Billy B. Moss, Sr. 86, loving husband, father, grand -father and great grand-father passed away Tuesday, September 2, 2014. Visitation will be Thursday, September 4, 2014 from 10 AM - 11 AM at Fairview Baptist Church, Columbus, MS. Funeral services will follow at 11 AM at Fairview Baptist Church with Bro. Sammy Crawford officiating and Bro. Tommy Gillon assisting. Interment will be at 3 PM at Lena Cemetery, Lena, MS with Lowndes Funeral Home directing. Born October 6, 1927 to the late Robert L. Moss and Douglas Nutt Moss, he was a native of Lena, MS and a longtime resident of Columbus, MS. After graduating from Lena High School in 1945, Billy joined the U.S. Navy and served honorably until 1946 attaining the rank of Petty Officer Third Class. Billy attended East Central and Hinds Jr. Colleges before graduating from Mississippi State College in 1950 in the School of Education, having done his practice teaching at the old S.D. Lee High School in Columbus. Upon graduating, he taught high school in Columbia, MS for 1 year. In 1951, Billy joined Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph and began his 36 year career in Natchez, MS as a lineman climbing poles. After stops in Jackson and Gulfport, his career brought him to Columbus, serving as general manager from 1965 until his retirement in 1987 from then South Central Bell. Billy was an active member of Fairview Baptist Church where he served as a deacon for many years and a member of James Oliver's Sunday School Class. Billy was active in his community serving on numerous boards including President of the Chamber of Commerce, President of Mississippi Jaycees, advisory council of Lowndes County Extension Service, board of directors of 4-H, Salvation Army advisory board and Troop 3 Boy Scouts of America executive board. He was a Rotarian, served on the Columbus planning commission and was a life member of the AT & T pioneers. Billy married his loving wife of 63 years, Vivian Marie Thomas, on October 21, 1950 in Jackson, MS. After his retirement, they spent many happy years together traveling, enjoying their passion of crappie fishing on the Tenn Tom and following MSU baseball. Billy is survived by his wife-Vivian Thomas Moss; sons-Doug (Carole) Moss, Caledonia, MS and Bill (Ruthie) Moss, Jr., Columbus, MS; grandchildren-Justin Moss, Jana Moss (Mike Boyle), Jason Harrison, Audrey Moss, Anna Moss all of Columbus, MS and Alex (Daniel) McCafferdy, Reform, AL; great grandchildren-Savannah Moss, Shreveport, LA , Maris James, Columbus, MS and Harper McCafferdy, Reform, AL. Pallbearers will be James Oliver, Roland Hill, J.B. Cox, Bobby Ward, Ralph Blackstock, Ray Crosby, Ralph Taylor and Ricky Knox. Honorary pallbearers are James Oliver's Sunday School Class. The family gives thanks to the doctors, nurses and caregivers of Baptist Hospice and to his personal caregivers- Debra Knox, Hope Hollis, Ella Outlaw, Pam Williams and Vicky Brandy; neighbors- Sue Merchant, Edna Boone and Leon and Myra McAdams. The family request memorials may be made to : Billy and Vivian Moss Annual Scholarship College of Education, MSU Foundation, P.O. Box 6149, Mississippi State, MS 39762 of to your favorite charity.