Theodore Dear Jr., PhD

Published 2:18 pm Monday, April 7, 2025

Hazlehurst

Theodore Dear, Jr. was born in Hazlehurst on July 28, 1950, to Theodore Dear, Sr. and Bobbie Ree Burt Dear. He was called home after his four-year battle with cancer on April 4^th, 2025. A memorial service will be held April 13^th, 2025, at his beloved church, First Baptist Church, Hazlehurst. Stringer Family Funeral Services is handling the arrangements. Honorary pallbearers are Samuel Zachary Dear (son), Samuel Moon, Dr. Bob Ford, Dr. Randy Hankins, Dr. Bob Walker, William Whittington Perkins, Reverend Rick Munn, and Mr. Jim Davis.

In Lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Baptist Children’s Village or to the charity of your choosing in memory of Theodore Dear Jr.

After graduating from Hazlehurst High School in 1968, Dr. Dear began his higher education at Copiah – Lincoln Community College. He was a member of the marching band and stage band, Circle K, and served as the delegate to the 22^nd Mississippi youth congress of the Debate Club. He continued his education at the University of Mississippi, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Secondary Education in Social Studies and History. While at Ole Miss he was a proud member of the Delta Si chapter of Alpha Tau Omega social fraternity. He was a Dean and Presidents list scholar at both Co-Lin and Ole Miss.

Dr. Dear proudly served his country for three years as a member of the United States Special Security Group, Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence Department of the Army. He was stationed at the Pentagon and attached to Ft. Shafter, Honolulu, Hawaii. While stationed there, he attended the University of Hawaii where he studied sociology. He was honorably discharged on February 25, 1976, as a Vietnam Veteran.

Upon his arrival back in Mississippi he began his education career with the Mississippi Department of Education at the Mississippi School for the Blind. He enrolled in a master’s program at Mississippi College and obtained his master’s degree in 1978 with a 4.0 GPA. He continued at Mississippi College and received his specialist degree in guidance and counseling in 1984, graduating with honors. While working on his specialist degree he simultaneously enrolled at the University of Southern Mississippi pursuing his master’s in special education in the visually impaired. Braille and mobility courses were taken at the University of Kentucky in Louisville. Dr. Dear served for two years as high school guidance counselor in Crystal Springs, MS. While there he was initiated into Phi Delta Kappa, the nation’s highest professional educational honorary fraternity. For the next thirty-five years, Dr. Dear served as the Director of the Comprehensive Homebased Intervention Program for pre-school blind and visually impaired children, ages birth to five. During this time, he was named adjunct professor for many state universities and Head Start, providing vision intervention services. He was also an international consultant for Dr. Lillie Neilson, Founder of Active learning, of Denmark, providing information and hands on information.

Dr. Dear become a proud father in May of 1980 when he welcomed the birth of his son, Samuel Zachary Dear. In 1989 he became a father of two with the birth of his daughter, Rachel Blaine Dear. For forty-four years and thirty-five years, respectively, he dedicated his life to being the best mentor, role model, father, and best friend to his two children who deeply loved and admired him.  His world became even more joyful when he became “G2” to his two beloved grandchildren, Brayden Zachary Dear and Kayleigh Olivia Dear. He was always a very involved and loving father and grandfather. After his retirement from the Mississippi School for the Blind he made the most of his time making memories with his grandchildren, family and dear friends.

Dr. Dear was an active member in his church, First Baptist Church, Hazlehurst, where he was honored to serve as a Deacon and was a joyous member of the hand bell ensemble. He loved the Lord and he loved to serve others. He was an active member of his community and various social organizations. He was a proud member of the Order of the First Families of Mississippi, in which he held the title of Governor General for several years. He was also a member of the Sons of the Confederacy, Hazlehurst Friends of the Library, Hazlehurst Housing Authority, the Camellia Society, Hemerocallis Society, and many others.

He loved life, his family, friends, and fellowshipping with the Lord in the yard and garden of his home, lovingly known as Odonata. He was selfless and wanted to share life with everyone he met. He truly never met a stranger and somehow everyone had a connection back to his beloved Hazlehurst, Mississippi. After his cancer diagnosis he bravely and fearlessly fought his disease to his last breath. His family finds peace knowing he is resting, free of pain and cancer free, in the arms of our Heavenly Father.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Bobbie Ree Burt Dear, and father, Theodore Dear Sr.; Brother-in-law, Mr. Thomas Hardy Burton Sr.; Brother-in-law, Mr. Billy “Sherrill” Wallace, and nephew, Christopher Michael Dear.

He is survived by his beloved family; son, Samuel Zachary Dear and daughter in love, Jenna Leigh Jones Dear; daughter, Rachel Blaine Dear; grandchildren Brayden Zachary Dear and Kayleigh Olivia Dear; sisters Robin Janet Burton-Pennington (Joe); Jerri Blaine Dear Wallace; Bobbye Lynn Dear; Jane Marie Dear; nephew Thomas Hardy Burton, Jr. (Michelle); niece Lindsay Carol Burton; great niece Abigal Burton; Goddaughter Amanda Hammac Stysly; a host of extended family, church families and an abundance of cherished friends.

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to First Baptist Church, Hazlehurst, Reverend Chris Goolsby (First Baptist Church Hazlehurst), Dr. Kevin Cooper (Grace Crossing Baptist Church Madison), Reverend Rick Munn, The University of Mississippi Medical Center, Methodist Rehab, Copiah County Medical Center, Arden Hospice, Dr. John C. Henegan Jr., Dr. Patrick P. Dailey, Dr. Randy Hankins, Dr. Preston McDonnell, Mrs. Lauren Thompson, FNP-C, Mr. M. Luke Brasel, PA-C, and the broad team of nurses and entire staff of Copiah County Medical Center.