Yorel Hale Sneed, age 91, of Memphis passed away on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at home after a short period of hospice care. There will be a celebration of his life at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 15, 2018 at Wells Station Baptist Church, Memphis, Tennessee. Pastor Danny Berryhill will officiate. Burial will follow at 2:00pm in the Mizpah Cemetery in Durant, Mississippi. Pastor David Cain will officiate. His family will welcome guests at visitation from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., March 14, 2018 at Family Funeral Care and at 9 a.m., Thursday before the service at Wells Station Baptist Church.
Yorel Hale Sneed was born February 7, 1927 at home in Pontotoc County, Mississippi to Rexford and Grace (Bryant) Sneed. He graduated from Hurricane High School and then attended Holmes Junior College. Later he took several classes in traffic and transportation coming close to a degree in intrastate law. While at Holmes Junior College, he met the only woman he would ever love, Jimmie O’Deal Cain, and waited for her to graduate from high school before they married. They were marred July 2, 1950 at Jimmie’s family home in Durant, Mississippi. For three years he taught school and served as principal in Paris and Potlockney, Mississippi. He worked in the shipping department of the Rice-Stix shirt factory in Water Valley, MS. On a whim, he and his wife decided to see if they could find jobs in Memphis where they had relatives living. In one day, Yorel found a job with Rose Warehouse where he worked for many years as a Transportation Manager. He used those skills to help Southern States Distribution get off the ground for the owner. He retired from this company. For a short time, he also had a side partnership with two other men in the JSC Dukes Cargo Company.
He was a man of character and honor. He possessed a biblical meekness; a meekness with strength under control. He loved to tease and tell stories of his youth. He served as a member and deacon of Wells Station Baptist Church. He was a 50-year member of the Desoto Lodge #299 F&AM Masonic Lodge in Memphis. He was a member of the Rocky Ford #264 Order of the Eastern Star, Etta, MS. He could be found on the golf course on many Saturday mornings.
Yorel was preceded in death by his parents and brothers; Harold, Hollis, Gerald, and J.M.
The loving survivors are: his wife, Jimmie of Memphis, His daughters and son-in-law’s; Thresea and Duane Wright of Wentworth, SD, Debbie and Mike Anderson of Bartlett, TN, Maria and Carl Mills of Memphis; a brother, Rendell (Frankie), Lafayette Springs, MS; a sister, Mary (Johnny) Burke, Potts Camp, MS; eight grandchildren, Kennley (Melissa), Janna (Zach), Andrew (Megan), Michael (Hillary), Amber, Jeremiah, Jackie, and Jaimie; fifteen great grandchildren, Emerson, Zoe, Jackson, Margaret, Layla, Brooke, Judah, Olyvia, Mason, Gabby, Isaiah, Ava, Josie, Abe, Silas.
