Chapter Celestial Kappa Sigma
Brothers

Bell Toll in respect for our Passed Brothers

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Frank Meeks who, as owner of the record-breaking Domino's Pizza franchise "Team Washington," pioneered its pizza delivery to the White House, Pentagon and Congress, died Tuesday, November 9, 2004. He was 48.

Born of modest means on August 27, 1956, in the South Mississippi city of Hattiesburg, he combined his love of politics with his personal business challenge of making the fastest delivery of the best pizza pie, to carve out Domino's most unique world franchise. 

At the same time, Mr. Meeks devoted his earnings and enthusiasm to help young people from rural communities to urban centers succeed, launching the careers of 30 such individuals to Domino's Pizza store owners. 

Raised in Gulfport, Mississippi, Mr. Meeks earned a degree in political science and English from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg where he was elected student body president. His initial goal was to attend law school, but to defray his education costs, he began delivering pizza for Domino's in 1979. He soon became a store manager and decided Domino's Pizza, not law school, was in his future.

In 1972 Mr. Meeks coordinated the youth vote for an unknown attorney from Pascagoula, Mississippi, who was making his first political run for the U.S. House of Representatives. In December 1980, Mr. Meeks came to Washington, D.C. to serve as a Congressional aide for then U.S. Representative Trent Lott, now a U.S. Senator for the State of Mississippi. After two years as a Congressional aide, Mr. Meeks returned full-time to Domino's and was awarded the franchise rights for Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. He opened his first store in July 1983, breaking Domino's records for sales and efficiency.

Domino's Team Washington fast became one of the most successful franchises in Domino's Pizza, operating 60 stores and delivering pizza to the White House under five presidents. Mr. Meeks' franchise gained attention in the 1990s when he reported short-term increases in pizza deliveries to Washington government offices on nights prior to major U.S. military movements, including the invasion of Grenada and the start of the Persian Gulf War. 

An award-winning franchise owner, Mr. Meeks was among the first two inductees into Domino's Pizza Chairman's Circle Hall of Fame, honoring his tenure, success, leadership, and contributions to the Domino's Pizza system. In a letter earlier this year to Domino's Pizza, Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David A. Brandon, Mr. Meeks called his induction "one of the greatest honors of my life."

At the same time, he was a sought-after motivational speaker who made numerous national television and association appearances. Mr. Meeks consistently advocated giving back to his community, especially through his employees, by awarding scholarships to his franchise's outstanding Team Members.

He supported local high school post-prom and graduation parties, and sports Little Leagues. He was a major contributor to Children's National Medical Center, serving on its Board of Directors for 10 years. Food & Friends honored him with that organization's "Community Service Award" for his fundraising on its behalf. 

Mr. Meeks was Chairman of the Cancer Ball in the Washington area. He served on the Board of Directors of the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce in Virginia which in 2003 recognized him as its "Citizen of the Year."

An activist in Republican politics in Northern Virginia, Mr. Meeks was honored for his lifelong achievements by U.S. Representative Tom Davis of Virginia's 11th Congressional District.

Mr. Meeks is survived by his mother, Janice Meeks of Woodstock, Georgia, and brother, Jimmy Meeks of Alexandria, Virginia. His father Tommy Meeks of Gulfport, Mississippi, died in October 2002. The family prefers donations, in lieu of flowers, to Washington Farm United Methodist Church, Domino's Pizza Partner's Foundation, and Food & Friends.

Arrangements by Jefferson Funeral Home, Alexandria, Virginia.

Rex Michel, of Atlanta, GA, passed away in his home on July 22nd. He is survived by his wife, Diane, daughter, Jessica and son, Joey. The memorial service will be held at St. James UMC in Atlanta at 12:30 on Thursday, July 25. Visitation will be held at the church before the service, beginning at 11. Because his life was devoted to helping others, a fund has been set up to continue that work. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Rex Michel Memorial Fund at St. James UMC. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society, Alpharetta, GA. (678) 735-5500.

Marc Moses, beloved son of Pam and JR Moses, died April 4, 2007, in Chicago, Illinois. Marc was born on May 25, 1970, in Gulfport, Mississippi. He graduated from Gulfport High School in 1988. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Southern Mississippi. Marc was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and served as rush chairman.

At the time of his death, he was employed by SB Yen Management Group in Chicago, Illinois. He was Director of Sales and Marketing and Manager of the Best Western University Plaza in Evanston, Illinois. Previously he was employed by the Resort Suites of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Grand Coushatta Casino in Kinder, Louisiana, as Manager of Golf Sales.

Marc was an avid fan and player of baseball and golf. His love of people and great sense of humor enabled him to touch many lives. He will be sadly missed by everyone he knew in his personal and professional life.

Marc was preceded in death by his grandparents, Cecil and Dotte Chason, Foley, Alabama, and Rose and Anneas Moses, Sr., Gulfport, Mississippi.

Marc is survived by his parents, Pam and JR Moses, brother and sister-in-law, Chase and Shellie Moses, nephew, Chase, Jr., and extended family members.

A memorial service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Bayou View, Gulfport, on Saturday, April 14, at 3:30 p.m. The family invites friends to join them for visitation at the church one hour prior to service.

Claude Joseph Partridge Jr. was born in Mobile, Alabama to Claude Joseph Partridge Sr. and Lettie Mae Revette Partridge. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1969 he served in Vietnam as an Officer in the United States Marine Corps until 1974. After his military service, Joe had a successful career in sales but what brought him the most pleasure were his children, Kristine and Kevin. Later in life, Joe cherished the time his grandchildren, spending time with his family in Orange Beach, AL., and playing golf. Joe is survived by his daughter, Kristine Browne, her husband Web, and grandchildren Caroline and Robert of Oklahoma City; his son Kevin Partridge of Tulsa, and the families of his brother Donald Partridge of Mobile, AL., and his sister Carol McMurphy also of Mobile. The family will have private services in Mobile and requests that in lieu of flowers donations be sent to The Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation.

Jim Payne, 74, a resident of Jackson died on the 29th of August. Jim was born in Newton, MS on the 7th of April 1941 and attended Newton High School where he lettered in track and football. Jim served in the Army National Guard before attending USM where he received his bachelor’s degree in business management in 1964. During college, he was elected vice-president of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. After USM, he gained valuable experience from Proctor & Gamble. Jim received his MBA from Mississippi College and eventually went on to form UAD Laboratories where he served as President and CEO until its merger with Forest Laboratories in 1989.

Jim is survived by his two children April Payne Nall and Jonathan Payne, April’s spouse Kevin Nall and their children Caroline, Will, and Cate Nall, Jonathan’s spouse America Payne and their children Austin and Ana Sophia Payne, his brother Larry and Liz Payne and their children and grandchildren. Jim was preceded by his daughter Gina Jolie Payne who passed in September 2011.

Jim had many crowning achievements in his lifetime, some of which are being elected to the Mississippi Business of Fame, the USM Alumni Hall of Fame but he was most proud of his philanthropic endeavors, providing scholarships at the high school and collegiate level. Through his dedication at Southern Mississippi the Payne Center was named after Jim and his brother Larry. Jim sat on the Board of Directors of the Andrew Jackson Boy Scouts Council, Millsaps College, Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Mississippi among many others.

Jim’s funeral services will be held at Parkway Funeral Home this Wednesday with visitation starting at 10 AM with the service to follow at 11 AM and burial to follow at Shelton Cemetery in Pattison, MS at 4 PM where his mother Ada Pearl Starnes is interred.

Jim had a positive impact on many people’s lives and will be missed by all that had the pleasure of knowing him.

Memorials may be made to Pear Orchid Presbyterian Church.

William "Bill" Phalen, son of Richard and Lucille Phalen, was born in Chicago on March 8, 1943, and died May 19, 2016, at the age of 73. An astute businessman and long-time marketing and media mogul, Phalen had a major impact in both the radio and publishing arenas. At the time of his death, and since 1998, he was owner and CEO of Cities West Publishing, the parent company of Phoenix Home & Garden magazine and PHOENIX magazine. Prior to getting into the publishing business, Phalen had a storied career in radio, founding or co-founding three broadcasting companies that acquired 24 radio stations across the country between 1970 and 1996. These included KRQ-FM in Tucson and KZZP-FM in Phoenix, which were owned by Western Cities Broadcasting, an eight-station group. After selling that company in 1985, he created New West Radio with the acquisition of two radio properties in Wichita, Kansas. In 1993, he merged that company into Prism Radio Partners and within 18 months, he acquired 16 under-performing radio stations in five markets. He sold Prism in 1996, and went on to pursue his interest in publishing. He earned a M.A. degree in Organizational Behavior from Vermont College and a B.S. in Journalism from the University of Southern Mississippi. Among honors, he was a past president of the Tucson Broadcasters Association, served on the advisory board of the ABC Radio Network and was a past member of the Walter Cronkite Endowment Board of Trustees at Arizona State University. In 2013, he was inducted into the Arizona Broadcasters Hall of Fame and, in 2008, into the Mass Communication and Journalism Hall of Fame at the University of Southern Mississippi. Phalen was one of the first broadcasters in the nation to implement a meaningful EEO program for his radio stations before federal hiring quotas. He personally facilitated minority training through intern programs among his various companies. A voracious reader, especially of history, he was well-traveled, a gracious host and proud of his Irish heritage. He recently produced a book tracing the exodus of his ancestors from 18th Century Ireland to North America. Additionally, in his spare time, he enjoyed tennis, hiking, skiing, bicycling, and golf. Phalen leaves behind his devoted wife, Maibritt Phalen, nieces Shawn Phalen and Kathleen Phalen, and a wide circle of friends and business associates who will miss him beyond measure. A Private Memorial Service will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Paget's Disease/Arthritis Foundation, 5009 E. Washington St., Suite 125, Phoenix, AZ 85034; or Patrick Kelley Youth Foundation, 355 Convention Center Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89109-2067.

The Honorable Edwin Lloyd Pittman, former Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court, former Attorney General, former Secretary of State, former State Treasurer, former 2-term member of the Mississippi State Senate, and former Brigadier General of the Mississippi National Guard passed away on September 25, 2024.

Mr. Pittman was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on January 2, 1935, as the fourth of five children of Lloyd Pittman and Pauline McRaney Pittman.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Barbara Lucille Peel Pittman and son Edwin (Win) Lloyd Pittman, Jr.; his parents; siblings, Mary Ann Pittman Francis (Gene), Joyce Pittman Tadlock (John), Franklin Reid (Buddy) Pittman, Sr. (Carolyn), and Kelly Lamar Pittman; also, his nephew, Franklin Reid Pittman, Jr. and niece Debra Francis Walker (Bo).

He leaves behind his wife, Virginia Star Lund Browne Pittman; children and stepchildren, Melanie Wakeland (John), Jennifer Martin (Ricky), Will Browne, Michael Browne, Joly Browne Nield (Bruce), and Betsy Browne McClendon (John); grandchildren, Barbara Hart Wakeland Byrd (Chad), Margaret Lucille Wakeland Haag (Aaron), John Thomas Wakeland, III, (Catherine), Edwin (Tad) Lloyd Pittman, III, Christian Reid Pittman, Lauren Nield Kump (Jake), Elizabeth Nield Jones (Nick), Connor McClendon, Bill McClendon, Taylor Browne, and Lindsey Browne; and three great-grandchildren.

Mr. Pittman’s father, Lloyd, was one of five Pittman brothers, all respected and active members of the Hattiesburg community. The brothers were Claude Pittman, former Mayor of Hattiesburg; Homer Pittman, long-time District Attorney in Forrest County; Clyde Pittman of Lexington, Kentucky; Lloyd Pittman, and Calhoun Pittman.

Mr. Pittman’s mother, Pauline McRaney Pittman, was the eldest of nine children of Reid McRaney and Bertha Hood McRaney of the Lone Star community in Covington County.

At age 13, Edwin rode by train to our nation’s capital, where he served as a page in the U.S. House of Representatives for Congressman William Colmer. As a page, Edwin lived in a boarding house near the Capitol across from Washington Union Station and attended a school for pages in the attic of the Library of Congress. He returned home to Hattiesburg public schools where he had a circle of friends that remained close for a lifetime. He participated in school theatre productions, YMCA, and high school fraternal organizations. He was a member of Hattiesburg High School Class of 1953 which only ceased meetings this year due to the increasing age and declining health of the membership.

After graduating from Hattiesburg High School, Mr. Pittman attended The University of Southern Mississippi, where he was President of Kappa Sigma fraternity. Mr. Pittman’s other activities at the University of Southern Mississippi included ROTC, and participation in student government. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in political science, Mr. Pittman entered the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1957, where he earned his Juris Doctor, and served as President of his graduating class. During his law school days he married the late Barbara Peel, of Greenwood. After graduation, the couple went to Fort Benning, Georgia, for Mr. Pittman’s military training.

He began his political career in 1963, campaigning in the southern Mississippi Senate district of Forrest, Lamar, and Marion counties. His wife and children actively campaigned for him, often giving speeches to support him. From 1971 to 1987, the family’s campaign activities covered all 82 counties of the state. His children say this was an exciting, fun time for them and they are very appreciative of the opportunity to have been raised this way. Mr. Pittman served this State until his retirement in 2004 and was proud to have done so.

Edwin and Virginia married in 1996. In retirement, they enjoyed traveling often with USM friends. The couple took many enjoyable trips together, their favorites being their yearly trips to Kennebunkport, Maine, where they formed dear friendships, were members of the Eagle Rock Yacht Club, and enjoyed special events and relaxing views of the ocean. Mr. Pittman was also a member of the Marching and Chowder Society in Kennebunk.

Mr. Pittman grew up attending Fifth Avenue Baptist Church in Hattiesburg which later became Temple Baptist Church. Later, he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher at Pinelake Baptist Church. Edwin and Virginia have been faithful members of Northminster Baptist Church. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 10:00 in the Great Hall of Northminster Baptist Church, 3955 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, Mississippi. The funeral service will follow at 11:00. Gifts may be made to the Edwin Lloyd and Virginia Lund Pittman Scholarship at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Francis Anthony (Tony) Poggi, Jr – A native and life-long resident of Mobile, died Wednesday, December 21, 2022. Tony was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Poggi, Sr. (Nell Moragues). He was predeceased by his father and mother. Tony is survived by his wife, Sharon White Poggi, daughter, Deirdre Poggi Reid, and granddaughters, Odile Reid and Lily Reid. He is also survived by his brother, Luis Moragues Poggi (Nancy). Tony graduated from McGill Institute in 1960. He then attended the University of Southern Mississippi 1960-62, and graduated from the University of Alabama in 1965. Tony was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity at both universities. He then attended Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, receiving his Juris Doctor Degree. He was currently serving as in-house Counsel for Oil Recovery Company. Tony was a member of several Mystic Societies. Tony had an affable, outgoing personality, a great sense of humor, and loved to laugh, mainly at himself. Always good company, he was loved by many, and a loyal friend to those lucky enough to have him as a friend. The memorial service will take place at Christ Church Cathedral, 115 S. Conception Street, Mobile, on January 12, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., followed by a reception/visitation there. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.