HATTIESBURG — Services for Dr. William Wallace “Bill” Pearson, 87, who died Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, will be at 3 p.m. today at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Hattiesburg.

Graveside service will follow at Roseland Park Cemetery under the direction of Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home in Hattiesburg.

Visitation will be from 2 p.m. until service time today at the church.

Dr. Pearson was born March 27, 1923, in Newton. He was educated at Mississippi College and attended medical school at the University of Tennessee. He also attended Tulane University for a residency in anesthesiology. He began practice in Scooba as the youngest practicing physician in the state of Mississippi and practiced medicine for more than 40 years in West Point, New Orleans and Natchez.

Dr. Pearson served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a naval medical officer attached to the Marine artillery unit for the duration of hostilities in Korea.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Dorothy Avara Pearson and one daughter, Judith Pearson McGehee.

Survivors include two sons, Billy Pearson and John Pearson; one daughter, Suzanne Hootsell; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Dr. Pearson will be remembered as a loving husband, father and a dedicated and caring physician.

Memorials may be made to Hospice Ministries or the Westminster Church of Hattiesburg Organ Fund.