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Obituary for Joseph Sumner Bigelow
Joseph Sumner Bigelow died peacefully at the VA Medical Center September 9, 2016. Joe was born on October 21, 1924, in Galveston, TX, the eldest of three children to William Sumner and Frances Porch Bigelow. Following his education in the Memphis public schools, like so many in the Greatest Generation his education was interrupted by his service in World War II, serving for three years in the Army Air Force. After the war Joe obtained his undergraduate degree from Mississippi College in Clinton, MS, where he fell in love with his history professor and future wife, Dr. Martha Mitchell Bigelow. He later received his masters degree in history at the University of Mississippi. Joe's work career began as a cotton broker in his father's business on Beale Street in Memphis, TN. He then pursued a career as a draftsman, preparing technical drawings for companies both in Michigan and in Mississippi. After completing graduate studies at Ole Miss, he began his teaching career, first teaching at All Saints Episcopal School in Vicksburg, MS, and later as professor of history and anthropology at Hinds Community College in Raymond, MS. He concluded his working career in the insurance business. Joe was an avid reader and sportsman, accumulating an impressive collection of books and antique firearms. He could almost always be found either in the woods, in a duck blind, reloading his own ammunition, or with his nose stuck in a book. He enjoyed many happy hours on his farm in Edwards, MS, raising cattle, tending his garden, fishing and bailing hay. His favorite outing with his girls was to poke around second-hand bookstores for hours on Saturday afternoons. His fascination with history was an active pursuit, whether it involved books, arrowheads, Civil War relics, Indian mounds, or country cemeteries. Joe is survived by two daughters, Martha (Marty) Bigelow Singletary (Bill), of Clinton, MS, Carolyn Bigelow, M.D., (John Zehr) of Jackson, MS; one sister, Letitia Bigelow Birdsong of Memphis, TN; and four grandchildren, Mitchell Hale Singletary, Andrew Pearson Zehr, Jessica Sumner Zehr and Daniel Stephen Zehr. The funeral service will take place at St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Bovina, MS, on Friday, September 16, 2016, at 2:00 p.m., followed by burial in the church cemetery. A reception will be held at the home of Carolyn Bigelow and John Zehr, 1475 Kristen Drive, Jackson, MS, from 6-8 p.m. on September 16, 2016. Memorials in Joe's memory may be made to The Nature Conservancy or Water.org. -
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