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July 30, 1936 – Nov. 29, 2023

NATCHEZ – Services for Claude A. “Andy” Pressgrove, Jr., 87, of Natchez who died Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, in Natchez will be at 11 a.m., Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Bo Swilley officiating.

Burial will follow at Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 10 until 11 a.m., Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Laird Funeral Home Chapel.

Andy was born July 30, 1936, in Grenada, MS to Doris Batson Pressgrove and Claude Andrew Pressgrove, Sr.

He graduated Grenada High School in 1954, where he played football and ran track. Andy went on to graduate from MSU in 1958 with a BS in Business.

Andy served as a First LT in the United States Army from 1958 to 1960.

He moved to Natchez in 1960 where he was the president of American United Products. He spent 63 years selling Bridges and drainage products for various companies.

Football was a huge part of Andy’s life. Besides playing football, he officiated for over 40 years at high school and college level, retiring from the SEC in 2000.

Locally Andy was instrumental in organizing Southwest Coaches and Officials Conference, National Football Foundation and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Andy served on the Board of Directors of the MS Road Builders Association and Mississippi Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  He was a past member of the Kiwanis Club, he is also a Mason and Shriner.

Besides football, Andy had a love for flying early in his life. He was an instrument rated commercial pilot with several thousand hours of fly time. He served on the Natchez Adams County Airport Commission.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 34 years, Irma Carmen Pressgrove; two daughters, Valerie Fore Givens and Dawn Fore Perry; and one grandson, Payden Andrew Pressgrove, and his first wife, Cissy Pressgrove.

He is survived by five children, Tip Fore, Cap Pressgrove (Cathy), Ginger Cavin, Bill Pressgrove (Sabrina), Missy Forman (RT); son-in-law, Gus Perry; 11 grandchildren, Joey Givens, Ashley Henderson, Dylan Pressgrove, Duston Dore, Collin Dore, Carson Pressgrove, Conner Pressgrove, Eric Perry, Christopher Perry, Valerie Simpson, Samantha Forman, Brandon Perkins, and Kristen Foster; and 18 great grandkids.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Kenneth Stubbs, Tony Byrne, Senator Tommy Tuberville, Ken Whittington, and Jay Yates.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at lairdfh.com.