Reverend William Emerson Tedder, Jr., transitioned to his Heavenly Home April 13, 2021. He was born July 29, 1925, in Vardaman, grew up there, and graduated from Vardaman High School.
He answered the call to military duty during World War II. He joined the United States Navy and served throughout the South Pacific. He earned an Honorable Discharge and the Victory Medal for Distinguished Service.
In 2013, he was selected with 92 other World War II veterans for the Honors Flight Program. They traveled together to Washington, D.C. on October 1, 2013, where they toured the World War II Memorial and visited other historical sites.
When World War II ended, he returned to Calhoun County. On April 13, 1947, he married his sweetheart, Carolyn Thompson, of Big Creek. Later, they had a beloved daughter, Sheila Carol Tedder. He described life with his wife and daughter as, “Days of Heaven on Earth.”
In 1959, he answered God’s call to the preaching ministry. To prepare, he earned degrees from Clarke Memorial College, Mississippi College, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. While engaged in his studies, her pastored churches in Calhoun, Neshoba, and Adams counties.
Upon his graduation from seminary, he devoted his ministry to churches in Smith, Neshoba, Lincoln, Rankin and Yazoo Counties. He and his wife served faithfully as a pastor and wife team in each church and community where the Lord led them. They truly loved people and compassionately ministered to them.
After retirement from full time ministry, he taught Bible classes at Hinds Community College in Pearl. He also served as interim minister throughout Mississippi and preached revival services until he was eighty-six years old. He humbly considered himself, “Blessed with health and vibrancy so I can reach people for Jesus Christ.” He was a loyal member of First Baptist Brandon and Believers’ Life Group.
He is survived by his daughter, Sheila Carol Tedder, and sister, Glenda Tedder Donoho, both of Pearl; sister-in-law, Dannie Poe, Pontotoc; brother-in-law, L.C. (Wynell) Thompson, Jr., Booneville; nieces, Deanna Poe Prewett, Pontotoc; Lanell Dorrah (Bill) Kellum, Bellefontaine, and nephew, Bob (Michelle) Poe, Ecru.
He is predeceased by his cherished wife, Carolyn Thompson Tedder; his parents; sister, Josephine Tedder Hayes; mother-in-law, Jakie Boland Thompson; father-in-law, L.C. Thompson, Sr., and sisters-in-law Ava Poe Petreman and Geraldine Dorrah.
His celebration of life service was April 16 at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl. Interment was in Floral Hills Memory Gardens, Pearl. Rev. Bobby Douglas of Bruce, close friend of Rev. Tedder, and Rev. Rodney Bounds, Senior Pastor, Brandon Baptist Church officiated the services.
Memorial donations may be made to to Mission Dignity for retired pastors at Mission: Dignity-Guidestone, P.O. Box 819109, Dallas, Texas 75381 or to Gideons International, P.O. Box 97251, Washington, D.C. 20090-7252.