KOSCIUSKO —
Joel Gill, 61, of Pickens died October 18, 2012. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 22, at the Pickens First United Methodist Church. A committal service followed at 2 p.m. in Lakewood Memorial Park in Clinton.
Born in St. Joseph, Missouri during the Truman Presidency, Joel spent his elementary years learning in the public education systems of four states, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and Kansas.
Arriving in Jackson, in 1963, his education continued through Bailey Junior High, Callaway High School and Millsaps College where he finished with a degree in Physics and Astronomy in 1973. Joel was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
Moving to Pickens, in 1979, Joel and his brother assisted their father in running the family cattle business, MS Order Buyers Inc., a typical small business operation that stretches over six states and grosses over 30 million dollars per year and provides jobs for local workers.
He has served on the Board of Aldermen of Pickens from 1989 to 1993 and again from 2005 to 2009. The people of Pickens saw fit to elect him to the office of Mayor in June of 2009 with 78 percent of the vote.
At the local level, aside from business owner and mayor, Joel served his church, Pickens First United Methodist, as choir director and administrative council chairperson. He also served as a director on the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce, the MS Beef Council, and on the national level as a R-Calf USA Checkoff Chairman, Region XII (MS, AR and LA) Director, and vice-president of the National Board of R-CALF.
Joel is survived by his mother, Wanda Gill; wife, Ann; son, Jason (Teyannie);grandsons, Jordan, Alex and Hunter; daughter, Penny Robertson (Jim),grandson, Tyler; brother, Jack (Shelia),six nieces and nephews. Joel was preceded in death by his father, Jack L. Gill, Sr.
Memorial gifts may be made to Blair E. Batson Childrens Hospital, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216. Phone (601) 984-1000.
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