FLORA — William F. “Bill” Lunsford Jr., 85, died Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson. Visitation will be 6-8 tonight at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home on Highland Colony Parkway in Ridgeland. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church in Canton preceded by visitation at 9:30 a.m. Burial will be at Flora Cemetery.

He was a dedicated and devoted family man whose wisdom and caring heart will be missed by all who knew him. He was a faithful member of First Presbyterian Church of Canton, where he had served as deacon and elder and was president of the Kitchen Class Sunday school class.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 55 years, Margie Hearn Lunsford; sons, William F. Lunsford III and Guy Lunsford; his parents, William and Alma Lunsford; brothers, Lonnie “Buddy” Lunsford and Herman Lunsford; and sister, Cecil Hale.

Survivors include a daughter, Kay Eldridge (Harris) of Flora; sons, Bill Lunsford (Lynn) of Clinton and Al Lunsford (Debbie) of Flora; grandchildren, Bill Lunsford Jr. (Holly) of Canton, Christopher Lunsford (Weatherby) of Clinton, A.J. Lunsford of Flora and Mallory Adcox (Jacob) of Morton; great-grandchildren, Addison Lunsford of Clinton and Katelyn Adcox of Morton; sisters, Esma Parks of Vicksburg and Willie Mae Davis of Rolling Fork; sister-in-law, Liz Lunsford of Covington, Ky.; brother-in-law, James Otto Hearn Jr. (Alice) of Vicksburg; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Canton, 202 E. Peace St., Canton, MS 39046 or the American Heart Association, 4830 McWillie Circle, Jackson, MS 39206.