John Milton Mothershed

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John Milton Mothershed, age 91, of Batesville, Mississippi died on March 18, 2020 surrounded by his family.  He was born in Crenshaw on July 15, 1928 to the late Kate Rayner Mothershed and John Allen Mothershed.  As a youth, he and a friend were the first to receive the Distinguished Civilian award from the Illinois Central Railway for preventing a rail accident when they discovered a broken track. He attended the University of Mississippi and was a member of Pi Kappa fraternity and president of the Cardinal Club. In 1948, he received a degree in Business at 19 years of age. In June 20, 1954, he married Eugenia Poland Mothershed of Lula, Mississippi.

He recognized that Batesville was growing and needed a retail business to provide a broader range of products and started a Western Auto that was years later expanded to include a Radio Shack. He ran that business from 1960 to 2004. He enjoyed talking to his customers and knew most by name. The Sam Walton Business Leader Award was awarded to him in 1997. Mr. Mothershed was the former Presidents of the Mississippi Retail Merchant Association, The Batesville Rotary Club, where he was also a Paul Harris fellow, and the Batesville Chamber of Commerce. He proudly served on the Batesville First Security Bank board of directors from 1972-2005. He valued both his friendships on the board and being a part of supporting the growth and prosperity of Batesville and its citizens.

His faith was a central part of his life. He served on many of the committees at the First United Methodist Church where he attended faithfully. In his later years, he served God by praying for his family and others and read through his Bible several times.

He was deeply devoted to his family and extended family, looking after everyone’s well-being. He had three children, Cindy Marie Gray (Steve), John William Mothershed (Stephanie, d. 2018), Milton Allen Mothershed (Marla); six grandchildren, Katie Gray, Kevin Gray, June Hanabi, Will Mothershed, Kira Mothershed, and Luke Mothershed; three great-grandchildren, Ashlyn, Liam, and Griffin. 

Along with his parents, John was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Eugenia Mothershed; infant brother John Allen; sister Cornelia Gates; sister-in-law Wright, and two brother-in-laws, B.P. and Claude Poland.

The family will hold a private funeral service for John on Saturday, March 21, 2020 at First United Methodist Church in Batesville with interment at Friendship Cemetery.

We appreciate the support of friends and those in the community, but wish to do our part to limit the spread of the Corona virus.  In light of this, we are asking those who would have been inclined to attend the service or greet the family to instead send a card or sign the family book at Wells Funeral Home online at www.wellsfuneralhome.net.  Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 119 Panola Ave. Batesville, MS 38606.