William Gresham Jr.

Funeral services for William Walton "Bill" Gresham, Jr., age 84, of Indianola will be 3:00 p.m., Thursday, February 25, 2010, at the First United Methodist Church, Indianola because of renovations at his church, First Baptist of Indianola.
He died Tuesday, February 23, 2010, at South Sunflower County Hospital in his beloved hometown of Indianola, Mississippi. Interment will follow in the Indianola City Cemetery. Boone-Card Funeral Home is in charge of all services.
Mr. Gresham was born on January 20, 1926 to William Walton and Georgia Duncan Gresham in Indianola. He lived in Indianola all of his life except for the time he served his country as a member of the United States Navy during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He was a leader in community and civic affairs, not only in Indianola but throughout the state.
Mr. Gresham was a former member of the Naval Reserve and in 1950 transferred to the Mississippi National Guard. He became a second lieutenant in the 31st Infantry "Dixie" Division. In 1951, he was called to active duty during the Korean Conflict. He retired as a Brigadier General from the National Guard and in 1980, the Mississippi Army National Guard promoted him to Major General.
General Gresham was a graduate of Indianola High School, attended Millsaps College and Tulane University and graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1948. He was past president of Gresham Petroleum Company and Gresham Service Stations and was a past board member of Double Quick, Inc. and Delta Terminal, Inc. In addition to his business accomplishments, he devoted much of his life to public service.
General Gresham was a past president of Delta Council, Indianola Chamber of Commerce, Mississippi Petroleum Marketers Association, and the Mississippi Propane Gas Association. He was a past board member of the National Propane Gas Association and Petroleum Marketers of America Association, both in Washington D.C.
Some of his other accomplishments include serving as chairman of the Mississippi Economic Council, past board member of the Trustees of Mississippi College, past member of the the Mississippi Ethics Commission, past president of the Indianola Rotary Club, and past president of the Indianola Country Club. He served as a chairman of the Mississippi Gaming Commission and was a founding member of The Delta Wildlife Association. He was a past director of the Ole Miss Alumni Association and past board member of the University of Mississippi Foundation. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
General Gresham was very proud that he had been honored by being inducted in the University of Mississippi Alumni Hall of Fame, that he was an Eagle Scout and member of the Chickasaw Council, Boy Scouts of America, and that he was an executive board member and past president of the 31st Infantry "Dixie" Division Society. He was also very honored when he was named "Citizen of the Year" by the Indianola Chamber of Commerce in 1998.
He was a faithful and devout member of the First Baptist Church in Indianola, where he had served as a deacon. Due to renovations at his church, visitation and services will be held at the First United Methodist Church.
He leaves his wife of 61 years, the former Ann Hopkins of Gulfport; 2 daughters, Gayle Henry (Michael) of Natchez and Susan Kay (Bob) of Austin, TX; 2 sons, Walton Gresham (Laura) and Tom Gresham ( Louise) all of Indianola; a sister, Georgia Ann Gresham McPherson; a nephew, Bill McPherson (Draughon); three nieces, Janet Webb, Kathy Gibson (Nelson), and Duncan MacNealy (Bradly); 11 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
A visitation will be held 1:00 - 2:30 p.m., Thursday, February 25, in Newman Hall of the First United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 366, Indianola, MS or the Indianola Academy, P.O. Box 967, Indianola, MS or a charity of the donor's choice.
The family would also like to recognize and thank Mr. Gresham's caregivers, Kathy Scott, Deborah Bolden, Louise Frison, Daisy Joiner, and Virgie Walker.