Funeral Services for Richard Norris Vest, Sr., 94, of Greenville will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday at First Baptist Church. He died Wednesday, June 15, at his home. Burial will follow at 5:00 p.m., Saturday at Hollywood Cemetery in McComb, MS.
Norris was born August 25,1921 in McComb, MS. He was a pilot with the Navy during WW II and raised his family in Greenville with his now deceased wife Sunny Day Vest. He practiced dentistry until age 80 and was a deacon at First Baptist Church for many years. Many remember him though for his love of sharing Jesus with men in jail, whether Washington County Jail or Parchman Penitentiary. One of those men, Maurcie, considered Norris to be his spiritual father. Maurice, still incarcerated, just happened to call Norris the day he died.
Norris was a man of passion, adventure, and short time mission work. He was also very devoted to his family. His goal of making sure the next generations knew his Lord was a lifelong pursuit, and his family will miss him very much.
Norris Vest leaves a son, grandson, and great grandson with his name. His legacy also lives on in his wife Jenny McGaugh Vest and his 4 children: Val Vickery (Barry) of Jackson; Lydia Martin (Terry) of Columbus; Richard Vest (Janet) of Birmingham, AL; and Pamela Valentine (Tom Smith) of Tallahassee FL. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren.
There will be a visitation one hour prior to services at the church. Memorials may be made to African Scholarship Exchange, P. O. Box 5303, Jackson, MS 39296; The Voice of the Martyrs at www.persecution.com; or to Zion’s Hope, P. O. Box 783369, Winter Garden, FL 34778.