Lieutenant-Commander Maxwell Thomas Huff, United States Navy, retired, peacefully left this world on March 8, 2018, in Richland, Mississippi.

He is preceded in death by his parents Benjamin E. Huff and Jessie Pridgen Huff of Forrest County Mississippi, siblings Reba, Hilda Rae, Roy, Jewel and Mary Augusta; wife Lorraine Ricker Huff and daughter Rikki Denise. He is survived by his brother Henry Pope, his children Rebecca Ann, Michael Edward, Patricia Lynn and David Lee; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Maxwell was born January 21, 1920, in a dogtrot farmhouse in Forrest County Mississippi. He attended Forrest County Agricultural High School and later joined his siblings at Mississippi Teachers College (USM). He went on to study Civil Engineering at Mississippi State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1943. Later he attended the University of Michigan and graduated with a Masters Degree in Naval Architecture.

Throughout 1944, Max was in charge of ship repair duties aboard the Advanced Repair Dock ARD-15 in Saipan and Tinian Island, South Pacific Theatre. He later spent 28 years in the Naval Reserve in Jackson Mississippi.

He worked in the Bridge Division of the Mississippi Highway Department from 1950 through 1954, then with Michael Baker Engineering through 1964. He was Project Engineer for the Jackson International Airport in 1963 and 1964. He then went on to pursue a life as a Self Employed Consulting Civil Professional Engineer and Land Surveyor, and continued practicing until his death. He designed and developed the Mississippi State Aid Bridge Plan Standards, revised them twice in his career, and is credited with having more than 6,600 roadway bridges built according to his standard plans. He also designed numerous large bridges- both roadway and railroad- that remain as lasting monuments to his engineering creativity throughout the State of Mississippi.

Max was also very active in the local radio control model airplane community from 1975 until 2016, where he gave freely of his time and support.

The family extends its gratitude to the staffs of Plainview Assisted Living in Richland Mississippi and St. Joseph's Hospice for helping to support Max in his final year.

Maxwell's legacy is best summarized according to his own words: "I did my work for the good of the people of Mississippi as a Professional Engineer".

Arrangements are as follows: Visitation is scheduled for Wednesday, March 14, from 9 a.m. until noon at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home, 114 Burney Dr. Flowood, Mississippi 39232. A graveside service will follow shortly thereafter at Lakewood Memorial Park in Clinton Mississippi.