Billy Kendall McPhail

Billy Kendall McPhail passed away peacefully at home in Edinburg MS on May 1, 2024.  Bill is survived by wife Charlotte Perry McPhail, brother Gary McPhail, sister-in-law, Jane McPhail, and six nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, W.C. “Billy” McPhail and Mary Louise Freeny McPhail, grandparents Edwin “Ed” Freeny, Mary Lula Holly Freeny, Roy L. McPhail, and Winnie Jeffie Scott McPhail. 

Bill was born on December 4, 1933, in Leake County, Ms.  and was a member of Ebeneezer Primitive Baptist Church.

He graduated from Madden High School, East Central Jr. College, University of Southern Ms. and Mississippi State University with a Master of Education and an Educational Specialist Degree.

Bill worked 30 years in social work, public assistance, rehabilitation services and division of the blind while also maintaining a small cattle operation. He also served as a state hearing officer for 23 counties in Mississippi, county Welfare director in Leake County, and regional public assistance supervisor.

He graduated from the army language school in Monterey California where he studied Russian Language, and later completed the voice intercept school in Devins Massachusetts before being assigned to duty in Japan, where he served 18 months as a voice intercept operator and translator.

As a young lad, he enjoyed shucking and shelling the corn which he placed on the ground slide, hooked up his mule, “Jim”, and carried it across the creek to be ground into corn meal. He worked his first cotton crop at age 13 on his papa Ed Freeny’s place.

Visitation was held at Wilcox Funeral home in Carthage, MS on Friday May 3 from 5-8pm with funeral services at Wilcox on Saturday, May 4 at 11am.