Billy Morrow

Smithville - Billy Jefferson Morrow was born in rural Itawamba County, March 23, 1933 to Arvilla Davis Morrow and E.M. Morrow. The family later moved to the Smithville Area where he attended grammar school in the Turon community.

Bill graduated from Smithville High School in 1951, and went on to finish two years of study at IJC, now ICC. Upon enlisting in the US Navy, he was accepted into the flight program to train as a pilot, and he served in the Navy for two years. Bill completed his education at Mississippi State University, earning a degree in Business. He then went to work at NASA in Huntsville, Alabama.

After leaving NASA, Bill pursued a career in residential construction. In this career, he shone as a true craftsman and perfectionist. His hand built much of what the citizens of his beloved Smithville call home. Bill met and married Becky Jolly from Okolona, MS in December of 1969. Bill is survived by two children, Leigh and Mark. Leigh married Ben Buchanan and now lives in Saltillo. They have two boys, Beau and Brock. Mark married Heather Smith and they currently live in the Turon community by the farm where Bill and Becky lived until 2008. They have a daughter, Halle, and a son, Matt that is engaged to wed Mandy Patterson. Matt gave his granddaddy the name, Gara as soon as he could talk and the other grands have followed suit.

Bill was a civic minded man that had to true passion for the tow of Smithville. Though his health was failing, he never failed to introduce himself as Bill Morrow from Smithville. Until he was unable, he was an active member of the Smithville United Methodist Church.

Bill passed away on January 24, 2016, at Baptist Memorial Hospital, Oxford. Funeral Services will be at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, January 26, 2016, at E.E. Pickle Funeral Home Chapel in Smithville. Burial will follow in Young Memorial. Bro. Sammy Washburn and Bro. Charles Coggins will be officiating.

Pallbearers will be: Steven Hathcock, Tim Coker, Paul Morrow, Mike Cantrell, Phil Goodwin, Jerry Davis, and Greg Ballard.

Memorials may be given to the Smithville United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 93, Smithville, MS 38870 or to First Friends, P.O. Box 117, Amory, MS 38821.