Bernard Butler Riley Sr.

Published 12:01 am Friday, September 12, 2014

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July 16, 1954 – Sept. 9, 2014

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NATCHEZ — Services for Bernard Butler Riley Sr., 60, of Natchez, who died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, at Natchez Community Hospital, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Pilgrim Baptist Church with the Rev. Douglas Logan Sr. officiating.091214 BernardBRileySr. obitpic

Burial will be Monday at noon at the Natchez National Cemetery under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. and from 9 a.m. until service time, both at the church.

Mr. Riley was born July 16, 1954, in Natchez, the son of Bernard Riley and Mary Butler Riley.

Mr. Riley was a member of Triumph Baptist Church where he served in the choir for a number of years as choir director. He was presently serving as a deacon.

He was a 1972 graduate of Vidalia High School; a 1983 graduate of Copiah Lincoln Community College where he received an associate degree in arts; and 1986 graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, receiving a bachelor’s degree in business management.

Mr. Riley served in the U.S. Army from 1972 to 1978; worked for the U.S. postal service for 32 years; served as the Past Patron of Deborah Chapter No. 5, Queen Ester Chapter and Lucinda Robinson Chapter No. 18; served as financial secretary for the Wharlest Jackson Elks Lodge for the State of Mississippi; and Grand Secretary General of the General Grand Masonic Congress, Puissant Lt. of the Supreme Council 33rd last degree where he served until death.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Carolyn Riley Jones and Dollinda Riley Garrison; and maternal grandparents, Odie and Emline Butler.

Survivors include a loving and devoted wife of 33 years, Nada Arrington Riley; one son, Bernard B. Riley Jr. of Baton Rouge; one daughter, Trui T. Riley of Natchez; two grandchildren, Jayce Riley and Lundyn Vaughn; two sisters, Claudia Green of New York, New York and Sonya Cameron and husband, Isom, of Cedar Hill, Texas; two brothers, William A. Riley and Raymond T. Riley Sr. and wife, Loretta, both of Vidalia; four brothers-in-law, William Arrington, Rickey Arrington and wife, Deidre, Kelvin Arrington and Malcolm Arrington and wife, Kim; two sisters-in-law, Patricia Profice and husband, Carl, and Trudy Williams and husband, Robert; a very special friend and brother, Walter Williams and wife, Erica; and a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.