Bernard Waites

1935 - 2023

Bernard Waites was born July 12, 1935, in Ringgold, Louisiana, and passed peacefully on February 23, 2023, at his home in the community of Buffalo near Woodville, Mississippi. Bernard, the fifth child and fourth son of Ola D. Hay Waites and William Martin Van Buren “Vander” Waites, grew up on a farm in Ringgold, Louisiana.

At the invitation of a neighbor, his family attended a “tent meeting” of the Church of Christ. At age fifteen, Bernard was baptized into Christ, and by the time he graduated from Ringgold High School in 1955, he was already practicing his decision to serve the Lord.

After high school, Bernard attended Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas. While at Harding, Bernard met and married Silvia Maxine Hager on January 26, 1959. In March 1959, Bernard began ministering at the Church of Christ in Judsonia, Arkansas. In May 1959, Bernard graduated from Harding College with a major in history and a minor in Bible.

When Bernard decided he wanted to work at a different congregation, he contacted Harding College. This contact connected him with Charlie T. Netterville who was looking for a preacher for a small congregation in a rural area near Woodville, Mississippi. On a cold, icy weekend in January 1962, Bernard, Silvia, and their infant daughter, Lourelia, visited the Corinth Church of Christ near Woodville. After arriving, Bernard was informed that he was also needed to serve the Perrytown Church of Christ in the Perrytown community. Bernard accepted the job and returned to Arkansas to prepare for the move to the Buffalo Community. Bernard and his family arrived in late January 1962.

To supplement his income, Bernard agreed to teach high school history at Woodville Attendance Center and drive a school bus. In the late sixties, Bernard was elected Wilkinson County Superintendent of Education, a position he held for eight years. After he left political office, Bernard served as a headmaster at Pine Hills Academy in Gloster, Mississippi, for two years. Bernard then returned to the classroom at Wilkinson County Christian Academy to teach high school social studies and bible. At WCCA, Bernard initiated and coordinated an early spring trip each year for 11th and 12th grades so that each student could visit the nation’s capital. With the help of parents and many anonymous donors, these trips continue until the present.

In 2003, Bernard was initiated into the Mississippi Hall of Fame and recognized by the Mississippi Economic Council’s M.B. Swazye Educational Foundation for being chosen by his students as Star Teacher for ten years. In 2007, Bernard was elected to Alumnus of the Year for the College of Bible and Religion at Harding University.

Loving to travel, Bernard visited all fifty states and many foreign countries. He held gospel meetings in Louisiana, Arkansas, California, St. Vincent, West Indies, India and the Philippines.

In the fifty-four years of service at Perrytown and Corinth Churches of Christ, there are no written records of baptisms and weddings performed or funerals held in which Brother Waites officiated.

Until his body and health started to decline, Bernard enjoyed gardening, hunting, fishing, playing cards, dominoes, cooking, and visiting with people in the community. Even after his health declined, he would ride his electric chair wherever he needed to go.

Bernard, by the grace of God, was put in a place that was special to him and many lives in Wilkinson County, Southwest Mississippi, and around the globe were touched. To quote him,

“When the Lord calls me home, and I leave in the pine box, it will be from Buffalo.”

Bernard was preceded in death by his parents, Vander and Ola D. Hay Waites; brothers Tommy Waites, Huey Waites, and Pete Waites; sister Lila Smith; and son-in-law Roger Colvin. He is survived by his wife of 64 years Silvia Hager Waites; and his children, Lourelia Alice Waites Pryor and husband David of Clinton, Mississippi; LaDonna Sue Waites Crotwell and husband Tony, of Pelahatchie, Mississippi; and Van Voss Waites and wife Shelby, of Madison, Mississippi; grandchildren, Jonathan Colvin and wife Hannah of Olive Branch, Mississippi; Beth Anne Colvin Travis and husband Chris of Bryant, Arkansas; Eric Nicholas Crotwell of Pelahatchie, Mississippi; Victoria Crawford Griffin and her husband, Corey of Lena, Mississippi; and Cole Avery Waites of Madison, Mississippi; 6 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Elaine Waites and a number of relatives and friends.

Visitation is Saturday, February 25, 2023, at Corinth Church of Christ, 1754 Buffalo Road, Woodville, Mississippi, from 10:00 A.M. until time of funeral services at 2:00 P.M. Saturday at the church, officiated by Bro. Jonathan Colvin.

Interment services will be Sunday, February 26, 2023, at 2:00 P.M. at Providence Cemetery in Ringgold, Louisiana under the direction of Rockett Funeral Home, Ringgold, LA

Pallbearers are Austin Cavin, Wayne Johnson, Hunter Howell, Howard Netterville, Clifton Torrey, and Carl Walker.

Honorary Pallbearers are Dudley Carter, Ralph Carter, Bobby Johnson, and Eugene Pritchard Jr.