Jack Ellis Speed, Sr., 80, formerly of Ethelsville, AL passed away at his residence in Amory, MS, on Saturday, January 7, 2017. He was surrounded by his wife and four children.

His Visitation will be Tuesday, January 10, 2017, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Lowndes Funeral Home, Columbus, MS. His Funeral Service will be Wednesday, January 11, 2017, at 11:00 AM at Tabernacle United Methodist Church, Ethelsville, AL with Bro. Roy McHenry officiating and Bro. Jim Godwin assisting. Mr. Jack will lie in state on hour prior to his service. Burial will follow at Tabernacle UMC Cemetery with Lowndes Funeral Home directing.

Mr. Jack was born February 14, 1936, to the late John Luke and Nolie Ann Porter Speed. He was the youngest of nine children and grew up on the family farm. He attended Liberty School and later volunteered to join the Army where he served in the Headquarters Company 2nd Battalion 188th Airborne Division as a paratrooper.

In 1956, he married Betty Jones with whom he raised four children. He lived in New Hope and was a well-known contractor, building many homes in the Columbus and surrounding area.

In 1971, he purchased and returned to the family farm, where he spent many years enjoying his love of the land which included row cropping, his catfish lakes, and livestock.

After retiring from the farm, he went to work at R & D Maintenance where he met and married his wife of 19 years, Paula Whaley Perkins. He retired in 1999 from R & D Maintenance in Amory, MS where he and his wife enjoyed working together doing woodwork in their shop, gardening, cooking, and yard work. He also loved his dog,  Dixie Darling. In addition to his parents, Jack was preceded in death by his brothers-Robert Lee Speed, Sr., A. J. Speed, Bryan Speed, and Porter Speed; sisters-Ester Mae Brownlee, Louise Cole, Gladys Leighton, and Ann Atkins.

Jack is survived by his wife-Paula Speed; son-Jack "Bud" (Milton Araujo) Speed, Jr.; daughters-Lisa (Eddy) Godfrey, Debra (Johnny) Crimm, and Tammie (David) Parker; and step-son-Anthony Whaley.  He is also survived by his grandchildren who know him as "Daddy Jack"-Jo Lynne Robertson, Jacklyn Humphres, Jed Hickman, Emily Hubbert, Tracy Weathers, Diana Stapp, Hunter Crimm, Zackery Parker, Lucas Parker, Megan Franks; step-grandchildren-Paul Whaley and Carah Whaley; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Shann Humphres, Chad Robertson, Stephen Weathers, Brad Stapp, Steven Franks, Jed Hickman, Hunter Crimm, Zackery Parker, and Lucas Parker.

Memorials may be made to Tabernacle UMC Buiding Fund, 2362 Tabernacle Road, Columbus, MS 39702.