Charles Richard Keys

Visitation will be in the sanctuary at First Baptist Church Jackson on Wednesday, January 26th from 5pm until 8pm and Thursday, January 27th from 10am until 11am and the service to follow at 11am. Burial at Parkway Memorial Cemetery in Ridgeland.

Richard was a lifelong Mississippi resident, graduating from Clinton High School in 1973. He started playing football at age 6 which led to a successful four year career as the starting center for Mississippi State University from 1973-1976. He was named All SEC 1975 and 1976 and was inducted into the Mississippi State University Sports Hall of fame in 1994. Richard was a member of the 1978 Denver Broncos AFC Championship Team.

Richard has been a part of the Puckett Machinery family for over 28 years as an outstanding salesman with the company. He started with Puckett in January of 1982. He was also an avid hunter and outdoorsmen spending many weekends in the woods with his hunting buddies. Richard loved sports as much as hunting and especially loved coaching and watching his girls dance, play softball, and basketball over the years.

Richard had a vivacious personality that was larger than life and one of a kind. He never met a stranger! John 15:12-13 "Love each other as I have first loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." This verse sums up how Richard exemplified his Christian faith through his genuine love of doing things for others. Richard will be most remembered by his faith and love for his family.

Richard is survived by his wife Jennifer Wiggs Keys and his three daughters Carmen Keys of Jackson, MS, Shannon Keys of Baltimore, MD, and Mollie Keys of Jackson, MS. Also surviving is his mother Joyce Kirkley Keys of West Monroe, LA (formerly Magee, MS) and his sister Sheila Keys Keyes of West Monroe, LA. Richard was preceded in death by his father, Carol Ray Keys

Pallbearers will be Chad Wiggs, Matthew Wiggs, Joseph Wiggs, Jim Foshee, Will Walker, Trey Lovertich, Mark Hitt and David Stroud.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to First Baptist Church Jackson, Madison Ridgeland Academy or your church of choice .