Ralph Edward Young, Jr.

Ralph Edward Young, Jr. died on Friday, January 3, 2025, at the age of 81 in New Orleans where he had lived since 2014. He was born on May 19th, 1943, in Meridian, MS to Ralph E. Young, Sr. and Nell Ison Young and was a resident of Mississippi for the first 71 years of his life. He was most proud of his family and is survived by his wife Martha Moffett Young, son Ralph Edward “Ted” Young III of Meridian, daughters Allison Day Record of Baton Rouge and Carrie Frances Lewis (Jeff) of New Orleans, granddaughter Leanna Carey (Patrick) of Memphis, grandsons Henry Lewis and Gordon Lewis of New Orleans, great granddaughter Opal June Carey of Memphis, brother R. James Young (Ann) of Jackson, MS and numerous nephews and nieces.

He graduated from Meridian High School in 1961 and continued his education at the University of Mississippi where he received a BBA degree in 1965. After completing his undergraduate studies, he received a JD degree from the Ole Miss Law School in 1967. After receiving his law degree, he served as a law clerk for the Supreme Court of Mississippi and later practiced law in Meridian for 46 years before retiring in 2014.

Education was considered most important to Ralph. He was one of the three incorporators of the Meridian Community College Foundation where he was on the board for many years and as the second president of the Foundation. He served on the Board of Trustees for 30 years and in 2014, MCC named its then newest campus building the “The Ralph E. Young, Jr. Center for Adult Basic Education”. He is a member of the MCC Hall of Fame and was on the Board of Directors of the Ole Miss Law Alumni Association and the Ole Miss Alumni Association.

He loved St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Meridian where he was a member his entire life. He served as a Sunday school teacher, lay reader, usher, vestry member and Senior Warden. He believed in community service and was the Chairman of the Key chapter of the American Red Cross, Chairman of the Mississippi Division of the American Red Cross and was a member of the Southeastern Advisory Council of the American Red Cross. He also was as Chairman of the Meridian Corps of the Salvation Army and was president of the Meridian Museum of Art. At Lambeth House in New Orleans, he served as president of the Residents’ Council.

Ralph was on the Advisory Boards of Deposit Guaranty National Bank, First National Bank and AmSouth Bank. He served as an officer and board member of the G. V. “Sonny” Montgomery Foundation, and on the boards of the Greater Meridian Chamber of Commerce, the Meridian Little Theater, Semmes Cemetery Association and as the Chairman of the Lauderdale County Crusade and co-chairman of the Meridian United Way Campaign.

He was proud of the legal profession and was honored by his peers by being elected a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and a Fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation. He was named a Mid-South Super Lawyer by Law and Politics magazine. He served as president of the Lauderdale County Bar Association and as a Judge Advocate with the 186 TRG of the Mississippi Air National Guard.

Ralph was a true gentleman who will be sorely missed for his kindness, his humor, and his generosity of heart and spirit. A celebration of Ralph’s life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider charitable donations to be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Meridian, MS; Meridian Community College Foundation; Lambeth House Foundation; or Trinity Episcopal Church, New Orleans.