Louis A. Poag was born November 17, 1943, in Bessemer, Alabama to Violet Lorraine Harmon Poag and Francis Eugene Poag, Sr. He attended Leland High School and played various sports including track, basketball, and football where he was the star kicker commonly referred to in the Leland newspaper as the “Golden Toe”. After he graduated high school, he joined the United States Navy where he worked as an Aviation Electrician and served in Puerto Rico for 2 years. He separated from the US Navy, and started work for Lockheed as an Aviation Electrician. On Oct 1, 1965, he married his late wife of 55 years, Carolyn Wolf Poag at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Greenville, Mississippi and began work as a telephone lineman with Bell-South. During this time, he raised four children, Angela, Brian, Lorie, and Timmy with Carolyn. Later in his career he worked for AT&T as a PBS Long Distance technician. In his spare time, he was a handyman of all sorts. He worked diligently aroundand outside the house to ensure that it was always maintained in working order. He rebuilt the carport roof and the swimming pool fence after a tornado. Louis and his son Brian restored a Mustang engine for his daughter and occasionally let both daughters, Angela and Lorie drive his 1969 Ford Bronco. He enjoyed hunting for wild duck, deer, squirrel and dove with his sons Brian and Timmy and his brother-in laws and their sons. While hunting, he enjoyed listening to and continuing to spread the tall tales of the Yalobusha River as told by our uncle David Reynolds, Sr. After he retired, he spent time volunteering at the church, repairing the bells, which he referred to as the “louis bells”, working on various electrical projects, and building a bookcase in the rectory in memory of his late mother. He also helped with many landscaping projects at the church. Louis enjoyed fishing, reading, and watching a lot of old westerns. He departed this life on November 28, 2024 surrounded by his family. Louis Poag was one tough badass man, and we loved him.
Louis is preceded in death by his wife Carolyn, his granddaughter, Caroline Elizabeth, and his brother Eugene Poag, Jr. He will be missed by his four children and their spouses, seven grandchildren, and his dog Little Man II. His children with spouses include, Angela Carol and Troy Nichols, Brian Louis and Melanie Poag, Lorie Ann Poag and grand-dog Miya, and Timothy Louis and Deborah Poag. Surviving grandchildreninclude Deborah Nichols, Ashleigh and Hunter Poag, Timmy, Jr., Tommy, and Logan Poag. His leaves behind his siblings, Kathleen Arnold, Glora McKay, James Poag, John Poag, and Cindi Gehrke.
A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday December 3,2024 at 11:00 AM at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in New Albany Mississippi with Father Xavier Jesuraj officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St Jude Childrens Hospital or the animal rescue/shelter/vet of your choice.
Glenfield Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the care and arrangements of Mr. Poag.
