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Obituary
Joseph Hilton Ferrill, age 92, of Poplarville, MS, passed away on October 3, 2017, peacefully at home. Joe was born on February 19, 1925, in Laurel, MS, to Joseph Forrest and Stella Hilton Ferrill of Laurel. He graduated from George S. Gardner High School in Laurel and enlisted in the Army. Later he attended Emory University, Georgia. At Lackland Army Base in Texas, he was selected as a pilot and graduated with honors.
Joe served in World War II in Belgium and the Netherlands until the surrender of Germany on June 6, 1945. He served as an aide to the general in charge of reconstruction of the port city Bremerhaven in North Germany for 1 ½ years. Joe received an honorable discharge from the Army Air Corp.
Following World War II, Joe accepted a position as a commercial airline pilot with Southern Airways based in Memphis, Tennessee. Through a merger, Southern Airways was integrated with Republic Airlines. He also flew critical cargo missions during the Korean War and Vietnam War. In 1985, Joe retired from the Tennessee Air National Guard as a Lieutenant Colonel and the airline industry.
Joe is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joye Dean Ferrill. His children Juile (Walter) Zwies, Jennifer (Michael) Seal, Cynthia Wilhite, Susan (Cal) Lewis, and Mike Ferrill. He was preceded in death by his son, John Hilton Ferrill.
Joe is survived by grandchildren Charles Zwies, Jessica Zwies, Raleigh Seal, Christopher Wilhite, Brandon Wilhite, Hannah Pressley, Daniel Lewis, Joel Lewis, and four great-grandchildren.
Graveside funeral services will be at FOREST LAWN MEMORIAL GARDENS, 154 Garrett and McGill Drive, Poplarville, MS, 39470 on Friday, October 6, 2017 at 3:30 pm with military honors. The family will receive friends from 1:00 pm, until 3:00 pm, Friday at First Baptist Church, 203 S Main Street, Poplarville, MS, 39470.
In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to St. Jude's Hospital in Memphis, TN.
Joseph Hilton Ferrill
February 19, 1925 - October 3, 2017