James William Halbert

James William (Buddy) Halbert, 97, of Columbus , passed away peacefully at his home on September 10, 2016.

Visitation will be at 10:00 am Saturday, September 17, at Memorial Funeral Home with an 11:00 funeral service. Reverend Ron McDougald will be officiating. Burial will follow at Piney Grove Cemetery in Steens.

Mr. Halbert was born on May 23, 1919 in Columbus to the late Ola Jewell Halbert and James W. Halbert. He was a faithful member of First United Methodist Church and the Stuckenschneider Sunday School Class.

A 1936 graduate of New Hope High School , Mr. Halbert served in the European Theater during World War II in North Africa and Italy as part of the Signal Air Warning Battalion. He was also called back into service during the Korean War and trained troops stateside.

Mr. Halbert worked over 36 years as a conductor for the GM&O and ICG railroad.

Baseball was a lifelong love of Mr. Halbert. He pitched and played first base for the New Hope Trojans, the East Mississippi Jr College Lions and the Electric Mills semi-pro baseball teams. He and his wife enjoyed being longtime MSU season ticket holders and following the baseball Bulldogs in their motorhome for many years.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Addie Elizabeth Loftis Halbert and sisters Martha Elmore, Marjorie Chatham, Frances O’Bryant and Lucille Kendrick.

He is survived by his nieces and nephews Kay and Steve Ellis, Becky Johnston, Murrah Elmore, Mark O’Bryant, John O’Bryant, Pete O’Bryant, Sam O’Bryant, Jimmy O’Bryant, David O’Bryant, Kathy Woods, Hilda Drummond, Geraldine Moody, Peggy Neighbors, Barbara McBroome, Ann Brooks, Peyton Rawls, David Cox, Taylor Smith, Dillard Smith, Charlie Chatman, Sue Chatman, Johnnie Jean Sanborn, Milt Loftis, Jim Loftis, Valerie Dorsey, Frank Loftis and Virginia Kerr.

Pallbearers will be Ben Ellis, John Koch, Mark O’ Bryant, Milt Loftis, Jim Loftis and John Gore.

Honorary pallbearers are Nettie Murrah, Gloria Sparks, Minnie Petty, Charity Walter, Debbie Gore, Lou McRae, Son and Shirley Brown and Eddie and Darryl Perkins.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church , 501 Main Street Columbus , Ms 39701 or the Trojan Baseball Club, PO Box 5521 Columbus , MS 39704.<iframe id="tukios_player_512x330" allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="330" scrolling="no" src="https://www.tributeslides.com/videos/embedded_video/9JGSGLLXPW4JN5HP" width="512"></iframe>