Walter Herbert Moore, II, 79, passed away February 4, 2019 at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo. He was born May 21, 1939 to Walter E. and Inez Phillips Moore. He graduated from Lexington High School. After graduation, he attended Mississippi State University where he earned a B.S. and an M.Ed. in mathematics and taught math and physics in several school districts in Mississippi and Georgia. He went on to earn his Ed.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi. After completing his doctorate, he was brought to the Mississippi Department of Education to provide leadership in the development of Mississippi’s special education program in implementing P.L. 94-142. In 1989, he was named Associate State Superintendent and served as interim State Superintendent in the spring of 1990. Upon retirement from the Department, he served two years as Senior Policy Analyst for the Southeast Regional Resource Center out of North Carolina. He received many honors over the course of his career including: President of the Phi Beta Kappa chapter of The University of Southern Mississippi, Pelahatchie Jaycee’s Outstanding Young Educator, Pearl Jaycee’s Outstanding Young Educator Award, Mississippi Economic Council’s Star Teacher Award, and was one of five finalists for the Title I Coordinator of the Year.
Walter enjoyed music. He earned a spot in the Mississippi Lions’ All-State Band twice in his high school career. He was a member of the Mississippi State Maroon Band for four years, and he toured for nine years with the Master’s Men Quartet of Raymond Baptist Church in Raymond, MS.
A celebration of life service will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, February 7, 2019 at McMillan Funeral Home in Booneville, MS with Dr. Mark Strum officiating. Burial will be at Booneville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo.
He is survived by his wife Dorthey Kemp Moore; a son, Walter (Candace) Moore III; two grandchildren, Thomas Moore and Kiersten (Craig) Bullock; and one great-grandchild, Callen Bullock. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Edythe McArthur.
Pallbearers are Bob Griffin, William Scott, Bill Morgan, Ken Bryant, Dr. Sean Reynolds, and Curtis Thomas. Honorary pallbearers are David West and the Berea Sunday School Class.
Visitation will be Thursday from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. at the funeral home.
