Billy Gene Tolbert

SERVICES:  FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 201211:00 A. M.MCCLAIN-HAYS CHAPELVISITATION:  THURSDAY,JANUARY 12, 20124:00 - 8:00 P. M.INTERMENT:  EASTLAWN CEMETERYOFFICIATING:  REV. FRED BRITTONREV. LAVELLE WOODRICK Mr. Tolbert, 81, of Philadelphia, died Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian. He was a native and lifelong resident of Philadelphia, MS.  He graduated from Philadelphia High School in 1949 where he played basketball.  He married Helen Burgin Tolbert in 1950 who preceded him in death in 2010.  He established the first used car dealership in Philadelphia in 1950.  He purchased the Chevrolet-Oldsmobile franchise in 1965 in Philadelphia and in 1969 moved it to its current location.  In 1982, he added the Buick & Pontiac franchise to the dealership.  Mr. Tolbert served on the board of Mississippi Automobile Dealers Association for four years.  In 2002, he was named as the TIME Magazine Mississippi Auto Dealer of the Year.  He attended First United Methodist Church in Philadelphia.  He was a member of the Philadelphia Rotary Club.  Mr. Tolbert was a longtime member and past president of the Philadelphia Country Club, where he co-founded the annual 4-Ball Tournament.  He loved all sports whether he was participating or just watching. Survivors include one daughter, Tammy Tolbert Tawater and her husband, George; two sons, Gene Tolbert and his wife, Rhonda, and Robert Tolbert and his wife, Cathy, all of Philadelphia; seven grandchildren, Robin Tolbert McClellan of Philadelphia, Leah Tolbert of Jackson, Katy McClenahan of Birmingham, AL, Taylor McClenahan of Philadelphia, Cody Tawater of Hattiesburg, Jill Tolbert Luber of Alpharetta, GA and Cameron Tawater of Grenada; and four great-grandchildren, Burgin McClellan, Byron McClellan, Molly Luber and Mac Luber.Pallbearers were Randy McClellan, Mark Luber, Cameron Tawater, Cody Tawater, Taylor McClenahan and Hoot Tingle. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to your charity of choice.