Mr. Ronald Haynes Drungole

Ronald Haynes Drungole was born on November 3, 1955, a twin whose brother Roland was born seven minutes earlier. His assignment on earth was completed October 22, 2025.
Ronald confessed Christ at an early age at Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church, Starkville and chose to stay with the lineage of his grandfather who was a Methodist Minister. It is so befitting that his final rites would be held at St. Stephen, the church that was founded by his great, great grandfather, Oren Russell. While living in the Delta, Ronald often worshipped at the Rollins U. M. Church in Tutwiler.
Affectionally known by family as "Ronnie" he was one of a kind----friendly, humorous, someone who never met a stranger. Ronald accumulated various Pseudo names as he traveled through this journey. The friends in the "Hills" meaning the Starkville-Golden Triangle area called him "Trapper". The friends in the "Flat Lands" meaning the Delta area (Webb, Drew, Tutwiler, Sumner, Clarksdale) called him "Cigar".
Ronald attended his first years of school at Oktibbeha Webster School and the last two years of high school in Lexington, MS receiving his high school diploma from Lexington Attendance Center. It was at the school and in the community, he "almost" became "famous" when in his Senior year, he portrayed the lead character in "Purlie Victorious" a comedy play written by Ossie Davis. This award-winning original Broadway adaptation used humor as it told the story of a preacher's scheme to reclaim his family's church in the Jim Crow South. Ronnie fit the role of the preacher perfectly. He received local recognition for his performance., and His acting skills were continuously mentioned for many, many years. Certainly, the producer should have called him up when this play, which has been revived multiple times, was nominated for a Tony Award in 2023.
Ronald matriculated through various colleges, Wood Jr., (Mathiston) Northwest Jr. College (Senatobia) William Carey College and University of Southern MS (Hattiesburg) and finally found his "calling" in life after joining the United States Marines and ultimately being stationed in Fort Ord, California. Upon his Honorable Discharge, he returned to Mississippi.
Having pursued a career in Security/Public Safety, he retired as a Correctional Officer from the Mississippi State Penitentiary (Parchman). On a continuous basis, he would travel up and down Highway 82 West to East. However, he chose to remain in the "Flat Land" of the Mississippi Delta, residing in Sumner, near the Emmit Till Interpretive Center.
Ronald will be deeply missed, and his memory will be cherished by his siblings: Linda Diane Drungole, Victoria Drungole, Judge Paula Drungole-Ellis (George, Sr.), Daphanie Lee (Johnny) of Starkville, Mississippi, and Darrell Thomas of Oak Park, Illinois, two nieces, one niece-in-law, six nephews, two great-nephews; a very special friend, Barbara Ann Busby of Sumner, Mississippi, and a host of relatives and, friends.