Dr. Thomas Terrell Tisdale
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 26, at the Main Street Baptist Church in Hattiesburg for Dr. Thomas Terrell Tisdale, 86, of Hattiesburg who died on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. Rev. David Rogers and Rev. Kenny Morris will officiate with burial to follow in Salem Baptist Church cemetery in Collins. Serving as pallbearers will be his grandsons Reese and Grayson Tisdale, Ron Walker, Mike Nunes, Petey Barnett and Chuck Blackwell.
Dr. Tisdale was born on March 22, 1937, in Ellisville to William Earl and Agnes Robinson Tisdale. He was a graduate of Jones County Agricultural High School, Jones County Junior College and the University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned his bachelor's, master’s and doctorate degrees. He served his country for eight years while performing his duties in the United States Army National Guard.
He began his 42-year career at Ellisville Elementary School and in 1960 began a long tenure at JCJC. He served as Dean of Men and assistant to the president, before being selected JCJC president in 1970. He retired as president in 1997 and was recognized by the Mississippi Legislature for his many years of distinguished service in Mississippi higher education. After retirement, he continued to serve in higher education as an adjunct professor at USM and William Carey University.
Terrell was a member of and served on the board of a number of organizations, including The Lions Club, Boy Scouts of America Board, Phi Theta Kappa, Omicrom Delta Kappa, Mississippi Junior College Association, and Laurel Community Concert Association. He served on the Pine Belt Waste Management Board and Family YMCA Board. Dr. Tisdale was inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame at both JCJC and USM. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Ellisville for many years, and after moving to Hattiesburg following retirement, he joined Main Street Baptist Church.
Terrell married Martha Rogers in 1969 and they had one son, James Terrell, who works with the College of Business at USM. James is married to the former Heather Hornischer and they have three children, Thomas Reese, George Grayson and Margaret Ansley.
Terrell was preceded in death by his parents; sister Earlene; brother Bill and George; nephews Wallace and Ricky Tisdale; and niece Kaye Tisdale.
He is survived by his wife Martha; son Dr. James Terrell (Heather) Tisdale; three grandchildren; and a number of cousins.
Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Main Street Baptist Church in Hattiesburg.
Jones and Son Funeral Home of Moselle is in charge of services.
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