Maxwell Sturdivant

Published 12:00 am Thursday, July 29, 2010

VIDALIA — Graveside services for Maxwell “Waldo” Sturdivant, 69, of Natchez, who died Tuesday, July 27, 2010, in Natchez, will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Bernard Waites and the Rev. Keith Owen officiating.

Burial will follow under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home in Vidalia.

Visitation will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Mr. Sturdivant was born Feb. 21, 1941, in Crosby, the son of Will and Nina Hazlip Sturdivant. He graduated from Crosby High School in 1959 and joined the U.S. Navy. While in the Navy he studied avionics and was stationed in Maryland, Australia, Guam and the Philippine Islands. Upon his return to the states, he enjoyed playing softball in local leagues. He retired from Armstrong Rubber Company where he was a supervisor. He was a member of Perrytown Church of Christ.

Mr. Sturdivant was an active member and Past Master of Harmony Lodge No. 1 F&AM and was also a Shriner. He was proud to be a charter member of Mg. Wm. T. Martin Camp No. 590 Sons of the Confederate Veterans. Mr. Sturdivant enjoyed gardening, studying airplanes, discussing history and politics.

He especially enjoyed spending time with his friends and granddaughter, Beth. He leaves behind a legacy full of laughter, love, friendship, family and faith in Jesus Christ.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Thelma Sturdivant Johnson; one brother, Raymond Sturdivant; three brothers-in-law, Claude Cavin, Kenneth Thompson and Dr. Albert Sidney Johnson; and two sisters-in-law, Donna Johnson and Barbara Hoover Sturdivant.

Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Annie Louise Buseck Sturdivant; one daughter, Annie Sturdivant Bigner and husband, Shannon of Albany, La.; one son, Chris Sturdivant of Livingston, La.; one granddaughter, Beth Bigner of Albany; two sisters, Dorothy Sturdivant Thompson of Natchez and Betty Ann Sturdivant Howard of Crosby; one brother, William “Billy” Sturdivant of Brookhaven; two brothers-in-law, the Rev. Marlin Howard of Crosby and Robert Heinz “Bob” Buseck Sr. of Natchez; two sisters-in-law, Carol Sue Buseck of Natchez and Judy Hutson Sturdivant of Brookhaven.

Pallbearers will be Kenny Cavin, Don Cavin, James Johnson, Chip Sturdivant, Ray Sturdivant, Robert H. Buseck Jr., Justin Buseck, Dean Howard, William Howard, Joe Belling Jr. and Richard Wells Jr.

Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Belling Sr., Doyle Breland, A.J. “John” Johnson. Charles Hinton, Eddie Freeman, Jack Cupit, Scott Goodman, Joe Peoples, Billy Collins, Jerry David, John Smith, Jerry Smith, Rex Smith, Lloyd Smith, members of the Harmony Lodge and the Natchez Chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the 61 South Church of Christ, 2 Beau Pré Road, Natchez, MS 39120.

Online condolences may be sent to www.youngsfh.com.