Kenneth Rayford Williamson

Funeral services for Kenneth Rayford Williamson will be held Friday, October 25, 2024 at 11 a.m. from First Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Tommy Jennings and Bro. Michael Hedgepeth officiating. Burial will follow in Mars Hill Methodist Cemetery in the Shady Grove Community of Neshoba County.  Visitation will be held Thursday October 24, 2024 from 5 until 8 p.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Home.

Mr. Williamson, 82 of Philadelphia died Monday, October 21, 2024.

Mr. Williamson was a native of Neshoba County and graduated from Neshoba County High School at Longino in 1960. He attended ECCC from 1960-62 and received his AS degree, he also attended MSU from 1962-64 and received his BS degree in forestry. After graduation, he took a job with the Mississippi Forestry Commission as county forester in Noxubee County for one year. With the Vietnam War at its height, Rayford felt the need serve his country and joined the U.S. Army and entered the Officers Training School and graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1966. After completion of OTS, he remained in Fort Campbell, KY as a base instructor for three years. After full time service, he continued his service with the Army reserves in the 1181st U.S. Army Deployment and Support Battalion in Meridian, MS. While serving in the Reserves, he continued his career with the Mississippi Forestry Commission and served as county forester for Kemper County for five years. In 1973 he was promoted to Assistant District Forester for the East Central District of the Mississippi Forestry Commission which is based in Philadelphia until 1998 when he was promoted to District Forester until he retired in 2001 after 37 years. During his services in the Army Reserves he was deployed during Desert Storm on several assignments serving on bases in Jacksonville, FL and Antwerp, Belgium. After serving 30 years in the Army, he retired as Full Bird Colonel in 1996.

Rayford enjoyed cattle and tree farming, harvesting his own timber many times, MSU athletics and in later years watching Fox News. He loved spending time with his family the most and traveling the country.

Mr. Williamson was a member of First Methodist Church in Philadelphia where he was very active in the church and also was a member of the choir and served as a lay delegate to the Mississippi United Methodist Conference along with serving on numerous committees. He also had been a member of Mars Hill Methodist Church and served on the Cemetery Committee for many years.

After retirement, he enjoyed working in church missions, especially serving at the Deanco Auction Concessions, being one of the original organizing members of the project.

Survivors include his wife, Janice Williamson of Philadelphia; daughters, Susan (Jimmy) Bates of Philadelphia and Stacy (Tim) Littlejohn of Eupora; grandchildren, Kayla (Jess) Brantley, John Carr (Kaysie) Bates, Anna (Mitch) Shaw and Emily (Nathan) Wilson; great-grandchildren, Frances Jane Brantley, William James Brantley and Margaret Reed Shaw; brother-in-law, Tommy (Nellie) Woodward of Philadelphia.

Mr. Williamson was preceded in death by first wife, Nina Jane Williamson; parents, Johnnie and Willie Thomas Williamson; aunt and uncle, T.S. and Eloise Pigford.