Don Wintford Sheffield, 83, passed away on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at the Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo. He was born December 9, 1939, in Dorsey, to General Wintford “GW” and Esther Martin Sheffield. He was a graduate of I.A.H.S. in Fulton and the University of Mississippi. He received a BS, Master’s, and Specialist degrees and only needed his dissertation for a PhD. He began his teaching career in Columbus, GA. at Winterfield Elementary. He returned to Mississippi in 1965 where he served in different capacities in north Mississippi schools. These schools included Mooreville High School (teacher-coach), Corinth High School (teacher-coach), Fulton Junior High (teacher-coach, counselor), Southaven Junior High (principal), Hernando Junior High (counselor), Desoto County Alternative School (director), the University of Mississippi Evening School in Southaven (director), and Mantachie School (assistant principal, counselor). He worked four years in the private sector with Central School Supply (Jackson) and Baddour Inc. (Memphis). He served 30 years as a football radio broadcaster in Fulton and Desoto County. His last ten years of broadcasting was for I.C.C. in Fulton. He served eight years in the Mississippi National Guard and was mobilized into the U.S. Army during the 1962 riots at the University of Mississippi. He was an active church member in the places he lived, the last one being North Oxford Baptist Church. He served in the Lions and Rotary Club and served one term on the Mississippi Eye Bank board. He coached little league baseball at Dorsey, Mooreville, Fulton, and Southaven. While in college, he served as football manager at Ole Miss from 1958-1962.
Graveside services will be at the Dorsey Memorial Cemetery at a later date. It will be announced when known on this website. McNeece-Morris Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Survivors include one daughter, Dyanna Lynn Sheffield Randall (Cal) of Hernando; one son, David W. Sheffield (Molly) of Camas, Washington; five grandchildren, Dallas Randall, Dylan Randall, Dawson Sheffield, Reagan Sheffield, and Gavin Sheffield.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Iva Nell Sheffield Farris, and Gena Ann Sheffield Tanner; three brothers, Roy Dexter Sheffield, PhD, Robert Martin Sheffield, and one infant.
Memorials in Mr. Sheffield’s memory are asked to be made to your local church or food pantry.
