Carl Ponders

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Union Community/Plantersville-Wylie Carl Ponders, at age 85, departed this life at 4:35 am Monday, October 31, 2022 from his home in the Union Community south of Plantersville after a brief illness.  Carl, a dirt road sport by any standards, was born in Lee County on September 8, l937 and lived here all his life.  He was the son of the late Eldridge Ponders and Nora Dillard Ponders.  Carl married Virginia Smithey on May 15, l958 and she survives.  A big, strong burly man, Carl was a roofer many years and a  master heavy equipment operator.   He worked over 25 years with the Tupelo Public Works Department.  Known as “Mr. P” by his work associates, Carl was a practical jokester and picked on everyone equally.  He was not afraid to speak his mind and often said, “don’t ask if you don’t want to know.”  He enjoyed the outdoors and hunting in his younger days and retired to his “pride and joy”-his big country garden and its produce.  He and Virginia were members of the Center Hill Baptist Church.

A service celebrating Carl’s life will be held at 11 AM Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at the Sadie Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo with Steve Holland and Kenny McGill officiating.  Burial will follow in the Union Cemetery south of Plantersville.  Visitation will be from 4PM-7PM Tuesday, 11/1/22 at the funeral home.  For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at www.hollandfuneraldirectors.com/Livestreaming at 11 AM Wed. and will be permanently archived thereafter.

Carl is survived by his wife of 64 years; Virginia; a daughter, Teresah Ponders Caire (Albert) of Tylertown, MS; 3 sons, Gene Ponders of Brewer and Randle and Johnny Ponders both of Plantersville;  his grandchildren, James Caire (Claire) and Jason Caire (Jennifer); 4 great grandchildren, Jillian, Sawyer, Jana and Jacob Caire.  He was preceded in death  his parents, Eldridge and Nora Ponders, an infant daughter, Cynthia Ann Ponders ; 1 brother, James Ponders and 3 sisters, Joanne (Morgan) Ponders, Ruth (Johnson)Ponders and Mary Opal Ponders.

Pallbearers are James and Jason Caire, Colin Ponders, Allen Seymore, Bobby and Barry Ellis. Honorary pallbearers will be Fred Lee, Mitch Smith, James “Jiggs” Matthews and past and present employees of Tupelo Public Works Department.

Holland Funeral Directors is honored to be serving their neighbors and friends.