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June 20, 1943 – Sept. 17, 2024

NATCHEZ – Herman Donald “Don” Estes, 81, died on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, at the Mississippi State Veteran’s Home in Oxford, MS. A graveside service will be held on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Natchez City Cemetery.

Don was born in Natchez on June 20, 1943, to Glenvall and Lorene Estes. He graduated from Natchez High School in 1961, where he served as student body president. He graduated from Ole Miss in 1965, where he worked as a manager for the football team and was a member of the M Club.

Don worked as a banker for many years and served in the U.S. Army for 20 years, where he earned an Army Commendation Medal. He retired from the Army as an Infantry Major. In 1977, he realized his dream of owning an automotive shop by opening and running Don’s Pit Stop.

Don had a great love for history, especially Natchez history. After he retired from banking in 1998, he became the Director of the Natchez City Cemetery, a place where he had been researching and giving tours for several years. In 2000, he co-founded the Angels on the Bluff Event, which in 2003 was awarded the Mississippi Municipal Associations Event of the Year. Also in 2003, he was named the Natchezian of the Year by the Natchez Chamber of Commerce. In 2006, he wrote and published his book Legends of the Natchez City Cemetery: The Most Interesting Cemetery in the South. Because of his great knowledge of history and gift of storytelling, he was a much sought-after lecturer and tour guide.

Over the years, Don was very active in the community of Natchez, where he served as Chairman of the American Red Cross, Co-chairman of the Natchez Bi-centennial Committee, Chairman of the Adams County American Heart Association, Director of the Ole Miss Alumni Association, President of the Southwest MS Chapter Ole Miss Alumni, Co-authored the Booklet “Historic Natchez City Cemetery”, Lecturer at Co-Lin with the Elderhostals on “Natchez During the Civil War” and was a member of the Kiwanis and Lions clubs, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Natchez Historical Society and Historic Natchez Foundation.

Don loved history, Natchez, restoring classic cars, Ole Miss, Jesus, and his many friends and family. But his greatest love was his wife of 59 years, Cathy, who passed away in June.

Don is preceded in death by his parents, Glenvall and Lorene Estes, and his wife, Cathy Estes.

He is survived by his brothers, Tommy, Billy Wayne, and Terry, and his sister, Jeanne. He is also survived by his children, Stephanie Forbes (George), David Estes (Kim), and Lillian Reed (Scott); his grandchildren Tyler (Lena) and Allison Forbes, Paul, Ben and Sam Reed, Audrey, Harvey, and Jamie Estes, and his great-grandson, Connor Forbes.

Don was always full of life, kindness, personality, and lots of interesting and often funny stories. He will be greatly missed!