Sept. 4, 1934 – May 20, 2011

NATCHEZ — Services for Percy Vel Emanuel, 76, of Natchez, who died Friday, May 20, 2011, at his residence, will be at 4 p.m. Monday, at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Mike Harrigill and the Rev. Steve Purvis officiating. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today and Monday from 3 p.m. until service time at the funeral home.

Emanuel was born Sept. 4, 1934, in Jefferson County, the son of Sheldon Emanuel and Lula Cain Emanuel.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Bernice Allen Emanuel.

Mr. Emanuel grew up in Rodney and attended Red Lick School. He graduated from Fayette High School and excelled in football and basketball. Growing up on Rodney Island he learned at an early age the love of hunting, fishing and how to make do with what you have.

There was not anything he wouldn’t try to build, repair or make work, and he taught many of his fix-it-all skills. He also loved gardening and anything that involved his tractor. He was compassionate toward others, and his dry sense of humor kept people coming back for more.

Mr. Emanuel was a contract oil pumper for 30 years and owned the Fish House for 17 years. He was devoted to his loving wife of 53 years, and his daughter and grandchildren were his heart. He was a member of Stanton Baptist Church and a born-again Christian.

Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Eleanor Crews Emanuel; one daughter, Janice Emanuel Harrigill and husband the Rev. Mike Harrigill; two grandchildren, Sheila Jaime of Alexandria, Va., and Ryan Harrigill and wife Devon of Little Rock, Ark.; one sister, Wylene Parker of McComb; brothers in-law, Joseph H. Crews of Fallbrook, Calif., and Bill Crews and wife Susan of Purlear, N.C.; sister-in-law, Helen Rogers and husband Delman of Mansfield, La.; and several nephews and cousins.

Pallbearers will be Larry McKenzie, Eddie Orcutt, Joe Washington and Donald Manning.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to Stanton Baptist Church youth fund.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.lairdfh.com.