A Celebration of Life will be held for Taft Ford Little on Sunday, December 22, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Corinth, Mississippi. Dr. Nathan VanHorn will officiate the service. The family will welcome friends at a visitation to be held on Saturday, December 21, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Magnolia Funeral Home East and from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday at the church located at 501 Main Street in Corinth.
Taft Little was born on June 7, 1931, to T.A. (Arch) and Velma Kilcrease Little near Glen, Mississippi. He passed away on Friday, December 13, 2024 at the age of 93. He was the second of 11 children. He attended Glendale School through ninth grade when he began working in his dad’s sawmill. At age 19, he joined the United States Army and served 21 months of active duty as a sergeant. Taft then received his GED and enrolled at Northeast Mississippi Junior College where he drove a bus to help cover his tuition and was elected Mr. NEMJC in 1955. His first place of employment, and one he always remembered fondly, was Moses Auto Parts. In October 1955, he married Janie Bush Little and moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he was employed with W. R. Grace & Co. At the urging of several of his brothers, he returned to Corinth in 1965 as a gasoline distributor with Humble Oil Company. Taft remained in the oil and gasoline business, was president of Litco Petroleum, and owned 35 gasoline stations and convenience stores in Northeast Mississippi. He also acquired 16 Huddle House restaurants. Taft was the recipient of many awards with Humble Oil, Esso, Enco, and Exxon companies, but perhaps his most treasured award was the 50-year service award he received from Exxon in 2015. At that time, it was the longest-term award ever presented to a first generation distributor in the southeast territory. Taft was actively involved with Litco Petroleum through 2020 and still had a functioning office at the time of his death.
Taft became a member of First Baptist Church, Corinth, in 1965, and was one of her oldest members. In earlier years he served as deacon, youth boys Sunday School teacher, Royal Ambassadors leader, Sunday School director, and chairman of ushers. He was also a master at collecting contributions toward staff gifts at Christmas and ministry anniversaries and took pride in his annual presentation of the gifts. While all those roles were significant in his life, the role he loved the most was greeting children outside the nursery every Sunday. Many FBC kids fondly called him “Granddaddy” and looked for him every week.
Taft was a member of the Kiwanis Club from 1968 until his death and was the oldest living member. He spent many hours overseeing others cooking pancakes and taking up tickets at Gospel Singings. In 2018, he was selected Kiwanian of the Year by the Corinth chapter. He was also a 32nd Degree Mason and received the KCCH award in 1981.
Taft was blessed to have an employee who became his very best friend, Larry Betts. Mr. Betts spent countless hours driving Taft from place to place to conduct business and, in most recent years, driving around town to visit banks, check on rental properties, and get hamburgers from Jack’s! Mr. Betts’ relationship with Taft is a true picture of friendship and of God’s love for each of us and His willingness to provide all our needs.
Taft was preceded in death by his wife Janie Bush Little, his parents, his son-in-law Phil Mathis, and his siblings, James (Carolyn), Thurston (Helen), Bobby (Wanza), and Billy Little, Glenda Moore (Bill) and an infant sister, Neva Doris.
Taft is survived by his three children, Cindy Mathis, Ann Woodhouse (Allen), and Mark Little (Misty), his eight grandchildren, Taylor Mathis (Kellie), Ben Mathis (Casey), John Mathis (Betsy), Amy Woodhouse Richey (Jeremy), Allison Woodhouse Crutchfield (Justin), Marcus Little, Lacey Little, and William Little. He also leaves behind his eleven great-grandchildren, Morgan, Millie, Mary Phillips, and Madeline Mathis; Alexander Mathis; Luke, Ellie, and Maggie Mathis; and Conner, Mary Evelyn, and Annie Richey. He is also survived by his siblings Travis Little (Doris), Jerry Little (Joyce), Harold Little (Ann), and Peggy Wickersham and a sister-in-law Alberta Fleming. Other surviving family members include a brother-in-law W.C. “Bud” Bush (Jane) along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The family acknowledges the loving care given to Taft by Cheryl Irons, Pat Patterson, Jacqueline Burt, Ramona Reed, Janice McCarter, Gentiva Hospice, and the staff of Tishomingo Manor.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to First Baptist Church or a charity of your choice.
Magnolia Funeral Home has been honored to serve the family of Taft Ford Little.
