Bernard Butler Riley Sr.

Published 12:01 am Saturday, September 13, 2014

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July 16, 1954 – Sept. 9, 2014

NATCHEZ — Services for Bernard Butler Riley Sr., 60, of Natchez, who died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, at Natchez Community Hospital, will be at 11 a.m. today at Pilgrim Baptist Church with the Rev. Douglas Logan Sr. officiating.

Burial will be Monday at noon at the Natchez National Cemetery under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time today at the church.

Mr. Riley was born July 16, 1954, in Natchez, the son of Bernard Riley and Mary Butler Riley.

Mr. Riley was a member of Triumph Baptist Church where he served in the choir for a number of years as choir director. He was presently serving as a deacon.

He was a 1972 graduate of Vidalia High School; a 1983 graduate of Copiah Lincoln Community College where he received an associate degree in business; and 1986 graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, receiving a bachelor’s degree in business management.

Mr. Riley served in the U.S. Army from 1972 to 1978; worked for the U.S. postal service for 32 years; served as the Past Patron of Deborah Chapter No. 5, Queen Ester Chapter and Lucinda Robinson Chapter No. 6 ; served as financial secretary for the Wharlest Jackson Elks Lodge; the Grand Master of the M.W.W.T.M. Grant Jr. Grand Lodge for the State of Mississippi; and Grand Secretary General of the General Grand Masonic Congress, Puissant Lt. of the Supreme Council 33rd last degree where he served until death.

He was a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Carolyn Riley Jones and Dollinda Riley Garrison; and maternal grandparents, Odie and Emline Butler.

Survivors include a loving and devoted wife of 33 years, Nada Arrington Riley; one son, Bernard B. Riley Jr. of Baton Rouge; one daughter, Trui T. Riley of Natchez; two grandchildren, Jayce Riley and Lundyn Vaughn; two sisters, Claudia Green of New York, New York and Sonya Cameron and husband, Isom, of Cedar Hills, Texas; two brothers, William A. Riley of Natchez and Raymond T. Riley Sr. and wife, Loretta, of Vidalia; three aunts, Adelene B. Allen of Ellenwood, Ga., Sarah B. Young of Round Rock, Texas and Emma B. Harris of Conyers, Ga.; two uncles, Odie Lee Butler Jr. and wife, Pearl, of Spanaway, Wash., and George L. Butler of Buffalo; one great-aunt, Orelia Butler Rounds of New Orleans; father-in-law, William Arrington Sr. of Vidalia; five brothers-in-law, William Arrington Jr. and Kelvin Arrington, both of Houston, Rickie Arrington and wife, Deirdra, of Vidalia, Malcolm Arrington and wife, Kim, of Atlanta, and Rubin R. Jones of Monroe, La.; two sisters-in-law, Patricia Profice and husband, Carl,and Trudy Williams and husband, Robert; one godson, Quandarius D. Riley; a very special friend and brother, Walter Williams and wife, Erica; and a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.