E.V. Cleveland Jr.

Aug. 1, 1928 – July 26, 2007

RIDGELAND — Services for E.V. “Buddy” Cleveland Jr., who died Thursday, July 26, 2007, after a courageous battle against cancer, will be 3 p.m. Saturday at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home, Ridgeland.

Visitation will be from 1 to 2:45 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Buddy was born Aug. 1, 1928, in Minden, La., the son of E.V. and Lillie Cleveland. His family spent most of his childhood in north Louisiana before moving to Opelousas where he graduated from high school with honors. He attended Louisiana Tech University where he was president of his freshman and sophomore classes and a member of Tau Kappa Alpha fraternity.

After a short career in civil engineering, Buddy entered the oil business in the mid 1950s. He worked with Lane Wells Wireline Services, attaining the status of district sales engineer. In the early 1960s, Buddy left Lane Wells to establish Cleveland Tool Company. He was primarily responsible for the development of Sandhill Field, North Sandhill Field, and Avera Field, Greene County. Buddy was the consummate oilman with a thorough working knowledge of the land, geology, and engineering aspects of the industry. Buddy was an avid and talented golfer with a deep respect for the tradition and honor of the game. He was a longtime member of Colonial Country Club and Annadale Golf Club, along with PGA West, Mission Hills, and LaQuinta Golf Clubs in the Palm Springs, Calif., area.

Later in life he rekindled his love for horses, which he had shared with his father as a child. He enjoyed many hours with his grandchildren and his Arabian, Serralynn. Buddy was a loving husband, father and grandfather and will be greatly missed by all.

Mr. Cleveland was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Gemmye Bass.

Survivors include his wife, Gerry Gibson Hill “G.G.” Cleveland; his sisters, Lena Love, Kay Evans and husband, Glen; son, Keith Cleveland and wife, Dawn, and their children, Taylor, Kate, and Michael; daughter, Cynthia Clayton and her son, Kyle, and his wife, Paige and their daughter, Elizabeth Haze, and her son, Andrew, and his wife, Taylor; daughter, Amy Grenfell and husband, Bob, and their children, Robert, Mallory and Ross; stepson, Jack Hill and wife, Melissa, and their daughters, Kate, Anna, Bonnie and Allison and Charles Hill and wife, Natalie, and their children, Alex and Jack.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to his physicians, Dr. David Wahl and Dr. Gerry Ann Houston, their staffs and Hospice Ministries, especially his nurse, Sandi Phillips.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Ministries, Inc., 450 Towne Center Blvd., Ridgeland, MS 39157.