MERIDIAN —

     A memorial service for Robert Woodson Emmons Jr will be held Wednesday January 23, 2013, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1116 23rd Ave., Meridian, with the Revs. Brian Ponder and Henry Hudson officiating.

    Robert Woodson Emmons, Jr., died Friday at Brookwood Medical Center in Birmingham, Ala., of complications from cancer. He was 63.

    He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Pace Cooke Emmons, and their daughter Robin Forde Emmons. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Emmons, Sr., and Rosa Forde Emmons, and his sister Sarah Wyse Emmons.

    He is also survived by his aunt Sara Emmons; uncles Mack Emmons (Gloria); and William Emmons (Caroline), all of Meridian; uncle Rome Emmons (Cola) of Hattiesburg; and uncle Flynt Emmons (Janet) of Conroe, Tex. He was preceded in death by his aunts Jane Emmons, Elsie Emmons Johanssen and Fay Emmons Downey, all of Meridian, and Anita Emmons Covington of Quitman, Miss.

    A native of Meridian, Emmons was a graduate of Meridian High School, where he played on the varsity baseball and football teams. Following graduation from the University of Mississippi, he worked as a newspaper reporter at the Georgetown (Kentucky) News, Frankfurt (Kentucky) State-Journal and the Lexington Herald-Leader in Lexington, Ky.

    He is the former owner of the family business, Troy Laundry and Cleaners, which he joined in 1985. Since he retirement from Troy Cleaners, he has operated Emmons Properties.   

    He delighted in time out of doors, be it be camping, hiking, hunting quail or fly-fishing. He also designed and built bamboo fly rods, tied flies and created wooden waterfowl carvings.

    In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to the Emmons Family Scholarship at Meridian Community College, 910 Hwy. 19 North, Meridian, MS 39307, or the charity of your choice.

    Visitation will be Wednesday, January 23, 2013 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

    Family and friends may sign the online memorial, leave a personal note for the family or order flowers at jamesfwebb.com.