Funeral services for Tilford Ross Talbert, 58, of Greenville will be at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 20, 2012 at First Baptist Church, Greenville. He died Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at Delta Regional Medical Center. Burial will be in Indianola City Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Greenville. Ross was born in Indianola on October 5, 1954, but has lived in Greenville since 1960. His endearing personality made him a friend to everyone he met. Ross was an active member of First Baptist Church for many years, especially in his Sunday School class. He loved his church, pastors, Sunday School friends, and especially his teachers, Robert and Gail Andrews. He participated in the city and state Special Olympics for many years, and received many trophies, medals and honors. When attending church camps, he was known for his impersonations of many stars, particularly Elvis Presley, Groucho Marx, John Wayne and Jerry Clower. His friendliness and happy disposition drew people to him and made him well known in the community. Ross always remembered the names of anyone he had met. He had a sharp memory, and was called upon often by family and friends when trying to remember details of a story or the name of a person he had met years before. Ross remembered everything. Growing up, Ross wasn’t able to attend regular school, so his two older brothers brought him to all of their sports activities. He quickly became an accepted and beloved member of the team. He loved watching sports so much, especially the Mississippi State Bulldogs, that he knew all the players, coaches, and schedules. At the local hospitals and medical facilities, the nurses loved him and gave him special attention. His favorite expression to those he particularly liked was borrowed from Jerry Clower – “Shoot that thing!” He was preceded in death by two brothers, Barry Talbert and Neal Talbert, his father Tilford (Tilly) Talbert, and his stepfather, Franklin Johnson. He is survived by his mother Lynn Talbert Johnson of Greenville; his brother Terry Talbert of Boise, Idaho; his niece Heather Talbert Hawthorne of Irvine, CA, and his nephews, Ashley Talbert of Nampa, Idaho, and Zayne Owens of Boise, Idaho; his aunt Hazel Penn of Carrollton and uncle Thomas Turner, Jr. of Nachidoches, LA as well as numerous cousins. The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 20, 2012 at First Baptist Church, Greenville. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Renovation Fund of First Baptist Church, Greenville, MS.
