Jessie Eugene Huckaby, 78, of Caledonia, MS passed away Saturday, January 16, 2016, at DCH Regional Medical Center, Tuscaloosa, AL.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 20, 2016, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Lowndes Funeral Home, Columbus, MS. Graveside services will follow at Friendship Cemetery with Bro. Breck Ladd officiating and Lowndes Funeral Home directing.

Mr. Huckaby was born August 2, 1937, to the late Joshua Leon and Wilma Mae Poole Huckaby in Gholson, MS (Sciple's Mill). He graduated from S. D. Lee High School in Columbus, MS. Mr. Huckaby served in the MS National Guard and the US Navy, where he was one of the 1st Navy Seals with Seal Team 6 that served in the Vietnam War. Then he came aboard the aircraft carrier USS Randolf and was stationed in Norfolk, VA. Mr. Huckaby attended Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, and he played 4 years in the Brooklyn Dodgers Organization. In 1962, he married the former Mary Lavender in Columbus, MS. Mr. Huckaby worked for Hooker Chemical for 16 years and Weyerhauser for 18 years. He was known as "Pop" to many,  loved the outdoors, was an avid Ole Miss Rebel fan,  and loved watching his grandchildren play. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother-Royal Leon Huckaby.

Mr. Huckaby is survived by his wife of 53 years-Mary Lavender Huckaby, Caledonia, MS; his daughter-Linda (Wes) Mims, Columbus, MS; sons-Richard "Bubba" Huckaby and Brian (Suzy) Huckaby, both of Columbus, MS, and Thomas "Lee" (Jessica) Huckaby, Caledonia, MS; grandchildren-Houston Mims, Riley Huckaby, Ragan Huckaby, Andrew Huckaby, and Abby Huckaby; and his dog-Sweetie Pie Bella.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society, P. O. Box 85, Columbus, MS 39703 or Fairview Baptist Church, 127 Airline Rd., Columbus, MS 39702.