BRANDON — Services for Bill J. Fields, 77, of Brandon, will be at 11 a.m. today at Crossgates United Methodist Church. He joined his Lord Wednesday, March 4, 2009, and is in joyful reunion with his son, Billy.
Burial will be at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Brandon.
Mr. Fields was born April 9, 1931, in Cairo, Ill., to Seldon Ward Fields and Bernice Brewster Fields. Bill graduated from Cairo High School in 1949 and soon afterward went into the service of his country in the U.S. Army where he served in Korea until he was wounded in action and received the Purple Heart. He then graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in civil engineering. He was employed by the Mississippi State Highway Department Planning Division and the State Aid Division. He was also the city engineer of Natchez and county engineer of Adams County for 11 years until his retirement.
Mr. Fields and his wife, Barbara, moved to Brandon in 1991. He was a member of Crossgates United Methodist Church and the Friendship Sunday School Class.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and his beloved son, Billy.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara; two daughters, Francine Fields Gray and husband, Carl, both of Pelahatchie, and Amy Fields Tharpe of Jackson; three grandsons, Josh Odom of Brandon and Eli and Evan Tharpe, both of Madison; one stepson, David Swenson and wife, Lynn, both of Alexandria, Va.; six grandchildren, Dave, Walt, Katie, Alex, Kendall and Zak; two great-grandchildren, Gabe and Abby; and two brothers-in-law, Allen Stewart of San Antonio, Texas and Mack Stewart of Grand Prairie, Texas.
Pallbearers will be the men of the Friendship Sunday School Class, Josh Odom and Carl Gray.
Honorary pallbearers will be Ellis Mason, Ira Kynerd and Lamar Martin.
We will always love you and miss you Bill, but we will be together again. “Now abideth faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these in love.” I Corinthians 13
Thank you Christine and Cindy King, and Hospice Ministries for your sincere care and devotion to our loved one.