Doyle Wayland “Bud” Ferrell, formerly of Belmont, MS passed away Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at Highpoint Health-Sumner (formerly Sumner Regional Medical Center) in Gallatin, Tennessee after a brief illness. He was 94 years old.
Bud was born June 28, 1929, in Franklin County, AL and grew up in the Pogo community. After graduating from Red Bay High School he worked various jobs in Louisville, Kentucky, and Zion, Illinois, before returning to Tishomingo County to work for Blue Bell in Belmont.
In 1956 he married the love of his life, Doris Jean Byram Ferrell. He spent ten years with the Mississippi Highway Patrol before becoming an ordained minister in 1965. He and Jean lived for a short time in Forest, Mississippi, before returning to northeast Mississippi to raise their family. Over the years Bud served as pastor of Atwood Baptist Church in Franklin County, Alabama and numerous churches in Northeast Mississippi, including Burnsville First Baptist Church; Burton Baptist Church; and in and around Booneville, Calvary Baptist Church, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Piney Grove Baptist Church, and Crestwood Baptist Church. Bud returned to Burnsville First Baptist to serve as interim pastor before retiring permanently in 2017.
Bud grew up doing farmwork that gave him a lifelong love for all things agriculture and a deep and abiding respect for farmers. He worked for nearly 30 years, first as an enumerator and then as a supervisor, for the Northeast Mississippi region of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), a job he loved because it allowed him to visit farms all over North Mississippi. Jean often accompanied him as he traveled across the region to conduct survey interviews with farmers.
Over the course of his life Bud enjoyed numerous hobbies, including singing in gospel quartets, listening to many different kinds of music, reading, gardening, crocheting, traveling across the U.S. by car, studying history, and staying abreast of current events. Deeply patriotic, Bud taught his children to think for themselves and to always vote. He taught by example the importance of being open-minded and accepting of everyone. Most importantly, he taught his family about the love of God and exemplified unconditional love.
Visitation will be Tuesday, May 7, 5- 8 p.m. at Deaton Funeral Home, Belmont, MS and on Wednesday, May 8, with a service celebrating his life beginning at 1 p.m. Rev. Anthony Welch and Nicholas Phillips will be officiating. Burial will be in Lindsey Cemetery, Dennis, MS. Deaton Funeral Home, Belmont, MS will be in charge of arrangements.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 68 years, Doris Jean Ferrell; daughters Anita Ruth Ferrell (Steven) Stevens and Elizabeth Leigh Ferrell; grandchildren Brian and Lindsey Stevens and John (Lindsey) Ferrell and Katey Ruth (Tyler) Turner; great-grandchildren Ryleigh Jean Ferrell and Heath, Heidi Kate and Hadley Ruth Turner; seven much-loved nieces and nephews along with their spouses, children and grandchildren; and numerous cousins.
Bud was preceded in death by his parents, Everett Lercy and Sarah Ann Morning Christina Ferrell; son, Robert Doyle Ferrell; an infant brother, Junior Ferrell; brother, Euell Wayne Ferrell and sister, Ella Mary Ferrell McAnally Helton.
Memorials to the memory of Doyle W. Ferrell may be made to the HOPE Family Health Assistance Fund to help patients address one-time financial needs such as co-pay or prescription costs, food or housing insecurity, utilities, transportation needs and more, by donations to HOPE Assistance Fund, HOPE Family Health, 1124 New Highway 52 E, Westmoreland, TN 37186.
