Oct. 27, 1941 – Jan. 30, 2017

NATCHEZ — Services for John Merritt Tipton, 75, of Natchez, who died Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, will be 2 p.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Denny Read, the Rev. Noelle Read and the Rev. J.R. Tipton officiating.
Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time Thursday at the church.
Mr. Tipton was born on Oct. 27, 1941, in Natchez, the son of Ancel Cramer Tipton Sr. and Lola Sue Merritt Tipton.
He was a 1959 graduate of Natchez High School and earned an undergraduate degree and law degree from the University of Mississippi. He was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in June 1965, and began his career in private practice with Calvin Wells. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, he served as both public defender and prosecuting attorney for the City of Natchez. In 1976, he won the election as municipal judge and served for 28 years.
A dedicated public servant, he served as an officer on the Southwest Mississippi Mental Health Board for 15 years. He also had served as president of the Adams County Bar Association and the Mississippi Municipal Judicial College.
He was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church and served as elder. He enjoyed spending time at Lake St. John with his family.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Sandra Sowell Tipton; two children, John Kelly Tipton and wife, MaryAnn, of Madison, and Kathleen Merritt Tipton Morris and husband, Jim, of Benton, Ark.; five grandchildren, Jordan Elliott Tipton of Shreveport, La., Jacob Merritt Tipton of Jackson, Megan Elaine Tipton of Madison, Joseph and John Russell Morris of Benton; three brothers, Ancel Tipton and wife, Senith, of Jackson, Roy Tipton and wife, Donna, and Walter Tipton and wife, Michelle; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Jamie Tipton, Jordan Tipton, Jim Morris, Jacob Tipton, Billy Gillon and David Smith.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Adams County Bar Association and the Natchez High School Class of 1959.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to First Presbyterian Church or the Natchez City Cemetery.
Online condolences may be sent to lairdfh.com.