Warner McNeill Wells Jr., 103, was born on Jan. 25, 1915 in Greenwood. He passed away peacefully in his home in Jackson on Monday, May 21, 2018.
Mr. Wells attended Davidson College in North Carolina, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and held an NCAA swimming record. He then transferred to The University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, to complete his college education.
He returned to Greenwood to begin his business career. He joined his father at Warner Wells Insurance Agency and later became president. He was also president of First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Greenwood, co-owner of Wells and Pond American Oil distributors, president of the Greenwood-Leflore County Chamber of Commerce, president of the Mississippi Independent Insurance Agents, president of the Mississippi Savings and Loan Association, president of the Southern Insurance Group in Naples, Florida, president of the Greenwood Country Club, and a developer of real estate. Mr. Wells enjoyed serving on the boards of various organizations throughout his long life and was a loyal contributor to many charities.
He was the oldest member of the First Methodist Church in Greenwood, which his parents help found. He was a trustee of the Methodist church and a longstanding member of the choir. Due to the quality of his beautiful voice, he sang in at least half of the weddings and funerals in the Mississippi Delta in his day. He was also a member of the Kiwanis Club Barber Shop Quartet.
He was married to the late Memrie Gary Wells for 53 years, until her death in 1996. They enjoyed many years of golfing and traveling around the world until they decided to split their time between Highlands, North Carolina, and Naples, Florida. He later moved to Jackson, where he married Marisue Wilkinson Wells, and they continued to enjoy his hobbies of golf and travel.
Mr. Wells was preceded in death by parents Hattie and Warner Wells Sr., his first wife, Memrie, and his sister, Martha Wells Goslen.
He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Marisue; his son, Warner McNeill Wells III (Anne); his daughters, Memrie Wells Bruce (Jim) and Rebecca “Becky” Wells Johnson (the late Larry Johnson); Marisue’s children, Ab Wilkinson (Laura), Kimberly Wilkinson Mason (Mark) and Christopher Wilkinson (Stacey); and 13 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and various nieces and nephews.
The family is most grateful to Ms. Daisy Tisdale and StaHome Hospice for their loving support.
Visitation for Mr. Wells will be held at Parkway Funeral Home at 1611 Highland Colony Parkway in Ridgeland on Wednesday, May 23, 2018, between 4 and 6 p.m.
There will be a private family burial at Odd Fellows Memorial Cemetery in Greenwood at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 24, 2018.
Memorial donations may be made in the name of Warner McNeill Wells Jr. to First Methodist Church, 310 W. Washington St., P.O. Box 1870, Greenwood, MS 38930/662-453-2822 or to the charity of your choice.