John Gordon Gentry

John Gordon Gentry, 78, of Macon, formerly of Crawford, MS, was called to his heavenly home on February 10, 2022 following a lengthy illness. John was born in the Sessums Community of Oktibbeha County on April 29, 1943 to William Albert “Dub” Gentry, Jr. and Beatrice Edwards Gentry. He grew up in Crawford with his parents, two older sisters and younger brother. Many members of the extended family lived close by. The siblings and cousins spent a lot of their adolescent years riding horses, playing ball, and being outside. John attended Brooksville
Consolidated School through junior high. He attended Lee High School from 9 th grade until graduation. When in high school, he drove a school bus from Crawford to Columbus. After high school graduation, he attended Mississippi State University. John married Linda Heflin, the love of his life, in 1964. They made their home in Crawford, and he began his professional career with Bell South Telephone Company/AT&T. He worked in Starkville for most of that time but finished his last two years in the Macon office. He retired with 35 years of service.

He and Linda enjoyed retirement and had lots of good years together at their home in Crawford. Because of declining health, they made the decision to move to Macon in 2020 to be closer to their daughter and her husband. John had a wide variety of hobbies including bass fishing, golfing, wood working, researching the family tree, and music. He had his own sawmill and workshop where he spent many hours sawing logs and building shelves, bluebird houses, tables, and other gift items. He and Linda spent a lot of time with the grandchildren. They enjoyed watching them participate in school activities and taking care of them during the summers and after school. John enjoyed showing the children how to do crafts, swing a golf club, and he took them on outdoor walks which became known to them as “great adventures.” His nicknames
included Johnny, Uncle John, Grandpa, and BawBaw. He was a self-taught musician and could play guitar, mandolin, banjo, and piano. He especially enjoyed bluegrass gospel and southern gospel music. He was an avid reader and learned how to do many things from reading and studying books from the library. John was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Ricky Gentry, his son John Dodds Gentry and his grandson John Dodds “J.D.” Gentry, Jr.

Survivors include his beloved wife of 57 years, Linda Heflin Gentry of Macon, daughter Gina Gentry Cotton (Chuck) of Macon, daughter in law Gina Kellum Gentry of Starkville, granddaughter Ashley Cotton Cutrer (Lance), Laura Cotton Chancellor (Dale), grandsons, Jackson Kellum Gentry, Joshua Gordon Gentry, great grandsons Luke Cotton Cutrer, Colt Gentry Chancellor, and “bonus grandson”, Wesley Gibson
(Rebecca and Mary Leighton). He also leaves two sisters, Faye Gentry Waid and Mary Jo Gentry Pugh as well as many other family members who will miss him.

Visitation will be on Friday, February 11 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Cockrell Funeral Home in Macon. Graveside service will be held on Saturday February 12 at 11:00 a.m. at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, 3067 Pleasant Ridge Road, Sturgis, MS  39759 with Chuck Cotton officiating. Memorials may be made to the Gideons International c/o Jean Caston, 235 Crescent Drive, Columbus, MS 39705 or Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital, 2500
N. State Street, Jackson, MS 39216. The family would like to express appreciation to Rachel Clemons, Kelsey Sanderford, and the entire staff of Quality Hospice in Philadelphia, MS for their kindness, care, and compassion over the past year.