June 20, 1942 – May 29, 2017

NATCHEZ — Services for Roy Lee Merrick, 74, of Natchez, who died Monday, May 29, 2017, at his residence, will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Holy Family Catholic Church with the Rev. George-Bede Ajuruchi officiating.  

Burial will follow at Sunset View Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Bateaste Memorial Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mr. Merrick was born June 20, 1942, in Natchez, the son of Oscar and Mary Lou Merrick.

He was self-employed as a painter.

Mr. Merrick was Catholic.

He loved drag racing and working on cars.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Mildred Howard and Marian Jenkins; one brother, Oscar D. Merrick Jr.; and one son, Anthony L. Merrick.

Roy Lee married Claudia Murray in 1960, and together they had five children. He leaves to cherish his memories four children, two sons, Theodore Merrick of Natchez and Marvin Merrick of Jackson; two daughters, Carolyn Merrick and Angela Wesley, both of Las Vegas; two sisters, Elva Edwards and husband, Michael, of Hartford, Conn., and Risa Thomas of Natchez; two brothers, Joe Merrick and Phillip Thomas, both of Natchez; six granddaughters, Donesha M. Hill, Lashanna Brown, Latuntray Tolbert, Bianca Brown, Jasmine Glover and India Merrick; three grandsons, LaRoy Merrick, DaMorris Merrick and Jarad Merrick-Williams; 16 great-grandchildren; and a number of aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Pallbearers will be Clarence Berry, Charles Harris, Chris Hoggatt, Leroy Bradford, Wayne Havard and Steve Sewell.