George E. Estes

George E. Estes, Jr., 82, departed this life April 23, 2011, to Life Eternal. He was born on June 4, 1928, in Gulfport to George E. Estes, Sr. and Jettye M. Estes.
He is survived by his beloved wife of sixty years, Martha Anne Bishop Estes; his sons, George E. Estes, III (Debbie) and James Neal Estes (Lynn); grandchildren, David Bishop Estes (Nicole), Sarah Estes Rollins (John), Leslie Estes Shavers (John Michael) and Kelley Estes; and great-grandchildren, Sophie Rollins, William Rollins and Maggie Estes, all of Gulfport. He is also survived by his sister, Sarah Lynn Estes Greenlee (Bill) of Coppell, Texas, nieces and nephew.
A devoted family man; he enjoyed his children and grandchildren, attending numerous athletic, dance and cheerleading events. In the past 4 years, he was proud to become a great-grandfather. He and his wife enjoyed traveling with friends in this country and abroad. He was an avid reader and took much pleasure in woodworking.
He was a member of First Baptist Church of Gulfport for seventy years, where he served as chairman of the Deacons, taught Sunday School and was a member of numerous committees. His dedication to his faith was evident in his every walk of life.
George was valedictorian of his graduating class at Long Beach High School in 1945, where he was a member of the football team and band. While attending Mississippi College, he served as photographer for the Tribesman yearbook. After graduating from MC, he earned his Juris Doctorate in 1950 from the University of Mississippi School of Law and retired after sixty years of practicing law in Gulfport.
An avid fisherman and hunter, he was devoted to his community where as a member of Kiwanis Club, he served as President, Lt. Governor of Kiwanis International, Division 14, received the George F. Hixson award and achieved the status of lifetime member. He also served as a board member of the Salvation Army, received the Junior Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award in 1961, was active in the Gulfport Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Foundation Board of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He was a member of the Gulfport Yacht Club, Gulf Coast Symphony, United States Power Squadron and was recognized for thirty-two years of distinguished service as a board member of Merchants Bank and Trust and Advisory Board Member of Whitney National Bank .He served as city attorney under the administration of Mayor A. W. Lang, Jr.
Services will be Wednesday, April 27 at 2:00 p.m. at Riemann Family Funeral Homes on Three Rivers Road in Gulfport with visitation for family and friends from 12:00 until 2:00 p.m.
The family expresses its sincere gratitude to the Hickman family and to the emergency responders for their untiring efforts.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Gulfport, 12190 Highway 605, Gulfport, MS, 39503, or to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 3939 Gentilly Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70126.