William Richard Newman III

Richard graduated from Murrah High School in 1957 and continued his studies at the University of Mississippi, where he received his BBA in 1960 and his MBA in 1961. At Ole Miss, he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. In honor of his father, he and his sisters established the Newman Scholarship at Ole Miss. Additionally, he was the founding Chairman of the Campaign for Ole Miss and a Director of the Ole Miss Alumni Association and the Ole Miss Foundation. Richard was a Mississippi Air National Guard member from 1961 to 1967.

Richard began his professional career with Deposit Guaranty Bank in 1961 until he joined Standard Life Insurance Company in 1964. He served as President and CEO of Standard Life from 1971 until 1986. He was elected to the Board of Directors of Deposit Guaranty Bank and was a member of the Executive Committee from 1972 until 1999. From 1977 to 1986, he was Chairman of the Board of Capitol Broadcasting Company (WJTV, WSLI, WXLY – Jackson, MS; KKTV – Colorado Springs Co; KNAZ-TV, Flagstaff, AZ). He was a Director of Mississippi Valley Title Company and President of Life Insurance Association of Mississippi. He served as a Director, as well as President of J.A. Bentley Lumber Company and Bentley Glenmora Lands, Alexandria, LA, from 1977 to 2021.

During his career, he was also very active with numerous community and civic organizations. He served as Director, President, or Trustee of the following: MS Baptist Health System, Regions Bank Foundation, Hinds Community College Foundation, Dixie National Association, Goodwill Industries, YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts, Red Cross, Junior Achievement, Jackson Symphony Orchestra Association, Jackson Chamber of Commerce, United Givers Fund, MS Museum of Art and Harbor House.

The Newcomen Society in North America selected Richard as Honoree for the state of Mississippi in 1972. He was also chosen as the Ole Miss MBA Alumni of the Year. Richard loved his Lord and worshipped at First Baptist Church of Jackson, where he was a Life Deacon and a member of the Capital Funds Drive.

Richard was a friend to all who knew him and deeply loved his family and friends. He was an avid reader and outdoorsman. He enjoyed playing bridge and loved fly fishing all over North and South America with his close fishing buddies.

Richard met his lifelong love, Nancy Mize, in 1955 on the Mississippi Youth Tour, and they married on June 6, 1961. He and Nancy enjoyed 63 years of marriage full of travel, dining, reading on the beach, and time with family.

He is preceded in death by his daughter, Nan Merrell. He is survived by his wife Nancy; his son Richard Newman IV (Mary Nell); sisters Barbara Kroeze and Carolyn McIntyre (John); grandchildren Bentley Harrison (Reid), Avenell Ferguson (Brent), Miles Merrell, Richard Newman V, and great-grandchild Chloe Harrison.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Dorthy Jones for her loving care of Richard.

A visitation for Richard will be held Thursday, August 1, 2024, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at Parkway Funeral Home & Parkway Memorial Cemetery, 1161 Highland Colony Pkwy, Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157, followed by a funeral service at 1:00 PM. Memorials may be given to Mission First or Lottie Moon at First Baptist Church of Jackson, P.O. Box 250, Jackson, Mississippi 39205.