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in memoriam
Obituaries
Byron Kelly Green
Memorial services were held December 15 in
the sanctuary of First Baptist Church for Byron
K. ‘Buck’ Green.
Green, 92, died of heart failure December 12
at the Lake Lorman home of his loving daughter
and beloved son-in-law.
Green, affectionately called ‘Buck’ by all who
knew him, was born in Leakesville July 10, 1918. After
graduation from Leakesville High School, he attended
Mississippi State University until World War II prompted
him in January of 1942 to enlist in the United States Navy.
He served in the Pacific Theatre as Yeoman First Class on a
destroyer, the USS PURDY, and was part of the initial landing
force on the island of Tarawa. He later was awarded the
Bronze Star and Navy Unit Commendation Medal for ‘outstanding
heroism’ during the battle of Okinawa.
After honorable discharge from the Navy, he went to work
for the Standard Oil Company, where he met and married
his wife of 55 years, Martha Kennedy of Magee, who predeceased
him in 2003. In 1954, he founded Central Heating
Company, which he built into one of the top five residential
mechanical contractors in the Southeast, serving as its president
until his retirement in 1978.
Green was a deacon and faithful member of First Baptist
Jackson for more than 65 years, serving on numerous committees.
He was a major supporter of the Revelation Choir
youth music ministry, accompanying them on mission trips
in the United States and Europe. In the realm of civic activities,
he was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the Order of
the Jesters, and was cofounder of the Buck and Wing
Hunting Club near Port Gibson. He and his wife, Martha,
were active supporters of the Jackson Symphony League.
Buck Green was blessed with exceptional people skills,
‘never met a stranger,’ and his positive attitude, along with
his quick and unfailing sense of humor, endeared him to
adults and children of literally all ages.
In addition to his wife, Martha, he was preceded in death
by his parents, Hubert Lavender and Edna Killian Green,
brother Frank Green, and sister Mickey Green Brunson. He
leaves cherished loving memories to his only daughter Beth
Green Dean, son-in-law Richard M. Dean, and grandsons
Morgan and Carson Dean, all of Madison; nephews Mark
Green (Sherye) and Bert Green (Rhonda) of Jackson; niece
Darian Gibson of Ridgeland; nephew Bill Brunson (Tricia)
of Austin; niece Cindy Brunson of Madison; nephew
Richard Furr (Robin) of Wesson; niece Ann Tornyos (Karl)
of Houston, Texas; numerous great-nephews and nieces; and
dedicated caregiver Dipti Suthar of Ridgeland.
Pallbearers were Morgan Byron Dean, Carson Kennedy
Dean, Richard Kennedy Furr, Hubert Franklin Green Jr.,
Hubert Franklin Green III, Mark Richard Green, Mark
Richard Green Jr., Lt. U.S. Navy, and Richard Lewis
Ridgway Jr. Honorary pallbearers were the Rev. Larry
Black, William C. Brunson, Gray Hilsman, Charles Hood,
Horace Kerr, Granville Tate, Gene Tolley and the Explorers
Sunday School Class.
Memorials may be made to Lottie Moon Christmas
Offering at First Baptist Jackson; Hospice Ministries; or the
American Heart Association.
Obituary Policy
The Sun publishes
obituaries of Northsiders and their
families. Typically, we receive obituary
information from the funeral homes.
For a small charge, we invite readers
who are so inclined to supplement this
with more descriptive text capturing
the spirit of the person’s life.
Jane Eliza Luter Comfort
Graveside services were held December 17 at Lakewood
Memorial Park for Jane Eliza Luter Comfort of the reservoir
area.
Mrs. Comfort, 51, a longtime Jackson area resident, died
December 15, at River Oaks Hospital.
She grew up in Jackson, attended Duling Elementary
School, and was graduated from Woodland Hills Baptist
Academy.
She was graduated from Mississippi College with a
bachelor’s degree in education and worked in the daycare
field. She participated in Explorers Bible Study at Christ
United Methodist Church taught by her cousin, Becky
Luter Howell of Clinton. She was a member of First
Baptist Church of Jackson.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Dr. and Mrs.
J.C. Luter Jr.
Survivors are her husband Randy Comfort and son
Randall both of the Reservoir area; brother Jesse (Jay)
Crawford Luter III and his wife Cecelia of Laurel; brother
George Scott Luter and his wife Janie of Jackson; sister
Nell Luter Floyd of Ridgeland; and numerous nieces and
nephews.
Memorials may be made to the Lottie Moon Christmas
Offering at First Baptist Church of Jackson or a favorite
charity.
Don Grillo
A funeral mass was conducted at St.
Richard Catholic Church December 20 for
Don Grillo of Jackson.
Dr. Grillo, 77, passed away December 16
at Baptist Medical Center.
A native of New York, Grillo was a graduate
of Columbia University and Albany Medical College.
He retired as a colonel from the United States Air Force.
He helped establish the first ob-gyn residency at Keesler
Air Force Base where he taught gynaco pathology and
became chairman.
After retirement, Dr. Grillo worked for 20 years with the
Mississippi Department of Health, where he established
the first statewide ultrasound and mammogram program
for health department patients. During his career in
Jackson, he taught midwives, nurses, UMC Family
Medicine and Ob-Gyn residents. He served as District
Five health officer for many years.
Survivors are his wife of 53 years Lee Grillo; daughter
Frances Hess and her husband Trey of Ridgeland; sons
Kevin Grillo of Houston, Texas, and Thomas Grillo of
Jackson; the light of his life, grandchildren Katie and Beth
Hess; and sister Louise Viola of New York.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George and
Mary Grillo; brother Joseph Grillo; and sister Molly
Ciminelli.
Memorials may be made to the American Kidney
Foundation or the American Cancer Society.
Interment was at Natchez Trace Memorial Park
Cemetery.
happenings
Welty exhibit
An exhibit of Eudora
Welty’s photographs from
the 1930s, “Welty
Snapshots: At Home and
Away,” will be on display at
the Eudora Welty House
Education and Visitor
Center on Pinehurst Street
through January 17.
Moving nativity
St. Matthew’s United
Methodist Church in
Madison will feature a moving
nativity scene on the
church grounds through
January 6. Call 601-856-
9581 for more information.
Page 13A
William Bryant Ridgway
A family graveside service was held at
Lakewood Memorial Park December 16 for
William Bryant Ridgway of Madison. A
Celebration of Life service was held at Galloway
Memorial United Methodist Church.
Ridgway, 91, died December 13 at St. Catherine’s Village.
Ridgway was born in Jackson February 12, 1919, and was
graduated from Jackson Central High School in 1936. He
attended Millsaps College and was a 1940 graduate of the
University of Mississippi. He was a member of Kappa
Alpha Order.
In October 1941, Ridgway joined the United States Army
Air Corps. He was an instructor for advanced pilot training
for two years, then served as a B-24 Liberator pilot attached
to the 467th Bomb Group with the 8th Air Force in
Rackheath, England. He flew 14 combat missions before the
war in Europe ended in May 1945. He was honorably discharged
from active duty in the Air Force in October 1945,
but continued service in the U.S. Air Force Reserves until
October 1968, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel.
After returning to civilian life, Ridgway was graduated
from the Jackson School of Law in 1947, and was admitted
to the bar. He was a real estate broker, a principal in
Ridgway Management Inc., and was active in the oil and
gas, real estate and timber businesses. He was an active
member of Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church
for 85 years, where he served on the visitation committee,
delivered meals on wheels, taught Sunday School, served as
lay leader and chairman of the administrative board.
Ridgway was a member of the Monday Morning Bible
Study Group at Galloway for almost 40 years, and served on
the board of the Methodist Children’s Home. He served as
president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Men’s Y
Club, and the Jackson Central Lions Club. He served one
term in the Mississippi House of Representatives as a representative
for Hinds and Yazoo counties.
Ridgway was a charter member of the River Hills Club,
where he enjoyed weekly tennis games until age 80. He was
a member of the Chancellor’s Trust at the University of
Mississippi, and he was a passionate fan of Ole Miss football.
He loved time with family and friends, enjoyed traveling,
hiking, and fishing, and believed serving anyone in need
was a privilege. He felt blessed beyond measure each day of
his life.
Ridgway was the son of Charles Robert Ridgway Jr. and
Hattie Lewis Ridgway. He was pre-deceased by his daughter,
Patricia Ann Ridgway, his parents, sisters Alice Blount
and Ruth Boswell, and brothers Richard Ridgway and
Walter Stevens Ridgway II.
Survivors are Juanita Wallace Ridgway, his loving wife of
60 years; son William Bryant Ridgway Jr., and his wife,
Creed; daughter Ruth Ridgway West and her husband Eric;
son Douglas Wallace Ridgway and wife Deana; son James
Lewis Ridgway; grandchildren William Bryant Ridgway III,
Mary Kathryn Ridgway, Shannon Grace West, and Haley
Elizabeth West; and by his older brother Charles Robert
Ridgway III.
The family would like to thank the caregiving teams at St.
Catherine’s Village and Odyssey Hospice for providing genuine
loving and compassionate care. Dad loved, appreciated,
and treasured your friendship.
Memorials may be sent to Galloway Memorial United
Methodist Church, 305 North Congress St., Jackson, 39201-
1602, Millsaps College, 1701 North State St., Jackson,
39210, or a charity of choice.