Citadel Alumni Obituaries

James White (Jimmy) Pryor of Tupelo passed away Sunday, July 29, 2012, at
his home after an extended illness. Mr. Pryor was born on June 30, 1928, in
West Point to Sarah Ware White Pryor and Roger Winfred Pryor. He and Judy
Cook Riley were married Aug. 8, 1975. He was an honor graduate of West Point
High School and entered the Citadel in Charleston, S.C., at the age of 16.
He graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in civil
engineering and began his career in 1949 in Santa Fe, N.M. He returned to
West Point, worked briefly at PryorÆs Department Store, then became the
first employee and plant engineer of Babcock and Wilcox. He became a partner
of J.T. and Robert Harrell in Building Service Company and in 1967, founded
Pryor Construction Company Inc. Mr. Pryor was a deacon and served in
numerous capacities at First Baptist Church of West Point. In Tupelo, he was
a member of Calvary Baptist Church, where he was a Sunday school teacher for
several years. He was a founder and first state president of the Associated
Builders and Contractors of Mississippi. He was National Director, among
other leadership positions, in the Associated Builders and Contractors. In
West Point, Mr. Pryor was president of the Clay County Industrial
Development Corporation and member of the Board of Directors of First
National Bank. He served on the community board of the Bank of Mississippi
and was a member of the Northeast Mississippi Industrial Association,
Newcomen Society, Sigma Chi Fraternity and the Kiwanis clubs of West Point
and Tupelo for over 50 years. He was a longtime member of The William Gray
Chapter of The Sons of the American Revolution. Mr. Pryor was an avid
student of history and traveled widely. Jimmy Pryor is survived by his
beloved wife of 38 years, Judy, of Tupelo; four sons, Jim and wife, Emily
Pryor, of Columbus, Roger and wife, Mary Ann Pryor, of West Point, Chris and
wife, Jennifer Riley, of Tupelo, Brad and wife, Cathy Riley, of Tupelo;
three daughters, Jan Cressman of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Melanie and husband,
Ted Olson, of Portland, Ore., and Anita Pryor Mayer, also of Portland, Ore.;
15 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his
sister, Jane Pryor McCall, and a brother, Roger Winfred Pryor Jr. Service
will be 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, in The Jefferson Street Chapel of
W.E. Pegues with Dr. David Eldridge and Dr. Bryant Barnes officiating. A
private entombment will be held in The Chapel of Faith Mausoleum at Lee
Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Larry Eaves, Haywood Washburn, Dr. Bill
Hilbun, Ken Nester, Collin Maloney, Jim Weir, Dick Guyton, Dan Steele and
Charles Leggett. Honorary pallbearers will be Tony Carroll, Joey Hutto,
Artie Ott, Bill Anderson, Dr. James ôBuckö Shirley, Bill Cheek, Hoyt Pitts,
and caregivers Janice White, Sharon Young, Carey Robertson, Angie McCollum
and Bonite Scott. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time at the
funeral home in Tupelo. Special thanks is expressed to the Sanctuary Hospice
House nurses and staff who provided wonderful care for Mr. Pryor, especially
Dr. Lee Greer and his nurse, Brenda.

Tags: 1949