Services for Perry Brandt Hood, of Hazlehurst, are 2 p.m.Sunday, Dec. 16, at First Baptist Church in Hazlehurst with burialin Hazlehurst Cemetery. Stringer Family Funeral Services is incharge of arrangements.

Visitation is Sunday from 12:30 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. at thefuneral home.

Mr. Hood, 18, died Dec. 13, 2007, in Morton.

He graduated in 2007 from Wesson High School, where he excelledin basketball and was chosen best offensive player his junioryear.

After his senior year season, Hood was awarded Best OffensivePlayer, Most Valuable Player, 2006 Wesson Invitational MostValuable Player, First Team All-District Region 6-2A, and a veryspecial award, Region 6-2A Player of the Year, that was awarded tohim unanimously by his opposing coaches. He was also recognized asa member of the All-Area Dream Team in boys’ basketball by TheDAILY LEADER.

He also excelled in high school baseball. Hood received the TeamLeadership Award his junior year and the team’s Most DedicatedPlayer award his senior year. Also during his senior year, he waselected Most Handsome for Wesson High School.

Upon graduation from Wesson High, Hood realized one of hislifetime dreams and accepted a full scholarship to play collegebasketball at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, where he had justcompleted his first semester.

He was a natural leader and led by example. One of his favoritequotes was, “Why wouldn’t I want the last shot when I know thatI’ve already made it?”

Preceding him in death were his uncle, Rodney Norman; and hisbest friend, Preston Berry.

Survivors are his parents, Perry and Linda Hood, of Hazlehurst;his brother, Brandon Hood, of Hazlehurst; his sister, Chelsey Hood,of Hazlehurst; his girlfriend, Kelli Herrington, of Brookhaven; hispaternal grandparents, Carroll and Elizabeth Hood, of Hazlehurst;and his maternal grandparents, Dudley and June Norman, ofHazlehurst.

He also leaves behind many other family members, friends,coaches, teammates, and others that truly looked up to him andloved him. He will be sorely missed.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hazlehurst UnitedMethodist Church Building Fund.