Services for Mr. Bobby Gerald Huckaby will be on Saturday, October 16, 2021, at 3:00 pm at Riverwood with interment at Riverwood Memorial Park.
Visitation will be prior to the service starting at 1:00 pm also at Riverwood.
Bobby Gerald Huckaby, of Bogue Chitto, passed away on October 13, 2021. Mr. Huckaby was born October 11, 1934, to Ruth & Julius Huckaby in Bogue Chitto, Mississippi.
He graduated from Bogue Chitto High School, in 1952, where he excelled in basketball garnering National All American Honors and leading his team to a state championship.
His demeanor on the court mimicked his off court personality, leading one sportswriter to offer this 1952 passage,
“ He’s a dependable player, a hard worker, quiet sort of fellow with a youthful smile and a pleasing personality. His character is a sterling compliment to Bogue Chitto and athletic competition.”
After graduation from Bogue Chitto, he attended Copiah Lincoln Jr. College and Mississippi College where he again excelled.
He earned little all American honors for his on-court performances and graduated with a Master’s Degree in Counseling.
He was elected into Mississippi College’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1983.
After graduating college, he was drafted into the United States Army and spent two years at Fort Chaffe in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
In the Army, he continued his athletic talents playing basketball, softball and winning 4th Army High Jump.
Once discharged, he coached basketball at State Line, MS, for seven years before becoming Head Basketball Coach at Copiah Lincoln Community College.
He eventually left coaching and became a Vocational Counselor until his retirement in 1995. He was elected into Co-Lin’s Sports Hall Of Fame.
His hobbies were pottery, gardening and cultivating beautiful flowers. He definitely had a green thumb! He was also a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Bogue Chitto.
He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers: JC (Annabell) , Aubrey (Ruthie), Lennox, Bill (Shirley) and Claude;
four sisters: Mamie Huckaby, Lucille Reeves (Carl), Mable Wallace (James), and Mattie Brown (James).
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Katherine Huckaby. He is also survived by three children; Cheryl Shelby (Gus), Julia Everett (Jack) and Robert Huckaby (Leanne),
as well as, two grandsons, Jake Shelby (Terah) and Jackson Everett; three step-grandchildren, Chad Shelby, Megan Martin and Josh Martin.
He is also survived by many great nieces and nephews. He also left behind his best friend, his black lab Ruger.
Donations may be made to Bethel Baptist Church.
