Dr. Mark Massey
Longtime Bay Springs dentist and lifetime resident of Bay Springs, Samuel Mark Massey died peacefully Wednesday evening, January 18. He was 96. Services will be held Saturday, January 21, at Bay Springs Baptist Church with Dr. Lee Yancey officiating. Visitation will be at the church from 9:30 – 11:00 and the service will be at 11:00 with a graveside service following in the Bay Springs Cemetery.

Dr. Massey was born January 11, 1921, to the late Dr. Thomas Lovard Massey and Annie Oates Massey, the youngest of four sons who all followed in their father's footsteps and became dentists.

A 1938 graduate of Bay Springs High School and a 1940 graduate of Jones County Junior College, he received his DDS degree from Atlanta Southern Dental College in 1943. After his 46 months serving in WWII he returned to his hometown to practice his profession from 1946 until his retirement.

A man of extraordinary integrity, generosity, kindness and faith, Dr. Massey dedicated his life to his family, his community, his profession and his faith.

A veteran of WWII he enlisted in the US Navy in 1942 while still in dental school but waited to report for duty until he graduated. He reported for active duty at Great Lakes Naval Station and from there reported aboard the USS Yosemite at Pearl Harbor. He served as a dentist aboard ship in the Asia – Pacific Theatre until the war ended. He left the USS Yosemite at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and officially separated from the Navy in New Orleans in 1946.

On July 7, 1946, he married June Caroline Kahl in her home church, Mt. Olive Baptist in Cherokee, Iowa. They were married 22 years until her untimely death in 1968.

An active member of his community, Dr. Massey received the Outstanding Service Award in 1996 from the Bay Springs Chamber of Commerce for his leadership and support to the town of Bay springs. He was also the recipient of the Silver Beaver Award for his support of Boy Scouts. Throughout his career, he served on many boards and enjoyed his membership in Rotary Club.

Dedicated to his profession, he was a member of the American Dental Association, the Mississippi Dental Association and the Thomas P. Hinman Dental Society. One of his great pleasures was attending the annual Hinman Dental Meeting in Atlanta.

A faithful member of Bay Springs Baptist Church, he was a deacon and served as Chairman of the Deacons. He was a member of the Men's Fellowship Sunday School Class.

He is survived by his daughter, Linda Williamson and her husband, Dr. J.W. (Buddy) Williamson of Oxford, MS; son David Massey and his wife, Betty, of Daphne, AL; granddaughters Dr. Emily Dossett and her husband Dr. Giancarlo DiMassa, of Pasadena, CA; Elizabeth Mills and her husband, Brock, of Hernando, MS; Claire Wright and her husband, Walker, of Oxford, MS; and Sidney Massey of Bay Springs, MS; great-grandchildren Giuseppe Mark DiMassa, Luca James DiMassa, Eli Massey Mills, Eva Dillon and Tyler Dillon; and sister-in-law Rita Massey of Waynesboro, MS.

In addition to his wife and his parents, he is preceded in death by three brothers, Dr. Jewett Massey, Dr. John Massey, and Dr. Oris Massey.

Memorials may be directed to Jones County Junior College, Bay Springs Baptist Church, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

The family expresses their gratitude to the staff of Summerland Manor and Jasper General Nursing Home for their excellent and loving care.