Mr. Jack Tullos Walters

Jack Tullos Walters Jack Tullos Walters, 92 of Laurel, MS died Saturday, May 19, 2018 after an extended illness. The family affirms that the passing of our father and grandfather brings deep sorrow to our family and friends, but also profound gratitude that he is at peace and sincere appreciation for the man he was and the life he lived. Jack T. Walters was born July 23, 1925 in Laurel, MS. He lived and attended public schools in Laurel. In 1943, Jack volunteered for service with the United States Navy. He received his initial training at the US Naval Amphibious Training Base in Ft. Pierce, Florida and Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, after which he was assigned to the U.S.S Grundy (APA-111), a troop transport. From 1945 to 1946, the Grundy delivered troops and supplies making stops at Eniwetok, Guam, Saipan, Ulithi, Peleliu, Yokohama, Okinawa and Shanghai, China. Jack was serving on the Grundy during the Magic-Carpet Fleet mission, which performed the gigantic task of returning the thousands of servicemen to the United States from the Pacific. After returning from the Navy, he attended Jones County Junior College. There he met the love of his life and wife-to-be, Opal McLeod of Greene County, MS. They were married on August 21, 1948 and celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary shortly before Opal passed away on September 3, 2016. A life-long Methodist, he attended Kingston United Methodist Church and the First United Methodist Church of Laurel, MS. He served in various lay positions in the church, including as president of the Senior Adult Sunday School class. He was employed with the U.S. Postal Service in a variety of positions for over 30 years before retiring as a rural mail carrier in 1984. During his retirement years, Jack took great pleasure working as an automobile transporter for several local car dealerships. He loved sports, especially football; and, as a young man, served for many years with the Mississippi High School Athletic Association as a football official for rural schools across south Mississippi. He was a member of several organizations including the American Legion, the National Rural Letter Carriers Association and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. He enjoyed traveling, listening to gospel music, watching and attending NASCAR car races, but most of all, he loved working in his yard. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, John Tennie and Wilma Tullos Walters; three brothers and two sisters-in-law, James Granville Walters (Anita Rogers Walters), Robert Nevil Walters (Opal Cardwell Walters), Fred Thomas Walters; and a sister and brother-in-law, Eta Seale Walters Thornell (C.C. Thornell). Survivors include daughters, Dr. Susan W. Bourland of Hattiesburg and Jackie Lea (Gary) Kerr of Soso; grandsons, William McLeod Bourland of St. Louis, MO and William Jack Kerr of Laurel; granddaughters, Dr. Laura Lea Bourland of Johns Creek, GA and Linda Bourland (Keenon) Wynn of New Orleans, LA; great-grandson, William Harvey Kerr of Laurel; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank all the sitters and helpers for their kind and loving care, with special thanks to Beth Johnston, Lela Matthews, Clisa Ainsworth, and Rickey Nicholson. They would also like to extend their gratitude for the excellent care and compassion he received from the doctors, nurses, and staff at South Central Regional Medical Center and Comfort Care Hospice. Visitation will be held at Memory Chapel Tuesday, May 22nd from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Memory Chapel Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. with interment to follow at Hickory Grove Cemetery. Rev. Mark Anderson will officiate. To sign the online guest book, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com.

Mr. Jack Tullos Walters

July 23, 1925 - May 19, 2018