William Edgar Pickett

Eddie Pickett of Madison died peacefully on April 24, 2015, at the age of 65, at St. Dominic’s Hospital of Jackson, surrounded by his wife of almost forty years, Kathy Pickett, and his daughters, Kaytie Pickett and Tallie Pickett Anderson. Eddie was born in Mississippi County, Arkansas but moved to Mantachie, Mississippi when he was a small child, and then to Louisville, Mississippi as a boy. Eddie preferred the golf course or the woods to the classroom, but he graduated from Louisville High School in 1967. He thoroughly enjoyed his one year at East Central Community College and one year at Mississippi State.

Soon thereafter Eddie began working for Illinois Central Railroad, where he was respected for his sharp wits, his cool under pressure, and his good humor. He was promoted to management and retired as a track supervisor after 42 loyal years of service.

Eddie met Kathy in 1972, when Kathy was just 15 (but, Eddie maintained, “very mature”). They married in 1975 and raised their two girls together in Madison in a home full of affection. Eddie was extremely proud of his daughters and his young grandchildren, Harry Hayslett and Blythe Anderson, and told them (and everyone else) so constantly.

Eddie was a scratch golfer, an avid outdoorsman and hunter, a fine grower of tomatoes, but above all else, a sweet man. He will be terribly missed by his wife, children, grandchildren, son-in-law Dr. Drew Hayslett, sister-in-law Diane Pickett, step-sister Judy LaChance, niece Denise Hepp, nephews, Darrin and Dale Pickett, all of their families, innumerable cousins, aunts, and uncles, and his many dear friends. His brother, Jimmy Pickett, his father, James Pickett, and his mother, Alloyce Simpson, predeceased him.

A memorial service will be held at St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church on April 28, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will precede the service and begin at 9:00 a.m. at the church. The family asks that donations be made to St. Matthew’s in lieu of flowers.