Paul Townsend

Paul Sherrod Townsend III, retired farmer and businessman, died peacefully Sunday, February
9, 2025. Born November 29, 1945, to Paul Sherrod Townsend, Jr. and Alice Dunn Townsend,
Paul was raised in Belzoni, Mississippi. He attended Belzoni Elementary and High Schools and
graduated from Marion Military Institute in Marion, Alabama. He attended Mississippi State
University and Mississippi College. Paul was a member of the Army Reserve and served
a tour of duty in Vietnam.
Paul married Jan Childress of Water Valley, Mississippi in 1969. They had two sons, Paul IV
and Jason.
Paul was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Belzoni where he served as a deacon and
later an elder. Paul was an Eagle Scout and served many years as Scout Master for Troop
91 Boy Scouts of America and guided numerous boys to attain their rank of Eagle Scout.
He served on the board of directors of Chickasaw Council of Boy Scouts of America. He served
on the board of directors for Guaranty Bank for twenty-five years. Paul was an avid hunter,
outdoorsman and collector.
Paul is survived by his wife of 55 years Jan Childress Townsend; his sons, Paul Sherrod
Townsend, IV and his wife Valerie of Indianola, Mississippi and Rodney Jason Townsend of
Henderson, Nevada; his granddaughter Mollie Neal Townsend; his mother Alice Townsend; and
his brother Huey Townsend.
Paul is preceded in death by his father Paul Sherrod Townsend, Jr.