March 7, 1928 – Aug. 19, 2018

NATCHEZ — Services for Luther R. Messer, 90, of Natchez, who died Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018, at Merit Health Natchez, will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Natchez Church of God on McNeely Road with the Rev. Brian Monehan officiating.
Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. until service time Wednesday, both at the church.
Mr. Messer was born March 7, 1928, in Shelby, N.C., the son of the Rev. William Rufus
Messer and Florence Rollins Messer.
He was a member of the Natchez Church of God. He always enjoyed playing the bass
guitar in church or at singings. He built truck tires at Armstrong Tire and Rubber Company for more than 41 years. In those years, he built more than 300,000 truck tires. Messer enjoyed his time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.          ‘
He was preceded in death by his parents;two brothers, Paul Robert Messerand Joel Messer and wife, Jeannette; two sisters, Edith Shedlock and husband, Frank, and Vencie “Vicki” Roberts; father and mother-in-law, Monroe and Gertie Holland; his best friend, Rudolph Davis and wife, Catherine; a number of brothers and sisters-in-law; and by his numberone grandson, joke between him and Tyler, Tyler Brumfield.
Survivors include his wife of 70 years, Opal Holland Messer; three children, Gary Messer and wife, Barbara, Keith Messer and wife, Vera, and Vicki Hodge and husband, Tim, all of Natchez; three grandchildren, Michael Messer and wife, Kristle, Kelcie Henderson, and Luke Brumfield and wife, Mika, all of Natchez; four great-grandchildren, Rebekah Messer, Zeke Henderson, Faith Ann Messer and William Gregory Messer, who will make his presence in January 2019, all of Natchez; three sisters-in-law, Bonnie Byrd and husband, Lloyd, and Brenda Williams,all of Meadville, and Ruth Holland of Natchez.
Pallbearers will be Keith Messer, Michael Messer, Luke Brumfield,Craig Godbold, Kelly
Elveston and Danny Grayson.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at lairdfh.com.