Cecil Nation, 73, of Gore Springs, Mississippi, passed away due to heart failure on Thursday, January 26, 2017. He was a retired postal carrier and clerk and a long-time member and deacon of Hebron Baptist Church in Grenada, Mississippi, and was well-loved by friends and family.
Born June 7, 1943, he was the son of Guy Nation, Jr., and Helen Nation of Columbus, MS, both pre-deceased. He is survived by his wife, Doris Nation; four children, and eleven grandchildren: Boyd Nation (Tasha) of Birmingham, AL, with grandchildren, Joseph, Rebecca and Benjamin; Philip Nation (Becky) of Milton, FL, with grandchildren, Andrew and Rachel; Paul Nation (Jeanne) of Phoenix, AZ, with grandchildren, Stephanie, David and Sarah; and Joy Wear (Adam) of Krum, TX, with grandchildren, Nicholas, Patrick and Stephen. He is also survived by a brother, William Nation of West Point, MS and a sister, Beth Frankenburger of Seguin, TX.
He was a graduate of S.D. Lee High School in Columbus, MS; Mississippi College and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, having shown his children the value of education by returning to it as a hard-working, non-traditional student.
Known as "Pops" to his children and grandchildren, he was a pillar in his family and in his church, always willing to do everything in his power to support those that he considered his, from teaching to coaching to umpiring to relentlessly cheering, supporting the children and grandchildren in all their activities, and always being available to the church family when there was a need to be filled. He was loved, and he loved many in return, even as Alzheimer's slowed him and dimmed his memories in recent years, he will be greatly missed.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, January 30, 2017 at Hebron Baptist Church in Grenada with Rev. Lowell Ingram and Rev. Charles Nail officiating. A graveside service will be conducted Monday afternoon at 3:30 PM at Chapel Hill Cemetery in Hinds County. The family will receive friends from 2:00-4:00 PM Sunday afternoon at McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service and one hour prior to the service at the church Monday.
Pallbearers will be Charles Scallions, Joseph Nation, Andrew Nation, Nicholas Wear, Benjamin Nation and David Nation.
Memorials may be directed to Hebron Baptist Church in Grenada.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.mckibbenandguinn.com.