John Bell Young, Jr., 83, passed away June 18, 2018 at Panola Medical Center in Batesville. He is the husband of Barbara L. Young of Batesville.
Funeral services are Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home in Batesville with visitation at 11 a.m., prior to the service. The family will hold a private inurnment at Forrest Memorial Park at a later date.
He was born in Booneville on March 30, 1935 to John Bell Young, Sr. and Gladys Tays Young. He graduated from Booneville High School, Northeast Junior College and LSU School of Banking. He was president of FBLA, employed by Prentiss County Home Bank from 1955-1964. From there he went to the Bank of Bruce in 1965 as president. he furthered his banking career with Bank of Batesville as president in 1974 for 10 years.
After many years of banking, he ended his career at the former People’s Bank and Trust, now Renasant Bank, upon retirement. During his banking career, he served as President of the Junior Bankers Association, the Lions Club, Bruce Booster Club, and served eight years in the Mississippi National Guard. He was a member of the Methodist Church where he joined at age 11. For the church he served on the Administrative Board, Conference Layity Board, and helped initiate the Pony Express Tithe Program into Methodism. He served as Finance Chairman, Pastor Parish Chairman in Bruce, Pontotoc, and Batesville First United Methodist Church. After retiring from banking, he worked as assistant administrator for Fairfield Assisted Living from 2000-2009.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Lester Young (married 1955); daughters Mitzi (Chip) Hardy and Patti Flint, both of Batesville; son, Danny Andrew ‘Andy’ (Heather) Young, Batesville; grandchildren, Audra (Mark) Lott, Molly (Benny) Marascalco, Cole (Amanda) Flint, Jonathan ‘Fred’ (Milli) Flint, Austin Tays Hardy, Riley Young, Lexie Young, Ainsley Young; great grandsons, Brady Lott, Miller Marascalco and Speer Flint; great granddaughters, Samantha Lott, Hardy Flint, Ella Marascalco, Elli Flint; sister, Connie (Dalton) Garner, Booneville; brothers, Billy Joe (Ruthie) Young, Corinth; David (Connie Lee) Young, Booneville; sisters-in-law Josie (Buddy) Smith, Marietta, and Brenda (Danny) McClung, Tishomingo.
Memorial contributions in John’s honor may be made to Batesville First United Methodist Church, 119 Panola Ave., Batesville, MS 38606 or The Cross, 107 Quail Run, Batesville, MS 38606