Elmore Greaves Jr.

Elmore Douglass Greaves, Jr., 84, died in his home at Livingston, Mississippi, on June 12, 2010. He was born on March 15, 1926, in Jackson, Mississippi. He graduated from Central High School in 1944, and immediately afterwards joined the U.S. Navy, where he was sent to the South Pacific on the U.S.S. Zaniah during World War II. He was made a rear gunner for the ship, manned a 50-caliber anti-aircraft gun, and was involved in many skirmishes with Japanese Kamikaze pilots.
After the war, he returned to Jackson and attended Millsaps College, Ole Miss, Louisiana State University, and received a law degree from the Jackson School of Law. He belonged to the Kappa Alpha order.
In his younger years he traveled extensively, exploring such places as Cuba, Haiti, Africa, the Middle East, Central America, and Asia. He also loved all things English. He traveled to the Middle East with two of his closest friends, Harvey Hutchins, and Bob Tyson, where they acquired an oil concession on a third of the Kingdom of Jordan, before a military coup ended their efforts. He would say later that the plan was to get rich quick, but instead they got poor sooner.
He and the same two friends decided to buy six cars in New Orleans, and drive and tow them through Mexico to Guatemala, in order to sell them for a large profit. At one point, the road they were on ended at a canyon, and they had to cross on a railroad bridge, hoping that the train didn't meet them head on. During their trip they survived earthquakes, bandits, a Mexican jail, and in the end, did not make a large profit.
He liked to say that he met his wife, Vary Barbour Thrower (Bobbie Greaves) on a Greek Isle, but then would explain that it was actually on an "aisle" at the Greek restaurant, Primos, in Jackson. He was so impressed with her that he immediately left for Africa, and she didn't hear from him until he returned six months later. However, they did marry after all, and moved to family land in rural Madison County where they built a concrete house, started a farm of sheep, chickens, and gladiolas, and had four hard-headed children, and one that just wants to get along. They were one of the first families in Mississippi to home school.
Politically, he was a very outspoken conservative, unaffiliated with any party, and wrote many articles and essays reflecting his belief in small government and his deep passion for the heritage of the South. He was also the U. S. representative for the World Anti-Communist League for a number of years. He loved to read, and collected thousands of books. His interests were in history, anthropology, geography, and philosophy.
Most of the early mornings of his adult life were spent in his living room, sitting in his favorite chair reading and drinking his coffee. The children were allowed to join him only if they were not too chatty, and could interpret a not-so-subtle rattle of his coffee cup to mean a refill was urgently needed. One also might be required to endure quotes from his favorite philosophers at 5:30 in the morning.
He disdained all sports and games. He would, however, correctly answer Trivial Pursuit questions loudly from across the room, while disapproving of the game itself. He never joined any local civic groups, adopting the phrase: "I do not want to be a part of any organization that would have me as a member." He attended, and loved deeply, his church, the Chapel of the Cross, in Madison, where generations of his family are buried in the churchyard. He served as lay reader and usher for many years, and as usher, he found that shaking the collection plate in front of the church-goers, particularly his friends, would often encourage a more giving heart. He also wrote many articles and short stories for the Chapel's newsletter.
He was a farmer, lawyer, entrepreneur, and oil and gas businessman. He was a true wit, practical jokester, and possessed a fundamental kindness that compelled him to aid others throughout his life. He was a believer in Jesus Christ, and was a much-loved father, husband and friend. He will be missed.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Elmore D. Greaves, Sr., and Mamie Gray Cook Greaves, and his brother, Dr. Peyton Cook Greaves. He is survived by his wife of fifty-four years, Bobbie Thrower Greaves, his sister Joyce Greaves Stewart and her husband, James Stewart; his son Arne Greaves and wife Dr. Mariana Greaves; his daughter Eleanor Greaves Sutherland and husband Dr. James Sutherland; his son Sebastian Greaves and wife Cheryl Greaves; his daughter Greta Barbour Mills, and husband John Mills; and his son Henry Greaves and wife Lisa Greaves, and sixteen grandchildren, all of Jackson and Madison. He is also survived by his nine nieces: Sadie Syer, Sarah Orecchia, Elizabeth Stewart, Mamie Gray Clark, Carlton Edwards, Delia Frazier, Bridget Wilson, Julia Reed Salter, and Katie Rozell, and numerous great-nephews and nieces and great-great nephews and nieces.
The funeral service will be held at the Chapel of the Cross, Episcopal Church, in Madison County, at 11:00 on Tuesday morning, June 15, 2010, with visitation beginning at 9:00. Sebrell Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.