Cleveland T. Myrick

Born in Petal, MS, on January 10, 1930, he was a long-term resident of Pearl, having lived there for 38 years, and he had also lived in Picayune from 1966-1977. Cleve was an active outdoorsman throughout his life, enjoying hunting, fishing, and sports, and he especially enjoyed activities on the family land in Choctaw County. He valued friendships and family connections, and he was a man who “never met a stranger,” loving humor, jokes, stories and good conversation. He was an active coin collector. After graduation from Petal High School in 1949, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving on the carrier USS Boxer during the Korean conflict. After his discharge from active duty in 1953, he continued service as a flight engineer in the Naval Reserve for 34 additional years, retiring in 1987 after completing literally hundreds of domestic and international flights. His work career while in the Reserve and after included positions at the NASA test facility with several contractors, and he retired from extended service with Shell Oil in 1992. Cleve was a long-time member of First Baptist Church, Pearl, where he served on various committees and on the Board of Deacons.

Cleve is survived by his wife of 59 years, Sarah Mildred Hopkins Myrick, and three children – daughter Pamela Myrick Mottley (Thomas Richardson) of Hattiesburg, sons Joe Myrick (Melinda), and Tommy Myrick, both of Pearl; two grandchildren, Erin and Oren Myrick, both of Pearl; two sisters, Gloria Fore (Bill), Mary Yeager (Danny), a brother, Jerry Myrick (Nancy); and a sister-in-law, Maurine H. McIntosh. He was “Uncle Sonny” to numerous nieces and nephews and “Papa” to a number of step-children and step-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Grover C. and Selma Tullos Myrick, a brother, John Kendall Myrick, and his son-in-law, Reed R. Mottley.

Visitation will be from 5-8PM Tuesday, July 1, at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl. Services will be at 10 AM Wednesday, July 2, in the funeral home chapel with burial to follow at Floral Hills Cemetery in Pearl.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to First Baptist Church, 405 N Bierdeman Rd, Pearl, MS 39208, or to a charity of choice.