Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi

Jefferson Davis County Obituaries & Biographies

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Funeral services for Dr. Walter Franklin Lay of Winona, formerly of Union, are 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6, at First Baptist Church of Winona and 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 7, at Antioch Baptist Church in Prentiss, with burial in the church cemetery. The Rev. George Smith, Dr. Chris Aldridge, the Rev. David Haggerty, Dr. Randy Williamson, Dr. Jimmy Porter and the Rev. Stan Tucker will officiate the services in Winona; and the Rev. Butch Harmon and Dr. Chris Aldridge will officiate the services in Prentiss.

Oliver Funeral Home in Winona and Saulters-Moore Funeral Home in Prentiss are in charge of arrangements.

Visitation is Tuesday from 5 until 8 p.m. at First Baptist Church Family Life Center in Winona and Wednesday from 9 until 10:30 a.m. at Oliver Funeral Home in Winona. There will also be a visitation Thursday from 9 until 11 a.m. at Antioch Baptist Church in Prentiss.

Dr. Lay, 70, died of heart failure at his residence on Sunday, February 3. He was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, to the late W. J. and Willie Mae Evans Lay.

He attended Clarke Memorial College and was a graduate of William Carey University, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Reformed Theological Seminary.

Dr. Lay preached for 52 years, serving as pastor of several churches in Mississippi. He served on the International Mission Board for 15 years; and, with his wife, was a missionary to Costa Rica. He was most recently Director of Missions for Carroll and Montgomery Counties,retiring in December 2012. Dr. Lay enjoyed photography and writing poetry. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Winona.

Survivors include his wife of 46-1/2 years, Margaret Carraway Lay of Winona; his daughter, Rebekah Elizabeth Lay of Winona; and three grandchildren, Lillie Makayla Lay, Christian David Lay, and Alexis Grace Lay.

He was preceded in death by his son, David Franklin Lay.

Pallbearers will be Bruce Branch, Robbie Hemphill, Jerry Stafford, Harold Waller, Larry Randle, and Randy Dees.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions, P. O. Box 408, Winona, MS 38967.

Hattiesburg American