How would one describe the loss of someone like Freddie Voss?

When Tony Haines, executive director of the Andrew Jackson Council of the Boy Scouts of America was asked this question, Haines said he wasn’t sure he was equal to the task.

Haines called Voss the quintessential scoutmaster, the scoutmaster of all scoutmasters.

Haines words were echoed my many here who were still reeling early this week at the unexpected loss on Saturday of Voss, 80.

“Mr. Freddie,” as many called Voss, left a legacy of service for the many boys and young men whose lives he molded during his decades volunteering with the Boy Scouts.

“He is going to be greatly missed by thousands of people in Mississippi,” Haines said.

Voss would have celebrated his 65th anniversary of becoming an Eagle Scout in 2015. Under his tutelage, 82 young men earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Voss was a charter member in 1946 of Boy Scout Troop 158 in Natchez, with which he was involved with all of his life. Voss was the first in his troop to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. From that troop alone, 93 others followed suit.

In February of this year, Voss presided over a ceremony in which his grandson, Nolan, earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Eddie Ray and Ricky Warren, each of whom called Voss a mentor, are scoutmasters in another Natchez troop, 168. Both said many good Natchez men are who they are today because of Voss’ influence.

“If there was ever an unsung hero, it was Freddie,” Warren said.

Our city lost a great man and Boy Scouts lost a legend. Here’s hoping some of those whose lives he touched follow his lead and work to fill the void left by the loss of Freddie Voss.