April 29, 1932 – Jan. 8, 2019

VIDALIA — Services for Roice Young Whittington Sr., 86, of Vidalia, who died Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, at Merit Health Natchez, will be 1 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church in Vidalia with the Rev. Ralph Webber and the Rev. Matt Duff officiating.
Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today and from noon until service time Friday at the church.
Mr. Whittington was born April 29, 1932, in Gloster, the son of William Lonnie Whittington and Dolly Whittington.
He was a lifelong resident of Vidalia and loved his community. Mr. Whittington was very active in Vidalia, serving as an alderman for more than 20 years, where he helped bring the Hydroelectric Power Plant to the area. He was also active with Vidalia High school football team, serving as president of the Quarter Back Club and was part of the team that was instrumental in getting the stadium and bleachers built.
Whittington was also a member of the Concordia Masonic Lodge 305 and was raised as a Mason on April 28, 1963. At his death, he was a Master Mason and a Shriner.  He served in every office as well as being a Grand Master.  He worked at Armstrong Tire and Rubber Company for more than 30 years and Fidelity Tire where he served as the union president.  After retiring, Mr. Whittington owned and operated his own business and served his community to his fullest.
His faith led him to First Baptist Church in Vidalia where he was a member for more than 60 years. He served his church in every aspect. Whittington was also a U.S. Air Force veteran. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for his friends and family or any other member of his community.  In recognition for his service to the community and its residences, the City of Vidalia honored him by naming the access street to the Riverfront, Roice Y Whittington Drive.
Whittington was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, John Wesley Whittington and James Edward Whittington; and three sisters, Colleen Lemay, Betty Joe Givens and Dorothy Lynn Partridge.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Fern O’Neal Whittington; two children, Deborah Whittington Betts and her husband, Jon, and Buddy Whittington and his wife, Lisa; four grandchildren, Scott, Bryan, Ethen and Spencer; four great- grandchildren, Sean, Seth, Sydney and Adalyn Grace; three sisters, Barbara Ann May, Mary Agnes McGuffie and Faye Causey; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Mike O’Neal, Sonny Causey, Ethen Whittington, Spencer Whittington, Scott Dupuis, James Nevel and Bryan Betts.
Honorary pallbearers will be his brothers of the Concordia Masonic Lodge No. 305.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at lairdfh.com.