L. V. Walters

L. V. Walters peacefully went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, October 7th, 2021. Born January 5th, 1931, in Jones County, Mississippi to Walter Clayton Walters and Annie Lou Easterling Walters, L.V. grew up in Laurel and graduated from George S. Gardiner High School. L. V. enlisted in the United States Air Force and served from April of 1951 through March 31, 1955, obtaining the rank of staff sergeant. Much of his time in the service was spent in Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska during the Korean War. Upon returning to Laurel, L. V. continued his education at Jones County Junior College and The University of Southern Mississippi where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting. During this time, he met and married (1957) his sweetheart for life, Elizabeth Sumrall. L. V. began his career at the Masonite Corporation in 1957 and retired from there in October of 1987, after a 30-year career in the Planning/Scheduling Department. To say L. V. loved baseball would be an understatement. He either coached or directed youth baseball in Laurel for over 35 years. From coaching his son in Dixie Youth and Dixie Boys, to being president of Laurel Jones County Dixie Boys Baseball, to national and state director for Dixie Boys Baseball for the State of Mississippi, he touched countless lives of young men everywhere he went. The field on West Drive in Laurel bears his name, L V Walters-Lions Field. L. V. was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Elizabeth Sumrall Walters; his parents; Walter Clayton and Annie Lou Walters, his sisters, Louise Smith and Katherine Rhodes, and his brothers Raymond Clayton Walters and Glenn Harold Walters(infant). L. V. is survived by his sisters, Netta Finch of Purvis, MS; Mary Jo Traylor of Houston TX; Linda Holifield of Laurel; and brother Gene Harrell “Sonny” Walters, also of Laurel. He is also survived by daughter, Denise (Terry) King of Walker, LA; son, Raymond Charles (Stephanie) Walters of Madison; grandson, Blaise (Ashley) King and great-grandchildren, Isaiah, Errett, Ezra, and Eden of Madison, MS; granddaughter, Ashley (Blake) Caruso and great-grandchildren, Magnolia, Delta, and Lane of Baton Rouge, LA; grandson, Ashton (Stephanie) Walters and great-grandchild, Arabella Jane of Poplarville, MS; granddaughter, Allison (Pete) Davidson and great-grandchild, Avery Laken of Lakenheath AFB, United Kingdom; granddaughter, Baxter Rose (Stephen) Williams of Hattiesburg, MS; grandson, Sawyer (Kaitlyn)Walters of Long Beach, MS; grandson, Zach West of Petal, MS; and granddaughter, Lexie (Garrett) Hill of Madison, MS. Services for L. V. Walters will be held Monday, October 11th at First Baptist Church of Laurel. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. for family and 9:30 a.m. for friends. Services will begin at 11 a.m., led by Dr. Randy Turner. Burial to follow at Memorial Gardens on Hwy 184 East of Laurel. Pallbearers will be Ashton Walters, Sawyer Walters, Zach West, Stephen Williams, Blaise King, and Blake Caruso. Honorary Pallbearers will be the men of the Adult 4 Men’s Sunday School Class of FBC, or as L.V. called it, Dr. Jefcoat’s class. Memorials may be made in L. V.’s name to First Baptist Church Laurel, TV Ministry. To sign the online guest book, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com.

L. V. Walters

January 5, 1931 - October 7, 2021