C. Hiram Walters

C. Hiram Walters, 73, of Brandon, MS passed away on Saturday, May 29, 2010 at home after a long courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Visitation will be held on Monday, May 31, 2010 from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. at Wright & Ferguson at 350 High Street, Jackson, MS. The funeral will be held at First Baptist Church, Jackson, MS on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. with visitation at 10:00 A.M. Burial will be at Parkway Memorial Cemetery, Ridgeland, MS.
Hiram was reared in Scott County, MS. He graduated from Harperville High School in 1954 and went on to attend East Central Junior College. He graduated from Mississippi State University in 1958 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Upon graduating, he married the love of his life, Charlotte Sue Dry, of Hillsboro, MS in Scott County. This Memorial Day marks the 52nd year of their precious marriage. Hiram joined Entergy in 1958 as a cadet engineer for Entergy Mississippi, Inc. (formerly Mississippi Power & Light Company). After a short period in engineering, he moved to the field sales organization and held positions in all business segments of the sales organization.
In 1967, Mr. Walters was promoted to local manager at Belzoni with responsibilities for both business office and distribution operations in the area. In 1969, he moved to Greenville as assistant division manager and in 1971 moved to Grenada for an eight-year period as division manager of the North Central Division. In 1979, he moved to Jackson as Director of Distribution Operations and in 1981 was promoted to Director of Division Operations. In 1984, he was promoted to Vice President Customer Service for MP&L.
When Entergy first began consolidation of processes and procedures in the distribution business in 1991, Walters moved to the newly established position in the distribution headquarters in Little Rock, as Senior Vice President Customer Service, ESI.
In 1993, he assumed the position of Vice President of the GSU merger and establishment of geographic regions across the system; he was named Vice President of Central Region, covering the area of North Louisiana and South Arkansas. In 1997, he began the role of Vice President Customer Service, responsible for the customer service managers, customer relations and economic development for the system until he retired in 1999 at the age of 62.
Mr. Walters' activities included the following: Member Board of Directors of Enterprise Corporation of the Delta, Registered Professional Engineer in MS, The Downtown Exchange Club of Jackson, Member EEI Customer Service Operations Task Force, Past United Way Board of Directors, Past Monroe-West Monroe Chamber of Commerce Board. Past President Jackson MS Exchange Club, Past President Grenada MS Rotary Club, Past President Grenada MS Chamber of Commerce, Willow Wood Development Board, Deacon First Baptist Church, MS Board Member for Palisades Homeowners Association, Board Member for MS Economic Development Foundation, Hall of Fame for First Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir.
His parents, Joseph Clyde Walters and Bertha Marie Guthrie Walters, preceded Mr. Walters in death.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Charlotte Sue Dry Walters of Brandon, children Dianna Walters Garrick (Danny) of Memphis, TN, Vickie Walters Driskell (Glenn) of Brookhaven MS and Elizabeth Walters Ray (Holmes) of Madison, MS; grandchildren, Allen Elizabeth Stanford, Martha Claire Garrick, Hannah Marie Driskell, Caroline Roper Driskell, Joseph Alford Driskell, and Hayden Elizabeth Ray.
One sister, Hilda Jo Walters Woods and two brothers, Kermit Walters and Kenneth Walters, also survives Mr. Walters.
Mr. Walters is also survived by numerous loving nieces and nephews who will miss him dearly.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society in his honor.