John Bell Young, Jr.

John Bell Young, Jr., age 83, passed away on June 18, 2018 at Panola Medical Center in Batesville. He is the husband of Barbara L. Young of Batesville.

Funeral services for Mr. Young will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 in the Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home in Batesville with visitation beginning at 11:00 a.m. prior to the service. The family will hold a private inurnment at Forrest Memorial Park at a later date. 

John was born in Booneville, MS on March 30, 1935 to the late John Bell Young, Sr. and Gladys Tays Young.  John graduated from Booneville High School, Northeast Junior College and LSU School of Banking. He was President of FBLA, employed by Prentiss County Home Bank from 1955 -1964.  From there he went to the Bank of Bruce in 1965 as President. John furthered his banking career with the Bank of Batesville as President in 1974 for 10 years.

After many years of banking, John ended his career at the former People’s Bank and Trust, now Renasant Bank upon retirement.  During his banking career, he served as President of the Junior Bankers Association, the Lions Club, Bruce Booster Club, and served 8 years in the Mississippi National Guard.  He was a member of the Methodist Church where he joined at age 11.  For the church he served on the Administrative Board, Conference Layity Board, & helped initiate the Pony Express Tithe Program into Methodism.  He served as Finance Chairman, Pastor Parish Chairman in Bruce, Pontotoc, and the Batesville First United Methodist Church.  After retiring from Banking, he worked as Assistant Administrator for Fairfield Assisted Living from 2000-2009. 

John is survived by his wife, Barbara Lester Young (married 1955); daughters Mitzi Hardy (Chip) and Patti Flint both of Batesville; 1 son, Danny Andrew “Andy” Young (Heather)of Batesville;  8 grandchildren, Audra Lott (Mark), Molly Marascalco (Benny), Cole Flint (Amanda), Jonathan “Fred” Flint (Milli), Austin Tays Hardy, Riley Young, Lexie Young, Ainsley Young; great grandsons, Brady Lott, Miller Marascalco, & Speer Flint;  great granddaughters, Samantha Lott, Hardy Flint, Ella Marascalco, Elli Flint; one sister, Connie Garner (Dalton) of Booneville, MS; brothers, Billy Joe Young (Ruthie) of Corinth, MS, David Young (Connie Lee) of Booneville, MS; 2 sister- in-laws Josie Smith (Buddy) of Marietta, MS & Brenda McClung (Danny) of Tishomingo, MS. 

Memorial contributions in John's honor may be made to Batesville First United Methodist Church, 119 Panola Ave., Batesville, MS 38606 or The Cross, 107 Quail Run, Batesville, MS 38606