Jim B. Richards

Jim B. Richards, 84, of Mashulaville, MS, passed away on Monday, October 20, 2014 at Noxubee General Hospital in Macon, MS after a lengthy illness. His funeral service will be held on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Good Hope Baptist Church with Bro. Jason Smith and Bro. Bill Ross officiating. Interment will immediately follow in Mashulaville Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Cockrell Funeral Home Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. Memorials may be made to Palmer Home for Children, P.O. Box 746, Columbus, MS 39703. Cockrell Funeral Home of Macon, MS has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements. You may sign the online register book or leave condolences at www.cockrellfuneralhome.com.

Jim B. Richards was born in the Mashulaville Community of Noxubee County to the late James Albert and Ida Busby Richards. He was a graduate of the Mashulaville Agricultural High School and also of East Mississippi Junior College, where he played baseball. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served his country in the Korean War. While stationed at Ft. Mead, he played exhibition baseball for the U.S. Army. He later served in Europe with a water purification unit. Upon his return to the United States, Jim was approached with an offer to play professional baseball for the Cleveland Indians. Due to his mother’s declining health at the time, he refused the offer and instead attended Mississippi State University College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, from which he graduated in 1955. In 1953 he went into business with two partners who were pioneers in the field of Agricultural Entomology. They started a business scouting agricultural fields for harmful insects and advising farmers on the proper treatment of insect pests. Jim later took over the business, known as the Merrill Normand Farm Consulting Service, and operated it for over 50 years, mainly in the Mississippi Delta region. His legacy in farm consulting continues today as his son, Tim, still owns and operates the business in the Delta.
Jim was a loving father who instilled Christian values in his family. He was a lifelong Baptist and was a member of Good Hope Baptist Church in Winston County. He had taught Sunday School for many years. Mr. Jim was an avid hunter, a staunch MSU sports fan as well as a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. He had always, down through the years since boyhood, loved his hunting and companion dogs.

Jim B. Richards leaves to mourn his passing two daughters: Judy Richardson of Clinton, MS and Rachel Skelton of Macon and one son: Tim Richards of Yazoo City, MS as well as six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He is also survived by one sister: Lanelle Richards Montgomery of Yazoo City, MS. He was preceded in death by his wife: Janette Richards ; one sister: Elleanor Richards Rainey and one brother: Everette Richards.