Aubrey Middleton McPhail

Published 6:30 am Saturday, August 13, 2011

Retired Grocery Store Owner

    Services for Aubrey Middleton McPhail will be held today, at 10:30 a.m., at Collinsville United Methodist Church with the Rev. Ennis Hyman and the Rev. Alan Randall officiating. Burial will be in Hamrick Cemetery in Collinsville with Robert Barham Family Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Visitation will be today, at 10 a.m., at Collinsville United Methodist Church.

    Mr. McPhail, 94, of Collinsville, died Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011, at Silverleaf Manor surrounded by his two sons. His wife of 48 years, Rosalyn Blanks McPhail, died in 1988.

    Survivors include his son, Mark and his wife Wanda of Collinsville; son, William (Bill) and his wife Eleanor of Burke, Va.; and son-in-law, Dr. J. B. Stroud of Thibodaux, La. He is survived by grandchildren: David McPhail and his wife Jenny of Oxford, Haley McPhail Davis and her husband Patrick of Jackson, Morgan McPhail Vitart and her husband Matthew of Jackson, Katharine McPhail Scala and her husband Josh of Black Mountain, N.C., William McPhail II of Burke, Va., Jody Stroud and his wife Robin of Lake Charles, La., and Josh Stroud of Thibodaux, La. His great-grandchildren are: Logan McPhail, Grayson and Finley Davis, Ella Katherine, Anne-Hartley, and Mark Toxey Vitart, Grady and Myles Scala, and Reagan and Cooper Stroud. In addition he is survived by two sisters: Mrs. Marvel Gartman of Houston, Texas, and Mrs. Verna Mae Smith of Natchez.

    He was preceded in death by his wife, Rosalyn Blanks McPhail; daughter, Bettye McPhail Stroud of Thibodaux, La.; and two brothers: Hartwell McPhail of Clinton, and D’Non McPhail of Indianapolis, Ind.

    Mr. Mac, as he was affectionately known, owned and operated McPhail Food Center in Collinsville. He was born to the late Clauren Thedford McPhail and Elizabeth Middleton McPhail in Brookhaven. He attended Copiah -Lincoln Junior College and State Teacher College, now the University of Southern Mississippi, on football scholarships. He received a B.S degree in biology in 1938. Subsequently, he taught biology and chemistry, and coached football and basketball at Silver Creek and Pachuta. With the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, many teachers, including Mr. Mac, were drafted.  Upon notification of the draft, Mr. Mac joined the U. S. Navy and was accepted into Officer’s Candidate School at Columbia University in New York City. He graduated from OCS as a commissioned naval officer. During his 3 ½ years in the Navy, he served aboard ships operating along the eastern coast of the United States, the Caribbean and South Pacific. As a Lieutenant (j.g.), he served as Communications Officer on PC 1234 and later as a Lieutenant, he was the Executive Officer on PC 1549. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946.

    After leaving the Navy, Mr. Mac returned to Collinsville and joined Mr. Lamar Clay in operating Clay and McPhail Food Center. After the death of Mr. Clay in 1968, Mr. Mac continued to operate the store as McPhail Food Center until he retired in 1981. He spent his retirement years hunting, fishing, and operating his farm.

    In addition, he served three terms as president of the Collinsville Bass Club, president and founder of the East Mississippi Scottish Society, and one semester, taught a non-credit course on Scottish history at Meridian Community College. He was also a charter member of the Collinsville Lion’s Club.

    Pallbearers will be James A. Boatner, Donald Belvin, Dr. John Clay, Dan Clay, Josh Stroud, Tommy Hitt, David McPhail, and Marvin Blanks.

    Honorary pallbearers will be Billy Harold Smith, Bill Pennington and Donnie Scrivner.

    The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the administration and staff at Silverleaf Manor and Sta-Home Hospice for their loving care during Mr. McPhail’s time there.

    In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to the Collinsville United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 85, Collinsville, MS 39325, or to Hamrick Cemetery, c/o Mr. Rod Hitt, P. O. Box 106, Collinsville, MS 39325.

    Family and friends may sign online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.