Ernest Roy Stuart Jr

Ernest Roy Stuart, Jr., 76, of Macon, MS, entered the presence of the Lord surrounded by his loving family at home, February 26, 2026, after a lengthy illness and stroke. Visitation will be held at First Methodist Church of Macon, MS, Monday, March 2, 2026 from 10:00-11:30 a.m., with a graveside service immediately following at Salem Cemetery. Memorials may be made to First Methodist Church of Macon, P.O. Box 309, Macon, MS 39341, Salem Cemetery Fund, c/o Nick Clark, 7726 Honey Lake Road, Macon, MS 39341, or Tunnel to Towers Foundation (T2T.org). Cockrell Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with arrangents.

Born January 2, 1950, in Macon, Mississippi, to Nickey and Roy Stuart, Sr., Roy was an only child and beloved by his parents and grandparents. He grew up on a multi-generational family farm, where he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and the family’s cattle business. He attended and was baptized at Concord Baptist Church. As a student, Roy was active in 4-H, FFA, and Beta Club. He graduated with honors from Noxubee County High School in 1968, and Mississippi State University in 1972, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Economics. After college, he moved back to Macon where he worked in banking, farming, and then was an entrepreneur. In the 1980s he was a co-owner of Southland Ford Motor Company and later owned Bob’s Guns, sporting goods stores in Macon and Columbus. He and his business partners owned and operated an insurance agency and two medical clinics. For many years he owned and operated Dry Creek Outfitters, a hunting operation in Macon, MS.

Roy loved Macon, where he served on the Zoning Board for the city for many years. He was a member of First Methodist Church of Macon. Roy enjoyed having morning coffee daily with his friends and business associates. He was known for appearing stoic, but those who knew him best recognized his soft heart. Roy loved quietly helping people in need. Because of his serious demeanor, his family and friends enjoyed making him crack a smile. He had a dry wit accompanied by hilarious nicknames for many friends and fellow Maconites.

In addition to his parents, Roy was preceded in death by his grandparents Belle (Perkins) and Ben Stuart and Dolly and Earl Dickson. He is survived by his wife Marianne Godbold Stuart, children Morgan Roberts (Haydn) of Brandon, Lee Lindley (Stacey) of Madison, Meg Ebert (Jason) of Columbus, and Kate Norris (Nathan) of Foley, AL; grandchildren Mary Milton, Sarah Beth, John Stuart, and George Roberts; Addison, Maggie, and Carter Lindley; and Sloan and Molly Norris.