William Pope Obituary

William (Bill) Howard Pope Jr., age 86, of Pascagoula passed away peacefully on Monday morning, Feb. 21, 2022. He was born in Electric Mills, Mississippi on November 6, 1935. He moved to Pascagoula with his family in 1942 where he attended South Elementary School, Pascagoula Junior High, and Pascagoula High School. He began working at International Paper in 1953 and at Ingalls Shipyard in 1956. He hired on with the Pascagoula Police Department in 1959 as a motorcycle officer in the traffic division. He worked up through the ranks as traffic lieutenant, shift captain patrol, and administrative major, and was appointed as chief of police in 1982. During his career in law enforcement, he served in the National Guard 631st artillery for 8 years with the rank of sergeant 1st class and earned a BS in criminal justice from the University of Southern Mississippi. He served as president of the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Association and the Mississippi Chiefs of Police Association. He graduated from the FBI National Academy and trained with the Secret Service dignitary protection in Washington D.C., then attended the FBI National Academy again when he was trained in executive development. After 33 years in law enforcement, he retired in 1992 and went to work for Senator Trent Lott as a field representative for the next 11 years. During his life, Bill worked in the bus ministry at Eastlawn Baptist Church, taught Sunday School at First Baptist Church, and served as a deacon at Arlington Baptist Church in Pascagoula. He also ministered to sailors in the East and West Naval ports at the Seaman Center and worked with the Gideons doing Bible distribution. Bill's heart's desire all of his life was that his family would come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. He regularly ministered to each of them, as well as many others he met throughout his life. He will be remembered as a dedicated Christian, a loyal husband, a loving father, and a steadfast friend. He was preceded in death by his father, William H. Pope Sr., his mother, Lela G. Pope; grandson, Nick Woods; son, Scott Holliday and nephew, Steve Kirkland. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Beverly Dianne Pope; brother, D.B "Pete" Pope; sister, Glenda Kirkland; three daughters, Leigh Ann(Mike) Woods, Melissa Courville, and Tiffiney Pope; three sons, Mike Pope, Mark Pope, and William "Billy" Howard Pope, III (Jennifer); grandchildren, Kailen Box, Taylor Pope, Allison Woods, Caroline Woods, Susanna Courville, Mary Ella Courville, Katie Imes, Chris Pope, Bethany Boothe, Brooke Sumrall, Leighton Odom, John Koenenn, Lacie Koenenn, Andrew Stokley, Britney Penton, Tyler and Brandon Holliday as well as 11 great-grandchildren and numerous other relatives and good friends. Visitation will be Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, 10:00-11:00am, at Arlington Baptist Church in Pascagoula. Funeral Service will begin at 11:00am with Rev. Michael Wilkinson officiating. Pallbearers will be Mike Pope, Mark Pope, Billy Pope, Mike Woods, Fred Ros, and Brandon Holliday. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Pascagoula Police Department and Pascagoula Police Department to serve as Honor Guard. There will be a private burial service with the family at Jackson County Memorial Park in Pascagoula. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his memory to Gideon International, P.O. Box 2315, Pascagoula, MS 39569-2315. You may send condolences to his family, watch a Memorial Video of Pictures, or share a memory of Mr. Bill at www.obryantokeefe.com