Billy E. Hutto Sr.

Billy E. Hutto, Sr., 89, the long-time owner of Hutto’s Home and Garden Center, Inc., passed away peacefully after a short illness on June 4, 2023. Mr. Hutto was born in Clara, Mississippi on May 31, 1934, to W.E. “Shorty” Hutto and Delilah Mills Hutto. Mr. Hutto was proud of his Wayne County roots, where he learned the value of hard work.

Mr. Hutto graduated from Mississippi State University in 1955 with a degree in Agriculture. During his senior year at Mississippi State, he married the love of his life, Bessie Ruth Hutto. On their honeymoon, they attended the first of many Mississippi State football games they would attend over their 59 years of marriage. Mr. Hutto was a lifelong supporter of Mississippi State Athletics and was one of the original members of the Bulldog Club.

Mr. Hutto began his career at the Clarke County Co-op in Quitman, Mississippi. He moved to Jackson in 1966, where he accepted a job with MFC Services. He later became the manager of the Hinds County Co-op in Raymond and Utica, Hinds Nursery and Garden Center, Inc. in Jackson and Vicksburg Limestone Company in Vicksburg. He purchased Hinds Nursery and Garden Center, Inc., in the late 1970’s from the Hinds County Co-op, changed its named to Hutto’s Home and Garden Center, Inc., in 1984, and owned it until his death. Mr. Hutto had a unique and innovative business mind. Over the years, he developed many successful lawn and garden products, including his most recent one, Mama Hutto’s Bedding Mix.

Mr. Hutto was first and foremost a family man, a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a long-time member of Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson, and more recently St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Brandon.

Mr. Hutto is survived by his sons, Billy E. Hutto, Jr. (Debbie), and D. Mitchell Hutto; his daughter, Cindy Hutto Spencer (Jim); his grandchildren, Brad M. Hutto (Maren), Blake E. Hutto, Kimbrell Spencer Evans (Erick), Emily Hutto Jeter (Brett), Molly Hutto, Carrie Hutto Taylor (Johnny), and Olivia Hutto; his great grandchildren, McKinley Marie Hutto, Mary Marshall Hutto, Anna Spencer Evans, Hutton Ruth Evans, James Hamilton Jeter, Lilah Grace Jeter, and Anne Elisabeth Jeter; and many nieces and nephews, all of whom he loved dearly. His parents; his wife, Bessie Ruth Hutto; and his grandson, Jacob Hutto “Jake” Spencer, predeceased him.

The family will have a private graveside service on June 7, 2023. Memorials may be made to St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Brandon or Clara First Church of God in Clara, Mississippi.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.parkwayfuneralhomeridgeland.com for the Hutto family.