NATCHEZ — Services for Bill Rush Mosby Jr., 73, of Natchez, who died Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010, after a brief illness, will be at 3 p.m. today at Jefferson Street United Methodist Church with the Rev. Edwin M. Temple officiating.

Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m. until service time today at Jefferson Street Christian Life Center.

Mr. Mosby was born July 24, 1937, in Meridian, the son of Bill Rush Mosby Sr. and Ione Rubush Mosby. He was a retired partner in the accounting firm of Silas Simmons, LLP, but was still an active member of the firm.

Mosby was a 1958 graduate of Millsaps College in Jackson with a bachelor of science degree in mathematics. In 1960, Mr. Mosby graduated from Mississippi State University in Starkville with a second bachelor of science degree in accounting. He successfully passed the certified public accountant exam and was awarded the designation of certified public accountant in 1962, receiving certificate number 850.

Mosby married his college sweetheart, Ellen Dixon of Vaughan, Aug. 17, 1958, in Ridgeland. They traveled together to Pascagoula where they each entered the teaching profession. Mr. Mosby taught math to high school seniors. While he was not much older than the seniors he taught, he soon realized that teaching was not his primary career choice.

In 1960, Mosby and his wife were preparing to move to New Orleans, having accepted a position with a major Big Eight accounting firm. Before his departure, Mosby received a call from Silas Simmons in Natchez asking him to interview for a position at the accounting firm of Silas Simmons and Company. While interviewing in Natchez, he was offered the position on the spot by Silas Simmons. After briefly discussing the career change with his wife, he accepted the offered accounting position and began his lifelong accounting career in Natchez. Mosby was admitted as the fifth partner of Silas M. Simmons & Company 10 years later in 1970. Having served as managing partner of the firm for a number of years, Mosby retired as a senior partner in 2007, but continued to service clients on a limited basis until his death, providing a full 50 years of unwavering service to his grateful clients.

As part of Mosby’s professional career, he was a current member of the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants, Louisiana Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; past president of the Mississippi Society of CPAs; past president of the Southern States Society of CPAs; past council member of the AICPA; past member of the Board of Governors, MSCPA; member of a number of standing and special committees of the MSCPA; member of the Southwest Chapter of MSCPA; and member of the Mississippi Banker’s Association.

Having chosen Natchez as the place to settle down and raise his family, Mosby was dedicated to community service, always striving to help make a difference. He was a charter member and past chairman of the Natchez-Adams Economic Development Authority. A number of his other accomplishments included past president and board member of the Historic Natchez Foundation; past president of both the Natchez Kiwanis Club and the Natchez Rotary Club, having served on a number of committees regarding community activities; Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International; benefactor of the Rotary Club; past board member of the Natchez Community Hospital; past board member and past treasurer of the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce; past officer of the Natchez Jaycees; past chairman of the administrative board, finance committee, trustees, treasurer and Sunday school teacher of Jefferson Street United Methodist Church, where he continued to be an active member and cherished greeting people on the steps of the church on Sundays; member of the Musical Arts League; and member of the Natchez Santa Claus Committee and the Natchez Children’s Home.

As a result of the number of hours of dedicated service he gave to his community, Mosby was awarded the “Natchezian of the Year” award by the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce in 1996. He was also the proud recipient of the Mississippi 2000 Public Service Award awarded by the Mississippi Society of CPAs. His greatest accomplishments were his children, grandchildren and his marriage to his devoted wife.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Ellen Dixon Mosby; one daughter, Ellen Dewitt “Dee” Mosby White and husband, Lee, of Jackson; two sons, Bill Rush Mosby III and wife, Lesley, of Jackson and Sim McRae Mosby and wife, Betsy, of Natchez; 11 grandchildren, William Rush Mosby, Hallie Pryor Mosby, Sarah Ellen Southern, Susan Anna Southern, Sim Colebank Mosby, Samuel Rush Mosby, Lee Inman “Cap” White III, Semmes Raphael White, Forrest Davis White, James Edward Bishop “Jeb” White and Grace Ann White; one brother, Elmer Rubush Mosby of Valdosta, Ga.; and one sister, Lea Mosby Calhoun of Meridian.

Pallbearers will be grandsons and nephews, John Mosby Calhoun, Sheldon Ward Calhoun, Andrew Dewitt Dixon, Charles Sim Dixon, Chalmers Dixon Blain, Robert Steve Heath, Lee Inman White III, Forrest Davis White, James Edward Bishop White, Semmes Raphael White and William Rush Mosby.

Honorary pallbearers will be Charles W. Caldwell Jr., Bennett M. Jeansonne and William Wes Gore.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Jefferson Street United Methodist Church Building Fund, 511 Jefferson St., Natchez, MS 39120 or the Bill Rush Mosby Jr. Accounting Scholarship Fund c/o MSCPA Education Foundation, 306 Southampton Row, Ridgeland, MS 39157.

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