Chapter Celestial Kappa Sigma
Brothers
Bell Toll in respect for our Passed Brothers
Michael Bradley “Mike” Alford
Died:10/25/2022 Initiation Date:02/25/1979 Initiation Number:#0685 Chapter:Epsilon Nu School:USM
Obituary:
Michael Bradley Alford, 62, of Columbus, Georgia, passed peacefully on Tuesday, October 25th surrounded by his family at Columbus Hospice House. A celebration of his life will be held at 1:00 pm, Saturday, October 29, 2022, at Pierce Chapel United Methodist Church, Columbus, Georgia, with a visitation following the service.
Mike was born in San Angelo, Texas to the late Marion and Spurgeon “Spud” Alford and lived in a variety of places through his formative years as his family was military. His family settled in Hattiesburg, Mississippi where he graduated from high school and then attended the University of Southern Mississippi after receiving a football scholarship. Mike graduated from USM with a degree in Business Administration and married his college sweetheart, Wynn Pigott Alford. For the last thirty years, he has lived and raised his family in Columbus, Georgia.
Mike was an avid golfer and loved a good game with friends at Maple Ridge Golf Course. Mike had a wonderful and witty sense of humor, and was loved by an entire community of people. His pride and joy were his three girls as well as his two adorable grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife of forty years, Wynn Alford, and his three daughters, Ashley Alford Becker (Josh), Carley Alford Lewis (Jesse), and Mary Kathryn Alford, as well as grandchildren Lucy and Ford Lewis. He is also survived by his brother Spud Alford Jr, many beloved nieces and nephews, cousins, and so many special friends. In lieu of flowers, please consider making contributions to Pierce Chapel Building Fund or Columbus Hospice
Louis Bradford Ashmore, Jr
Died:08/28/2020 Initiation Date:04/21/1963 Initiation Number:#0326 Chapter:Epsilon Nu School:USM
Obituary:
ASHMORE, Louis Bradford, Jr. (Brad), 76, the only son of Louis Bradford Ashmore, Sr. and Beulah McLaughlin Ashmore, was born in Memphis, Tennessee March 6, 1944, and passed away at home from the complications of a fall, on Friday, August 28, 2020.
Brad was a graduate of Murphy High School in Mobile Alabama; attended Mississippi Southern College; and graduated from Auburn University in 1970 where he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. Much of Brad’s career was spent with newspapers in Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. During his career with The Opelika- Auburn News, Brad spent many Saturdays photographing Auburn football. One of the most memorable events of that time was a trip to New York to take the pictures of Pat Sullivan receiving the Heisman Trophy. As the President of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, Brad spearheaded a campaign to raise the money to purchase the first emergency vehicle in Lee County - “Two, Three, Roger.” After retiring from his newspaper career, Brad was the owner of Southern Firearms Appraisals in Homewood, AL. For the past four years “Peggy’s Angels” and the staff of Nurse on Call have provided support and caregiving. Special thanks go to Peggy Warren and Lori Patterson who quarantined with Brad for the past six months.
Brad leaves behind his life partner of 40 years Gladys Ann “Pete” Partin and a huge circle of friends who will gather sometime in the future to share their favorite “Brad stories” and celebrate a life well lived.
There will be a Celebration of Life, Sunday, November 1, 2020, at 2:00 PM, at Ash Neighborhood Restaurant, 705 Oak Grove Road, Homewood, AL.
Richard Howard Baxter, Jr
Died:10/29/2019 Initiation Date:02/26/1961 Initiation Number:#0273 Chapter:Epsilon Nu School:USM
Obituary:
Richard Howard Baxter Jr.
Brandon - Mr. Baxter was born and grew up in South, MS. He graduated from The University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in Business. After serving 2 years in the army, he relocated to New Orleans where he met his wife, Carol "Bunny." They celebrated their fiftieth anniversary this year. He began working for Boeing Aerospace as a recruiter. They later relocated to Jackson, MS where he worked for the Clarion Ledger as a Personnel Director until his retirement when he began a rental property business.
Mr. Baxter was a people person who never met a stranger. He loved animals and all things that were antique. He was active in the community affairs belonging to the Lions Club and Jaycee's and Personal Association. He belonged to the First Methodist Church in Clinton, MS.
Mr. Baxter, of Brandon and Clinton died on October 29, 2019 at his home, and he was preceded in death by his mother, Johnnie McNeil and Father Richard H. Baxter Sr.
Survivors: Carol Baxter of Brandon, wife, Trey Herron Baxter, son, Erin Baxter and Hampton Baxter of Madison, Richie Baxter, Mary Lib Baxter, Haas and Caroline Baxter of Fairhope, brother, Charles Baxter of Houston, sister, Anne Fargason of Fairhope and several nieces and nephews.
Services for Mr. Richard Howard Baxter, Jr. will be held on Friday, November 1, 2019. Visitation will be from 1:00pm until 2:00 p.m. at Natchez Trace Funeral Home, 759 Highway 51, Madison, MS 39110. Services will follow at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel followed by an entombment in the Natchez Trace Memorial Park Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Alzheimer Foundation or Cara Animal (ASPCA.org).
Richard Keith “Rick” Bennett
Died:05/06/2019 Initiation Date:01/15/1967 Initiation Number:#0423 Chapter:Epsilon Nu School:USM
Obituary:
BENNETT, RICHARD "RICK" It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of Richard "Rick" Bennett who passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on May 6, 2019, at Mt. Sinai Hospital. Survived by his sons Jesse and Sam and his wife Carol (nee Shaw), sister Anne and predeceased by his brother Danny. Rick has numerous accomplishments with his career of over 35-plus years as a film director and a mentor to hundreds of students and film makers at TFS Toronto Film School.
While attending the University of Southern Mississippi, Rick was member of Epsilon Nu Kappa Sigma fraternity. There he met fellow Brother, Jimmy Buffett and was a member of his first band, the Upstairs Alliance. They formed a life long friendship.
A Celebration of the Life of Rick Bennett will be held on Sunday, May 26th at 4:00 p.m. at The Great Hall, 1087 Queen Street West, Toronto. Donation to the Heart & Stroke Foundation would be appreciated.
David Estes Blount
Died:10/28/1972 Initiation Date:02/14/1971 Initiation Number:#0539 Chapter:Epsilon Nu School:USM
Obituary:
Services were at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at L.L. Roberts Memorial Methodist Church, Bassfield, for David Estes Blount, 20, student at the University of Southern Mississippi, who was fatally injured early Saturday in a one-car crash on Highway 49 a mile south of Collins.
Rev. Elvyn Jernigan, Rev. Wayne Parrott and Rev. W.H. Merritt officiated. Burial was at Bassfield Cemetery with Saulters Funeral Home of Prentiss in charge of arrangements.
Blount was a native of Murphreesboro, Tenn. and was a 1970 graduate of Hattiesburg High School. He was a junior at USM, a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity and the Roberts Memorial Methodist Church.
He was married two months ago to Miss Marsha Munoz, who was critically injured in the crash, and was listed today in serious condition at Forrest General Hospital.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his parents, Col. (Ret.) and Mrs. Buford C. Blount of Bassfield; two brothers, Lt. Buff Blount, US Army, Germany, and Robert Blount of Bassfield; three sisters, Mrs. Susan McCorkle and Mrs. Frank Collins, both of Jackson, and Letha Blount of Bassfield; his Maternal Grandmother, Mrs. Beulah Dickson of Bassfield, and three nieces.
Gordon Craig Bryant
Died:10/08/2000 Initiation Date:02/25/1979 Initiation Number:#0686 Chapter:Epsilon Nu School:USM
Obituary:
James William Buffett
Died:09/01/2023 Initiation Date:04/02/1967 Initiation Number:#0449 Chapter:Epsilon Nu School:USM
Obituary:
The beloved singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett passed away at his home in Sag Harbor, Long Island on Friday September 1, 2023 surrounded by family and friends. Buffett, 76, had been fighting Merkel Cell Skin Cancer for four years. He continued to perform during treatment, playing his last show, a surprise appearance in Rhode Island, in early July.
With a recording career that spanned more than fifty years and included hits such as “Margaritaville,” “Come Monday,” and “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” Buffett was one of the most successful performers in popular music. He filled arenas with fans who called themselves “Parrot Heads,” and popularized a signature blend of folk, country and Caribbean music with lyrics that often reflected Buffett’s world travels. A pilot and a sailor, Buffett wrote songs about his plane being shot at by Jamaican police (“Jamaica Mistaica”), getting lost in the Sahara Desert (“Buffet Hotel”) and smugglers he had known around the Florida Gulf Coast (“A Pirate Looks at 40”).
Although he was best known for upbeat party songs (others include “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” and “Fins”) Buffett first achieved notoriety for thoughtful ballads that showed the influence of Texas songwriters such as Jerry Jeff Walker and Canadian Gordon Lightfoot.
Bob Dylan praised lesser-known Buffett compositions “He Went to Paris” and “Death of an Unpopular Poet” - songs that reflected the observational, storytelling skills Buffett developed in his early career as a journalist for Billboard magazine.
Buffett had a second career as a successful author. He was one of a handful of writers who had number one best-sellers on both the fiction and non-fiction lists of the New York Times Book Review.
He had a third career as an entrepreneur, building a diversified lifestyle brand business, including Margaritaville hotels, restaurants, and retirement communities, along with sidelines such as Land Shark beer. Buffett’s branding and business acumen made him one of the most financially successful musicians of all time.
James William Buffett was born on Christmas, 1946 in Pascagoula, Mississippi and grew up in Alabama. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1969. He credited early years playing and singing in the streets and bars of New Orleans with shaping his dedication to connecting with his audience and giving the customers a good show. Buffett had little patience with performers who took themselves too seriously. He liked to say that the job of singing for a living was descended from the profession of court jester.
Buffett is survived by his wife of 46 years, Jane (Slagsvol) Buffett, his daughters Savannah Jane (Joshua) and Sarah Delaney, his son Cameron Marley (Lara), his grandson Marley Ray and devoted pack of dogs Lola, Kingston, Pepper, Rosie, Ajax and Kody. Also survived by his Montana sister, Laurie Buffett McGuane (Tom), their children Heather Hume, Anne Buffett McGuane, Maggie McGuane and Thomas McGuane IV; his Alabama sister, Lucy Buffett and daughters Mara Delaney Buffett O’Dwyer and Melanie Leigh Buffett; and many more wonderful cousins, nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Jimmy Buffett’s Foundation Singing for Change, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dana Farber Cancer Institute or MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Richard John Burgess Jr
Died: Initiation Date:02/06/1977 Initiation Number:#0644 Chapter:Epsilon Nu School:USM
Obituary:
Thomas Allen “Tom” Bush
Died:05/11/1997 Initiation Date:03/02/1980 Initiation Number:#0694 Chapter:Epsilon Nu School:USM
Obituary:
Manch Stanley Cadwallader Jr
Died:11/26/2011 Initiation Date:02/08/1970 Initiation Number:#0511 Chapter:Epsilon Nu School:USM
Obituary:
Born Oct. 24, 1946, in Baton Rouge, Manch Stanley Cadwallader Jr. passed away on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011, at his home after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's disease. He was retired from the Louisiana State House of Representatives Sergeant at Arms. Manch attended LSU and University of Southern Mississippi where he was a member of the tennis team and Kappa Sigma fraternity. Among his many interests were flying the PT-22 antique airplane with his father, Toppy. He also enjoyed tennis, sailing, and cruising in his Model A and his beloved 1965 Mustang. He was a member of the Mustang Club of America, the Model A Club, Le Circle de Baachus and Barons, and The Baton Rouge Assembly. He was preceded in death by his parents, Manch Stanley Cadwallader Sr. and Betty Brook Hummel; sister, Linda Cadwallader Burns; uncle, Compton Rust Hummel; grandparents, Compton Rust and Betty Brook Gourrier Hummel and John Marsh and Madge Cadwallader. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Marvis Anderson Cadwallader; son, Manch Stanley Cadwallader III; sister, Brook Cadwallader Easterly; brother, Daniel Compton Cadwallader and wife Nancy; brothers-in-law, Gary J. Anderson and wife Grace, Walter M. "Mike" Anderson and wife Tina and Gregory S. Anderson; sisters-in-law, Andree Anderson Scott and husband Bill and Renee Anderson Nebel and husband Ray, all of Baton Rouge; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Richard W Bryan, Donald David, Jack Jones, Daniel Leming, Ray Nebel and Bob Lank. Honorary pallbearer is Jo Ed Ketner. Rabenhorst Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Graveside services at Roselawn Cemetery on Tuesday Nov. 29, noon. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Hospice of Baton Rouge. The family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Gerald Calleghan, Dr. Cherie LeBlanc, Dr. Gerald Barber and The Hospice of Baton Rouge staff.
