News/Events
03/03/2022 - Mississippi Chapter - Association of Consulting Foresters Winter Meeting
The Winter Meeting has been set for Thursday, March 3rd, 2022. We will be gathering again at the Farm Bureau Grill at the Mississippi Braves Stadium in Pearl. Registration will begin @ 9:00 a.m., and we hope to be wrapped up by 2:00 p.m..
OBITUARY
John G. Guthrie, MS Registered Forester #1
9/9/1925-2/4/2022
John Girard Guthrie, age 96, passed away Friday, February 4, 2022, at his residence surrounded by his family.
Mr. Guthrie was born in Deerfield, Florida on September 6, 1925. He grew up in West Lafayette, Indiana where he was an All-State football guard at West Lafayette High School. He was a trained fighter pilot and World War II Veteran of what is now the United States Air Force. Mr. Guthrie attended Purdue University where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and completed a Bachelor of Science in Forestry in 1948. At Purdue, he met the love of his life, Randalin Tuesburg and they were married in February 1949.
Mr. Guthrie’s first job upon graduation was with the Illinois Central Railroad as a forestry agent to help reforest the south. He and his wife moved to Hattiesburg, MS and brought Purdue’s prototype mechanical tree planter. Mr. Guthrie helped perfect the tree planter into what became known as the Illinois Central Tree Planter. He was nicknamed “Johnny Pinetree” as a result of his promotion of forestry and tree planting. Mr. Guthrie went on to work for Dantzler Lumber Company, moved to Wiggins in 1951, and opened what is now John G. Guthrie and Sons in1954. Mr. Guthrie was an advocate for the forestry profession and was issued Registered Forester License No. 1 in Mississippi. He served as the first chairman for the Mississippi Board of Registration for Foresters. He also served on the Mississippi Real Estate Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board and was a licensed real estate broker. He was a member of the Society of American Foresters for 73 years, a charter member of the Mississippi Association of Consulting Foresters, a past president of the Mississippi Forestry Association, and served on the board for Forestry Suppliers, Inc.
Mr. Guthrie was very active in the First United Methodist Church of Wiggins where he had 67 years of perfect attendance in Sunday School and was a member of the choir for about 60 years. He also served as a Sunday School teacher, Trustee, and was involved in many other activities.
Mr. Guthrie was a 72 year member and Past Master of J.L. Power Masonic Lodge No. 416 F. & A.M. in Perkinston, MS. He was a long-time member of Knights Templar, Scottish Rite, Miriam Chapter No. 67 Order of the Eastern Star (Past Patron), Gideons International, and Neighborhood Watchdogs (Wiggins, MS).
Mr. Guthrie was active in Boy Scouts where he received the Silver Beaver, Pine Burr, and Good Scout awards. He served as a Scout Master and was on the Pine Burr Area Council Camp Committee locating Camp Tiak in Fruitland Park. He also was on the Girl Scout Camp Committee to locate and purchase the Gulf Pine Council Camp Iti Kana.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Randalin T. Guthrie, his parents, Horatio Nelson Guthrie and Clara Girard Guthrie; two brothers, Alfred C. Guthrie and H. Nelson Guthrie, Jr; and two sisters Helen Eilar and Marjorie Lewis.
Mr. Guthrie is survived by his four children, daughter, Suzanne; three sons, John G., Jr. (Sonja), James D. (Sherrye), and Randal L. (Connie); 10 grandchildren, David (Jennifer), Anny (Jacob Dykes), Christopher, Joseph (Kharri), Samantha (John Thames), Katie (Jason Leist), Rand (Ashley), Calista (Austin Mills), Sarah, and John G., III; 20 great-grandchildren with two more on the way and a host of friends.
On Friday, February 11 a visitation will be held at Moore Funeral Home of Wiggins, MS from 5-7 p.m. Arrangements are scheduled for Saturday, February 12 at First United Methodist Church of Wiggins with visitation at 9 a.m. followed by a service at 10 a.m. Burial and Masonic Service to follow at Wiggins Cemetery. The service will be broadcast on the church’s YouTube Channel and Facebook group. Memorials are suggested to be given to Gideons International, First United Methodist Church of Wiggins, John G. Guthrie Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Bank of Wiggins, or your favorite charity.
Mr. Guthrie was born in Deerfield, Florida on September 6, 1925. He grew up in West Lafayette, Indiana where he was an All-State football guard at West Lafayette High School. He was a trained fighter pilot and World War II Veteran of what is now the United States Air Force. Mr. Guthrie attended Purdue University where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and completed a Bachelor of Science in Forestry in 1948. At Purdue, he met the love of his life, Randalin Tuesburg and they were married in February 1949.
Mr. Guthrie’s first job upon graduation was with the Illinois Central Railroad as a forestry agent to help reforest the south. He and his wife moved to Hattiesburg, MS and brought Purdue’s prototype mechanical tree planter. Mr. Guthrie helped perfect the tree planter into what became known as the Illinois Central Tree Planter. He was nicknamed “Johnny Pinetree” as a result of his promotion of forestry and tree planting. Mr. Guthrie went on to work for Dantzler Lumber Company, moved to Wiggins in 1951, and opened what is now John G. Guthrie and Sons in1954. Mr. Guthrie was an advocate for the forestry profession and was issued Registered Forester License No. 1 in Mississippi. He served as the first chairman for the Mississippi Board of Registration for Foresters. He also served on the Mississippi Real Estate Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board and was a licensed real estate broker. He was a member of the Society of American Foresters for 73 years, a charter member of the Mississippi Association of Consulting Foresters, a past president of the Mississippi Forestry Association, and served on the board for Forestry Suppliers, Inc.
Mr. Guthrie was very active in the First United Methodist Church of Wiggins where he had 67 years of perfect attendance in Sunday School and was a member of the choir for about 60 years. He also served as a Sunday School teacher, Trustee, and was involved in many other activities.
Mr. Guthrie was a 72 year member and Past Master of J.L. Power Masonic Lodge No. 416 F. & A.M. in Perkinston, MS. He was a long-time member of Knights Templar, Scottish Rite, Miriam Chapter No. 67 Order of the Eastern Star (Past Patron), Gideons International, and Neighborhood Watchdogs (Wiggins, MS).
Mr. Guthrie was active in Boy Scouts where he received the Silver Beaver, Pine Burr, and Good Scout awards. He served as a Scout Master and was on the Pine Burr Area Council Camp Committee locating Camp Tiak in Fruitland Park. He also was on the Girl Scout Camp Committee to locate and purchase the Gulf Pine Council Camp Iti Kana.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Randalin T. Guthrie, his parents, Horatio Nelson Guthrie and Clara Girard Guthrie; two brothers, Alfred C. Guthrie and H. Nelson Guthrie, Jr; and two sisters Helen Eilar and Marjorie Lewis.
Mr. Guthrie is survived by his four children, daughter, Suzanne; three sons, John G., Jr. (Sonja), James D. (Sherrye), and Randal L. (Connie); 10 grandchildren, David (Jennifer), Anny (Jacob Dykes), Christopher, Joseph (Kharri), Samantha (John Thames), Katie (Jason Leist), Rand (Ashley), Calista (Austin Mills), Sarah, and John G., III; 20 great-grandchildren with two more on the way and a host of friends.
On Friday, February 11 a visitation will be held at Moore Funeral Home of Wiggins, MS from 5-7 p.m. Arrangements are scheduled for Saturday, February 12 at First United Methodist Church of Wiggins with visitation at 9 a.m. followed by a service at 10 a.m. Burial and Masonic Service to follow at Wiggins Cemetery. The service will be broadcast on the church’s YouTube Channel and Facebook group. Memorials are suggested to be given to Gideons International, First United Methodist Church of Wiggins, John G. Guthrie Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Bank of Wiggins, or your favorite charity.
OBITUARY
Donald Bell
April 26, 1934-February 15, 2021
Donald Steele Bell, 86, passed away at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi on February 15, 2021, after an extended illness. He was born to the late Walter Otto Bell and Ibbie Irene Belk Bell on April 26, 1934, in Ethel, Mississippi.
Don was a very patriotic man serving with loyalty and devotion to his country and mankind. He entered into the United States Army on October 17, 1958 and later transferring to the Mississippi National Guard, Unit 223 Engineering Battalion. He served over 22 years of service to his country and the military.
Don began his dedication to serving and service at a young age, starting with singing in the National FFA chorus in high school and attending Boy’s State while in high school. Don attended Holmes Community College from 1952 to 1954. Upon his graduation he enrolled at Mississippi State University where he received his BS Degree in Forestry in 1956. He was a member of the first class from the new forestry curriculum. Don continued to expand his education by attending many forestry workshops. His work career began with the Jimmy Henley Lumber Company, while still a student as MSU. Upon graduation he worked at the D. L. Fair Lumber Company as their forester, Georgia Pacific, and Weyerhaeuser as their forester and later as their raw materials manager. After 22 years of working for others he began his private consulting career as a forest manager founding Donald S. Bell and Associates in June 1978. After another 22 years he sold his business but continued to work part-time with Bell Kirkland and Associates.
Don was a member of several forestry organizations where he served as a board member and chairman for those organizations including: the Mississippi Forestry Association, the Society of American Foresters, representing Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, the Association of Consulting Foresters of America, and the National Association of Forestry. He also served as an agent for Mutual of New York helping families with estate planning. He also invested in young people serving as the Boy Scouts as a Scout Master for Troop 26. He also served on the Pushmataha Scout Board and was awarded the Silver Beaver Award and honored as a Boy Scout Master and Order of the Arrow. Don took great interest in his town and community serving as a member of the Bruce Chamber of Commerce where he served as past chairman, founding member of the Bruce Jaycees, and past member of the Bruce School Board. Don was also a member of the Bruce Rotary Club, serving as past president, he was also a Paul Harris Fellow and had perfect attendance for over 44 years. Don also served as past president of the MSU School of Forestry Alumni Association. He was a member of the MSU Alumni Association and the Calhoun County MSU Alumni Association. He was also past president of the North Mississippi Fire Prevention Association.
Don was an active member of the Bruce United Methodist Church, where he served in various positions in the church. He served on the Administrative Board, Sunday School Teacher, Choir Member, Finance Committee, and Chairman of Calhoun County Methodist Cluster.
Don was an outdoorsman’s he loved hunting deer, rabbit, and quail and if he were not hunting you could find him fishing. He was also an avid MSU sports fan.
Those left to honor his memory are his wife Billie Jo Pennington Bell, whom he married on July 27, 1956, daughters: Barbara (Ted) Camp, of Banner; Sharon (Steve) James, of Bruce; Donna (Thomas) Camp, of Banner, and Penny (Bryan) Register, of Vicksburg; Brothers: Terrell (Edna) Bell, of Louisville, and Bob Bell, of Ethel; Grandchildren: Kevin (Dr.Keri) Camp: Dr. Jason (Kristy) Camp; Christy (Michael) Listenbee; Kayla (Jason) Jenkins; Clint Camp; Hannah (Michael) Maier, and Matthew Register, and 7 Great Grandchildren.
A visitation and funeral service will be held Saturday, February 20, 2021, at Parker Memorial Funeral Home in Bruce. The visitation will be from 12:00 P.M. until service time at 2:00 P.M. at the funeral home chapel. Bro. Darrell Logan and Bro. Jeff Dalton will be officiating, and Dr. Jason Camp will be doing the eulogy and tribute. Burial will be in Memory Memorial Garden. Pallbearers will be: Kevin Camp, Dr. Jason Camp, Clint Camp, Matthew Register, Jason Jenkins, and Johnny Broocks. Honorary pallbearers are: Neil Kirkland, Bill Canale, Jim Pennington, Mac Burnett, Ed Quillen, Dave Fair III, Charles Dismuke, Bruce Rotary Club members, and his dedicated caregivers: Rachelle Edwards, Lucy Hughes, Deanna Gray, Lee Counts, Arnita Hooper, Mary Netterville and Tewkunzi Thornton. Also, a special caregiver that is now serving in heaven, Christi Story.
Memorials may be made in Don’s memory to the Bruce Chamber of Commerce, the Bruce Museum or the Bruce United Methodist Church.
Parker Memorial Funeral Homes of Bruce and Vardaman are honored to serve the Bell family during this difficult time.
Don was a very patriotic man serving with loyalty and devotion to his country and mankind. He entered into the United States Army on October 17, 1958 and later transferring to the Mississippi National Guard, Unit 223 Engineering Battalion. He served over 22 years of service to his country and the military.
Don began his dedication to serving and service at a young age, starting with singing in the National FFA chorus in high school and attending Boy’s State while in high school. Don attended Holmes Community College from 1952 to 1954. Upon his graduation he enrolled at Mississippi State University where he received his BS Degree in Forestry in 1956. He was a member of the first class from the new forestry curriculum. Don continued to expand his education by attending many forestry workshops. His work career began with the Jimmy Henley Lumber Company, while still a student as MSU. Upon graduation he worked at the D. L. Fair Lumber Company as their forester, Georgia Pacific, and Weyerhaeuser as their forester and later as their raw materials manager. After 22 years of working for others he began his private consulting career as a forest manager founding Donald S. Bell and Associates in June 1978. After another 22 years he sold his business but continued to work part-time with Bell Kirkland and Associates.
Don was a member of several forestry organizations where he served as a board member and chairman for those organizations including: the Mississippi Forestry Association, the Society of American Foresters, representing Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, the Association of Consulting Foresters of America, and the National Association of Forestry. He also served as an agent for Mutual of New York helping families with estate planning. He also invested in young people serving as the Boy Scouts as a Scout Master for Troop 26. He also served on the Pushmataha Scout Board and was awarded the Silver Beaver Award and honored as a Boy Scout Master and Order of the Arrow. Don took great interest in his town and community serving as a member of the Bruce Chamber of Commerce where he served as past chairman, founding member of the Bruce Jaycees, and past member of the Bruce School Board. Don was also a member of the Bruce Rotary Club, serving as past president, he was also a Paul Harris Fellow and had perfect attendance for over 44 years. Don also served as past president of the MSU School of Forestry Alumni Association. He was a member of the MSU Alumni Association and the Calhoun County MSU Alumni Association. He was also past president of the North Mississippi Fire Prevention Association.
Don was an active member of the Bruce United Methodist Church, where he served in various positions in the church. He served on the Administrative Board, Sunday School Teacher, Choir Member, Finance Committee, and Chairman of Calhoun County Methodist Cluster.
Don was an outdoorsman’s he loved hunting deer, rabbit, and quail and if he were not hunting you could find him fishing. He was also an avid MSU sports fan.
Those left to honor his memory are his wife Billie Jo Pennington Bell, whom he married on July 27, 1956, daughters: Barbara (Ted) Camp, of Banner; Sharon (Steve) James, of Bruce; Donna (Thomas) Camp, of Banner, and Penny (Bryan) Register, of Vicksburg; Brothers: Terrell (Edna) Bell, of Louisville, and Bob Bell, of Ethel; Grandchildren: Kevin (Dr.Keri) Camp: Dr. Jason (Kristy) Camp; Christy (Michael) Listenbee; Kayla (Jason) Jenkins; Clint Camp; Hannah (Michael) Maier, and Matthew Register, and 7 Great Grandchildren.
A visitation and funeral service will be held Saturday, February 20, 2021, at Parker Memorial Funeral Home in Bruce. The visitation will be from 12:00 P.M. until service time at 2:00 P.M. at the funeral home chapel. Bro. Darrell Logan and Bro. Jeff Dalton will be officiating, and Dr. Jason Camp will be doing the eulogy and tribute. Burial will be in Memory Memorial Garden. Pallbearers will be: Kevin Camp, Dr. Jason Camp, Clint Camp, Matthew Register, Jason Jenkins, and Johnny Broocks. Honorary pallbearers are: Neil Kirkland, Bill Canale, Jim Pennington, Mac Burnett, Ed Quillen, Dave Fair III, Charles Dismuke, Bruce Rotary Club members, and his dedicated caregivers: Rachelle Edwards, Lucy Hughes, Deanna Gray, Lee Counts, Arnita Hooper, Mary Netterville and Tewkunzi Thornton. Also, a special caregiver that is now serving in heaven, Christi Story.
Memorials may be made in Don’s memory to the Bruce Chamber of Commerce, the Bruce Museum or the Bruce United Methodist Church.
Parker Memorial Funeral Homes of Bruce and Vardaman are honored to serve the Bell family during this difficult time.