Attala County lost three men this week, each known in his own way as a leader in our communities. We pay tribute:
Robert “Billy” Pickle
Robert W. “Billy” Pickle, longtime Kosciusko pharmacist, died Friday, Jan. 19, 2018.
Pickle had served as pharmacist at City Drug Store on the east side of the courthouse square before becoming the owner of Pickle’s Drug Store, down the street on the corner.
James Boyd, pharmacist at Boyd’s Drug Store on the opposite corner from Pickle’s location, said he and Pickle were friendly rivals.
“We had a good relationship, both professional and personal. Although we were rivals, we helped each other,” said Boyd.
Son Robert “Rob” Pickle carries on his father’s profession and business at Pickle’s Drug Store.
Troy D. Steed
Former law enforcement officer Troy D. Steed, 68, was remembered for his military service and his contributions to the City of Kosciusko and Attala County at his funeral services Sunday, Jan. 21, at Culpepper Funeral Home Chapel.
Steed died Jan. 18, 2018, at his residence following an illness of several years.
He was a veteran of both the Kosciusko Police Department, where he served for 15 years, and the Attala County Sheriff’s Department, where he served four terms as Sheriff.
A decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, he was the recipient of the Mobile Air Medal, Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. He sustained an injury to his right arm during the conflict. Health issues from that injury resulted in his leaving the Sheriff position before his final term expired, he said in a 2016 interview with The Star-Herald.
The Steed family has a long tradition of serving in law enforcement. His three sons are following that tradition, with two serving as Deputy Sheriff and the other as an investigator with the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
Numerous law enforcement vehicles and the American Legion Riders joined in the funeral procession to the cemetery.
Ernest ‘Ernie’ Flint
Longtime Mississippi State University Extension Service Agronomist Dr. Ernest “Ernie” Hilmon Flint Jr. died Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, at his residence following an illness.
Flint had served with MSU Extension Service since 1991. He was Attala County Agent for several years and in later years served as an area agronomist for several counties. He wrote a weekly agriculture column for The Star-Herald and other newspapers in the area.
“He loved Extension and what it means to the people of the state of Mississippi. He also loved working in the field of agriculture day-to-day and being in contact with such great people as yourselves,” said his son Greg in a notification of his death.
