Services for Hugh Gerald Beggs, of McCall Creek, were heldWednesday, Jan. 27, at Riverwood Family Funeral Service Chapel,with burial in Riverwood Memorial Park.

Mr. Beggs, 86, died Jan. 26, 2010, at Hospice Ministries ofRidgeland. He was born in Morganfield, Ky., on Feb 7, 1923, to Dr.Forrest Beggs and Otha Henshaw Beggs.

As a young man, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was commissionedas commander, serving on a vessel off the coast of Africa duringWorld War II. It was during operation Torch that Hugh was capturedand held by the Germans as a prisoner of war in North Africa.

After the war, Hugh returned to Indiana and secured employment,selling farm equipment throughout the mid-south region. He turnedhis success in sales into ownership of a major beer distributioncompany located in Evansville, Ind. Like so many in that region, hefarmed corn, as well.

In the 1970s, Hugh retired to McCall Creek to run the Big “B,” astore renowned for ice cream and gasoline along Highway 84.

Hugh never lost his love for the water. He had been active invarious yacht clubs along the Mississippi River. Later in life, heenjoyed fishing the bayous and waterways of Louisiana. Hunting wasan additional outlet for Hugh. He owned two deer camps that cateredto corporate outings. Although a firm man, Hugh lent assistanceanonymously to individuals and institutions throughout hislife.

He was a member of the Methodist faith.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his second wife, AliceByrd Beggs, of McCall Creek; his sisters, Dean Jackson, of Chicago,Ill., Eva Mae Eskiss, of Carrollton, Ky., and Jane Beggs, ofLouisville, Ky.; and his brother, Dr. T.J. Beggs, ofCarrollton.

Survivors are Mary Beggs, of Brookhaven; his son, Hugh Beggs Jr.and wife Ellen, of Phoenix, Ariz.; his daughters, Anna Cozza andElizabeth Pantier and husband Richard, all of Boston, Mass.; hisstepson, Brad Smith and wife Theresa, of Brookhaven; hisstepdaughter, Dory Ann Givens and husband Conway, of Brookhaven;his sister, Anna Polland, of Carrollton; his eight grandchildren;and a number of nieces and nephews.

He labored hard for those he loved, then left us to remember.

To express your thoughts to the family, you may visitriverwoodfamily.com and click on his name to leave a comment.