John R. Newell Jr.

Visitation will be 4:00-7:00pm, Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl. Funeral services are 11:00am, Wednesday, February 25, 2015 in the funeral home chapel. Graveside services will be held at 2:00pm, Sunday, March 1, 2015 in the Silver Cross Cemetery, Tallulah.

He was born Monday, January 21, 1929 in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, a son of the late John R. Newell, Sr. and Emma Ruth Wallace Newell.

Mr. Newell was a charter member of McLaurin Heights Baptist Church in Pearl and a veteran of the U.S. Army having served in the Korean War. He worked as a painter/contractor for many years, faithfully providing for his family. He enjoyed spending time outdoors, particularly hunting, fishing and gardening. A true "storyteller", Mr. Newell will be fondly remembered for the entertaining and descriptive ways he could relate stories of his life.

Survivors include his wife, Irma Jean Newell; daughters, Linda Walker and Shirley Tansy; son, John DeWayne Newell; brother, Albert Newell; sisters, Carolyn Boutwell and Katie-Ruth Boyte; grandchildren, Tricia Lease, Brad Scott, Jennifer Chaney, Chris Walker, Christina Walker, Amanda Newell, Austin Newell, Justin Newell and Nathan Newell; and great-grandchildren, Ty Chaney, Jasper Chaney, Talullah Majewski and Jason Walker.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by siblings, Lucille Lemon, Ella Marshall, Frances Hoyle, Charles Edward Newell and Nell Bryant.