Joseph Lamar Maxwell Jr.

Joseph Lamar Maxwell Jr. was born on April 20, 1935, in a small house on Shaw Avenue in Drew, Mississippi. He departed this world for eternal life on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, after a brief battle with cancer.

Throughout his life, Lamar never ceased to speak fondly of growing up in Drew. In Drew he met and married his first wife, Patricia Henderson Maxwell; cut his teeth in the insurance business with his father, Lamar Sr.; and learned to duck hunt, his single-most enjoyed recreation until the age of 80.

Lamar's maternal grandfather pastored the First Methodist Church in Drew; meanwhile, his father was a long-time member of First Baptist Church in Drew. To satisfy his mother and father, their oldest child and only son was infant baptized by the local Methodists and believer baptized by the local Baptists. Eventually, Lamar became a member of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Mississippi.

Lamar cherished his years attending the Drew school system, often saying that there seemed to be something special in the water in the town's schools that he and his friends were privileged to attend.

At the University of Mississippi, Lamar pledged Sigma Chi. He graduated in 1957.

After college, Lamar proudly served his country for six years as an Air Force Intelligence Officer with the National Security Agency.

Upon returning home, Lamar went to work with F.W. Williams State Agency for the USF&G Insurance Company, eventually becoming a partner. He later was founder and president of Alliance General Agency based in Ridgeland, Mississippi.

Wherever he went and whomever he was with, Lamar was an upbeat, charming and positive presence. He was a natural-born conversationalist who never forgot a name. For that matter, he just about remembered every person he ever met, every place he ever visited, and every event from childhood through adulthood.

Though his life, Lamar enjoyed several past times, including golfing, traveling, and hunting locally and abroad. He made many trips to shoot with Holland & Holland in England, to goose hunt in Canada, to dove hunt in South America, and to pheasant hunt in Kansas.

But he held the greatest affection for Float Road Hunting Club north of Greenwood, Mississippi, where he, his sons, and his friends spent many a successful day in a duck blind.

Additionally, Lamar was very involved in training labradors and competing with them in national field trials around the nation. Lamar also enjoyed tracing his Scottish ancestry and took several trips to Scotland. Another great joy for Lamar was watching his five grandchildren play sports and perform theatrically.

Lamar is survived by his wife, Lounette; his two sons, Joe (Rosanne) and Jim (Lynn); his five grandchildren Joseph (Regan), Turner, Duncan (Sarah Martin), Rose, and Dolph; his four great-grandchildren, Marie, Jovy, Violet, and Jesse; and his extended family of three step-children and five step-grandchildren.

A graveside service for family will be held at the the Drew, Mississippi cemetery on Monday, October 26.

Memorial donations may be made to the following: First Presbyterian Church, 1390 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39202; French Camp Academy, 1 Fine Place, French Camp, MS 39745-9989; or the University of Mississippi School of Insurance, Business Alumni Chapter, P.O. Box 1848, 253 Holman Hall, University, MS 38677.