Havis Hurley

A Celebration of Life will be held for Havis Hurley, 82, of Corinth, at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 22 at First Baptist Church in Corinth. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m., Friday, March 21 at the church and from 10-10:45 a.m., Saturday, March 22. Havis’ request is for everyone to join the Celebration of Life in casual attire.

Giving loving tributes about Havis’ life will be Bro. Nathan VanHorn, Bro. Kim Ratliff, Bro. Dennis Smith, JB Darnell and Allison Cornelius. Pallbearers will be Dalton Hurley, Chad Cornelius, Lucky Briggs, Ken Briggs, Robert Briggs and Jimmy Rogers. Honorary pallbearers will be J. B. Darnell, Michael Dickerson, Leonard Hajek, Members of John Smillie’s Sunday School Class and Havis’s Kids.

Magnolia Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Havis’ died Monday, March 17 at Magnolia Regional Health Center surrounded by his family.

Havis spent his entire life serving others through youth sports and as founder of the non-profit Havis’ Kids, with a mission to take special needs kids to Disney World. His legacy will be his love for working with kids. For these efforts, he was named Junior Auxiliary Citizen of the Year in 2012.

He was a devoted member of John Smillie’s Sunday School Class and usher at First Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Cheryl Williams Hurley; son, Mark Hurley (Jan); three daughters, Angi Greenway (Donnie), Katie Simmons (Jimbo), Allison Cornelius (Chad); grandchildren - Kyle McNutt, Hunter Simmons, Dalton Havis Hurley, Megan McBrayer (Trent), John Williams Cornelius, Addie Lee Cornelius, and Riley Jane Cornelius and brother Billy Hurley.

He was preceded in death by his parents, A.G. and Josephine Surratt Hurley; brother, Jimmy Hurley, and sisters-in-law, Sandy Hurley and Jimmie Gayle Hurley, brother-in-law, Billy Ray Briggs.

Havis served as SportsPlex and Corinth Y director of almost 20 years from 1987 to 2006. He also drove a special needs bus for the Corinth School District.

As founder of Havis’ Kids, he took five trips with special needs kids to Disney World and organized a 6th trip but was unable to attend due to health reasons. Over the years, Havis took youth to Disney World from Boys and Girls Club in Fort Lauderdale, Project Attention, SportsPlex and other youth organizations.

Havis’ love for Disney World was a testament to his over 60 visits there throughout his life.

He was Corinth Park and Recreation Director from 1978-1987, bringing t-ball and soccer to Alcorn County for the first time.

He was also Unit Director of Boys Club of Broward County in Fort Lauderdale from 1967-1978.

At each of these career stops, Havis made lifelong friendships, which continue to this day.

Havis was a 1961 Corinth High School graduate, where he helped the baseball team to a state runner-up title.

He played profession baseball from 1961-1963 with the Cincinnati Reds Minor League System, playing in both the NY Penn League and Western Carolina League.

He graduated from Delta State University in 1967.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Havis’ memory to the Havis Hurley Special Account at 1400 N. Harper Road or they can be taken to Commerce Bank. Havis’ Kids will continue to fulfill the dreams of special needs kids.