William Robert Husbands, Jr. was called to be with Jesus on Monday, January 18, 2021. He passed away at St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital surrounded by his wife and children. He was a Christian man who lived his life with a passion for his family and the outdoors for 86 years.
Robert was born May 1, 1934 to William Robert Husbands, Sr. and Mossie Jenkins Husbands. He was a graduate of Mississippi College and spent most of his working career with Allstate Insurance Company. At the age of 20, he joined the United States Army. He honorably served as a sergeant on active duty from 5/20/54 to 5/3/57 overseas in Germany. He toured all over Europe, France, Heidelberg, Bavaria, Austria, London, Scotland and Ireland. After returning home, he entered the bank in Raymond where he was being helped by one teller, but another teller, Dorothy Sue Herron, caught his eye. They kept looking at each other while smiling and waving to each other. After dating 6 months, they got married on 11/8/57. They were married for 63 years.
Robert loved his family very much. He also loved being on the farm that began with his grandfather, William Ernest Husbands. He was a farmer, rancher, cowboy, cattleman, hunter, and fisherman on the farm. When he was young, he plowed and planted fields into the night to plant cotton and corn. His farming also provided additional income to several needy families when it came time for harvest. There were not any cotton or corn picking machines around at that time, so everything was picked by hand.
Robert enjoyed raising cattle and grew his cattle herd to 250 animals. Between mending fences, hay harvests, hauling and feeding mixed feed, plowing and planting fields, bush hogging, etc, there was always work to be done that kept him and his son busy most of the time. Robert and his son were avid outdoorsmen and loved hunting and fishing on the farm. He suffered a stroke at the age of 82 after learning of the sudden death of his oldest daughter, Brenda, resulting in severe mobility issues. He still had the desire to continue his outdoor passion. He was able to continue hunting and fishing in his favorite spots with the help from his son, Bobby.
He was preceded in death by his father, William Robert Husbands, Sr., mother, Mossie Jenkins Hus-bands, and daughter, Brenda Sue Husbands Haddon. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Dorothy Sue Husbands, son, Robert Ernest Husbands (Gail), daughter, Amy Husbands Lenoir (Chris), son-in-law, Hal Haddon, grandchildren, Jonathan Haddon (Arrie), Kimberly Haddon, William Lenoir, Willow Lenoir, and great-grandchildren, Meredith Haddon and Wilson Haddon.
Visitation will be held Saturday, January 23, 2021 at Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home in Raymond from 10-11 a.m., with a graveside service at the Utica Cemetery at 11:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations in Robert's name be made to the charity of their choice.