Reginald Elridge Wise, 71, of Brookhaven, MS went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, April 5, 2023.  He was born in Bogalusa, LA on January 14, 1952.  Regi was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and mentor.

Regi was a man of many interests and talents.  From an early age he took a keen interest in the outdoors and was a student of the science and behavior of God’s creation for the rest of his life.  This love of understanding how things work carried over into his academic and professional pursuits.  In 1974 he graduated from Mississippi State with a degree in engineering. This led to a career in the aerospace industry including becoming a lead engineer at the Stennis Space Center.  He later worked alongside his family as a co-owner of Dickerson & Bowen building roads and highways.  He enjoyed sharing his love and knowledge of nature and science with his family and spending countless days in the swamps and pine forest of Mississippi. Once his children were grown, he extended his love for teaching to the community.  In his 60s he continued his formal education obtaining a M.A. at Belhaven and became a science teacher at McComb High School and Bogue Chitto Attendance Center.  For the last eleven years he   coached the Bogue Chitto Robotics Team. He loved photography, electronics, and spending time with his grandchildren.      

Preceding him in death were his parents, Shirley Elridge Wise and Phyllis Mitchell Wise; and brother Kyle Wynne Wise.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Beverly Wise; daughter, Melissa Wise Philley (Benjamin); sons, Matthew Elridge Wise and Mitchel Wayne Wise; sister, Nancy Wise Carnaggio (Frank); grandchildren, Libby Lane Philley; Layla James Philley; Isaac Wayne Wise; Paul Elridge Wise; and Susan Katherine Wise.

He will be greatly missed by all who loved him.

Visitation will be held Saturday, April 8, 2023 from 10:00am until 11:00am and funeral services at 11am at the Riverwood Family Funeral Home.

Rev. Greg Warnock will officiate the service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Bogue Chitto Robotics Team or a church or charity of your choice.