Rev. R. L. Tolbert

Services for Rev. R. L. Tolbert will be held Saturday, December 21, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. from New Zion United Pentecostal Church with Rev. Randall Dunaway, Rev. James Boswell, Rev. Johnny Peden, Rev. Charles Fisher, Rev. Joe Boswell, and the Mississippi UPC Representative, Rev. R. L. Bowling officiating.  Burial will follow in Henry’s Chapel Cemetery in Neshoba County.  Visitation will be held Friday, December 20, 2019, beginning at 5:00 p.m. at New Zion United Pentecostal Church.  McClain-Hays Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Rev. R. L. Tolbert, 89, of Philadelphia, died Thursday, December 19, 2019, at Neshoba County General Hospital.  He was a native of Neshoba County.  Rev. Tolbert built and pastored various churches in Mississippi until 1969, and then moved to Pine Bluff, AR, where he built and pastored White Hall United Pentecostal Church until 1986.  As he continued his ministry he moved to Broken Arrow, OK, where he built and pastored United Pentecostals of Broken Arrow until 1990; and then he moved to Grenada where he built and pastored The Pentecostals of Grenada until 1995.  The last church he built and pastored was First United Pentecostal Church of Eupora in Eupora, MS, until retirement in 2001.  He then moved back to Neshoba County. Survivors include daughters, Jane Fisher (Rev. Charles) of Greenville, MS, Dewanna Rogers (John) of White Hall, AR; son, Stanley Tolbert (Beth) of Philadelphia, MS; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; half-sister, Barbara Boswell of Philadelphia, MS; half-brothers, Joe Boswell (Loretta) of Collinsville, MS and Hilton Boswell (Carolyn) of Philadelphia, MS; and a host of nieces and nephews. Rev. Tolbert was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Alexander Tolbert; parents, Roger Tolbert and Lucille Tolbert Boswell; brothers, Norman Lane Tolbert and Jack Tolbert; and half-brother, Jimmy Boswell.  Special thanks to sister-in-law, Betty Tolbert and caretaker, Jerry Lovern; and special friends, Rev. Darren Powell and Rev. Jason Martin. Special acknowledgement to Quality Hospice Care and Neshoba General Hospital, second floor, for their care and compassion shown during Rev. Tolbert's final days.