2017. He passed at his home surrounded with family by his side. There will be a visitation 1-2pm Saturday with a 2pm memorial service in the chapel of Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Brandon, MS. Interment will be at Mississippi Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Newton County at a later date.
Mr. Lovelady retired in February 1982 from the US Marines as CWO2. He worked at Waste Management, Pemberton Truck Lines and Tri-State Mack as a master mechanic. He loved woodworking, fishing, gardening, reading and politics.
He was born and reared in Florida until joining the Marines where he served three tours of duty in Vietnam. Then he settled in Mississippi in 1972 and resided in the Richland/Pearl area and was a member of Briarhill Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Weldon Sellers Lovelady and Cora Lee Cooper Lovelady; brother, John Weldon Lovelady and his first wife, Julianna Armstrong. Survivors include his wife, Teresa Grice Lovelady; children, William E. Lovelady, Jr. (Kelly), James Collier Lovelady (Marva), Robert Dennis Lovelady (Tracy); Theresa Lee Cruz (Jose), Laura M. Smith, Daniel R. Smith (Jennifer) and Brian T. Smith (Amanda); grandchildren, Coby, Travis, Olivia, Makenna, Brent and Alexander Lovelady, Matthew Hutchinson, Hailey and Travis Smith, Jose and Julianna Cruz; and 3 great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family would gratefully accept donations in Bill’s memory to Blair Batson Children’s Hospital, Children of MS, C/O University of MS Medical Center, 2500 North State St, Jackson, MS 39216.