June 25, 1924 – Jan. 21, 2014

BUDE — Services for H. B. Mayes McGehee, 89, of Bude, who died Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014, at his residence, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Bude United Methodist Church.

Burial will follow in Midway Cemetery under the direction of Franklin Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home and from noon until service time Friday at the church.

Mr. McGehee was born June 25, 1924, in Bude, the son of Dr. James Claude McGehee Sr. and Mary Cook McGehee.

He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp in 1942 and served in USMC until the end of World War II in 1945. In 1949, he was commissioned a lieutenant in the Mississippi National Guard and assigned to the heavy mortar company, 155th Infantry Regiment, 31st Division.

In 1951, the unit was called to service in the Korean War by President Truman. He remained on active duty until completion of his service in 1952. After returning from active duty, he resumed his service in the heavy mortar company and served an additional 12 years in the National Guard.

During this period, he was promoted to the rank of captain and company commander of the heavy mortar company, the rank and position he held until his discharge.

He graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law in January 1948 and entered the practice of law in Meadville with his uncle and former congressman, Dan R. McGehee, under the firm name McGehee and McGehee. He continued his practice with his uncle until his uncle’s death in 1962.

James A. Torrey Jr. joined his law practice in 1962 and the firm’s name was changed to McGehee, McGehee and Torrey, Attorneys. Hollis McGehee, one of his sons, joined the firm in 1977 and was a member of the firm until his election to the office of chancery court judge in 1995. He was a well known and highly respected trial attorney for more than 58 years, trying cases in state and federal courts in and across Mississippi.

He also served as chief executive officer of the Bank of Franklin for more than 45 years. He graduated from the School of Banking of the South at LSU in 1967. During his leadership, the bank enjoyed phenomenal growth.

He served for over 30 years as attorney for the board of supervisors and the towns of Bude, Meadville and Roxie. During his service, the towns and county enjoyed great progress and economic growth as well as major infrastructure improvements.

He is especially remembered and honored for great effort and contribution to the economic industrial growth of the entire county, including his efforts to attract Southern Pine Superior Stud Corporation/Georgia Pacific, Movie Star, Inc. and Shippers Car Line.

In 1955, the people of Franklin and Pike counties elected him state senator to represent them in the Mississippi Legislature from 1956 to 1960. During his service as a state senator, he became a highly respected and effective legislator and was honored with many significant committee assignments.

He was a member of the Franklin County Bar, state bar and American Bar Associations for more than 58 years. He was also a sustaining member of the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association for a number of years. He served in many capacities in the state bar including bar commissioner.

He also served many years on the judicial nominating committee, the Board of State Bar Examiners and was inducted as a fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation in 1983. He was also honored by his selection to the Lamar Order at the University of Mississippi School of Law.

Governor Ray Mabus appointed him in 1989 to a six-year term on the state oil and gas board. He was elected chairman of the board by the board members and served four years as chairman and two years as vice-chairman.

He was a lifetime member of Bude United Methodist Church and had love and loyalty to this church. He served the church in many roles including member, chairman of the administrative board, church lay leader, Sunday school teacher, trustee of the church and parsonage properties and church treasurer.

He had a great interest in and was a strong supporter of the Boy Scouts of America. He served for several years as scoutmaster of the Bude Boy Scout Troop. He later served as a member of the board of directors and vice president of the Andrew Jackson Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

He served for many years as fund drive chairman for Frankin County in raising financial support of the council. He was awarded the Silver Beaver for his dedicated support of Boy Scouts of America.

He had a great love of Franklin County and its people. He devoted most of his life endeavoring to improve the economy of the county and the well being of its citizens.

In 2013, he received the highest honor the Mississippi Bar Association has by giving him the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr. McGehee was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, James Claude McGehee Jr. and William Calvin McGehee;

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Dorothy Clark Simmons McGehee; two sons, William Hollis McGehee and Bowmar Mayes McGehee Jr.; two daughters, Rebecca M. Janes and Mary Bryan Roberts, nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Bude United Methodist Church, PO Box 65 Bude, MS 39630 or The Gideons International, PO Box 683, Liberty, MS 39645-0683.