Seymour Robert Pooley Jr. died peacefully at home surrounded by his family the evening of October 28, 2022. Seymour was born July 16, 1939 in New Orleans, the first of five children of Seymour Pooley Sr. and Gertrude Pooley. At the age of eleven his family moved to Jackson, MS. There he graduated from St. Joseph High School where he played football. Later he attended Mississippi State University and then served in the Army National Guard during the Berlin Crisis.
Seymour was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers Pat, Gus, and Danny. He is survived by his wife of 61 years Margaret Mclean Pooley, his sister Mickey Schaffler (Charlie), his sons Robert Pooley (Amy), Sam Pooley (Sylvia), and Sean Pooley (Julie). Also, grandchildren Ruth Pooley, Bob Pooley (Maddie), Rachael Lynch (Grady), Chandler See, Mclean Pooley, Zane Pooley, Sean Pooley Jr., Allison Pooley, Trey Till, and Kayla Till.
Seymour and Maggie have always loved to entertain. One of the ways Seymour excelled in entertaining was his ability to facilitate a conversation to allow someone else to be the center of attention. They have opened their home to many fundraisers, Christmas parties for Rotary of North Jackson, church events, weddings, and receptions. Together Seymour and Maggie were a part of a closely knit dinner club for over fifty years. He enjoyed fine art, traveling the world, photography, water skiing, camping and especially spending time with family.
Seymour was a member of Chapel of the Cross for over 40 years. He has served on the vestry and has chaired the church’s fundraiser, A Day in the Country. In the community he was chair of the St. Dominic Foundation, chairman of the board of Mississippi Food Network, Goodwill Man of the Year, chairman of Jobs for Mississippi Graduates, a Rotary Paul Harris member, and helped to build Stewpot’s Teen Center. Together Seymour and Maggie chaired the fundraiser “Run for the Roses” for the American Heart Association. He has served on the board of the Mississippi Food Network and on the board of Jobs for Mississippi Graduates.
He began working at South Central Heating and Plumbing as a child and bought the company in 1978, touching the lives of thousands of employees and families who loved and respected him. Seymour was generous in his business as well. While president of Mississippi Builders and Contractors he initiated the building of a Habitat House to be built in 24 hours. At that time, it broke a record for building time and the project went on to win a national ABC award. He served as the ABC chairman of the Chapter Education Committee, helped to build the Stewpot Teen Center, and was a trustee for the Construction Education Foundation. He served on the National ABC board for three years, the National Management Committee for five years, the Image Committee for one year and established national industry peer groups. He served as a Trustee for the Builders and Contractors Self Insurance Fund and for the Construction Education Foundation. His counsel was sought because of his quiet, friendly, intellectual and pleasant manner in which he would approach a problem.
Visitations will be held in the parish hall at Chapel of the Cross in Madison, MS on Thursday, November 3rd 4-6 pm and Friday, November 4th 9-11 am immediately followed by the funeral service, burial and reception at 11:00 am.
Memorials and donations can be made to Chapel of the Cross and to MS Food Network.
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