Clyde David Auld

NATCHEZ — Services for Clyde David Auld of Natchez, will be 2 p.m. today at Laird Funeral Home Chapel in Natchez with the Rev. Sione Tu’uta and the Auld grandchildren officiating.

Visitation will be 1 p.m. until service time at the funeral home.

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

A reception will be at the Auld family home following the services.

Mr. Auld was born in Texas in 1937, the son of John Wesley “Tip” Auld and Maxine Jones Auld.

Both of his parents were descendants of early pioneer families of The Republic of Texas. Tip, Maxine and Clyde David were one of the first families to live in the Tinsley Field Lease, just after the first commercial oil production was established in Mississippi in Yazoo County in 1939.

A very young Clyde David developed a talent for climbing the oil derricks surrounding his home, much to his mother’s dismay. He parlayed that agility into success as a multi-sport athlete in Yazoo City and then at Natchez High, where he graduated in 1955.

At Millsaps College, he majored in English literature and was part of the state championship tennis team.

Clyde married the love of his life, Billie Ann Lee, in 1957. They made a life together with their beloved son, John Wesley Auld II, supporting him through many baseball seasons and in other sports and activities. The trio shared a lifetime love of golf and entertaining their friends and family with utmost Southern hospitality.

He will be buried next to his bride of 56 years and their dearest companion, Oscar.

Clyde deeply cherished the many friendships he made during a rewarding career in the oil and gas industry at Scarborough Pump & Supply and as regional sales director in the W.C. Norris division of Dover Corporation. However, no job title meant more to him than being “Poppy.”

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife.

Survivors include one son, John Auld and his wife, Kimberly Salter Auld; several special nieces, including Sherri Terrell, who he loved like a daughter; three grandchildren, Tiffany Auld Short and husband, Travis, John Wesley “Trey” Auld III, and Tyler Zane Auld; four great-grandchildren, Parker Adair, Spencer, Levi and Noah Wesley Short; Billie’s siblings, Freddie Lee and Jessie Terrell; Clyde’s special caregiver and friend, Johnnie Mae Johnson; Tiffany’s mother, Jamee Schilling; sweet additions to the Auld family, Madison Claire Graphia and Natalie Grace Burford; and his dear friends from the former Belwood Country Club.

Pallbearers will be Trey Auld, Tyler Zane Auld, Malcolm Whitehead, Bill Herrington, Buddy Hill, Freddie Lee, Kurt Seeman, Chris Salter and Clutch Aldridge.

Honorary pallbearers include Frank Campisi, Kevin Thornhill, Steven Browning, Charlie Junker and Evan Junker, posthumously.

The family requests donations made to Clyde’s favorite charities, The Natchez Children’s Home — The Stewpot of Natchez, the Educational Center for Autism in Shreveport or the church of your choice. The family wishes to thank all of those who have supported us with endless love and prayers these last few years.

Online condolences may be sent to lairdfh.com.