Reuben Kidd Houston, Jr.

Born April 28, 1939

Died September 12, 2023

Reuben Kidd Houston, Jr. known affectionately as Sonny by his friends and as Sonny Pop to his grandchildren, was the youngest child and only treasured son of Reuben Kidd Houston and Zenobia Ruth Denson Houston. Sonny was born April 28, 1939, in Sherman, Texas where he lived with his parents and siblings until early 1942.  At the beginning of WWII, the Houston family returned to Bay Springs, where both the Denson family and the Houston family had close relatives living in and around the Bay Springs, Sylvarena, and Lake Como areas. Sonny resided in Bay Springs, MS for the remainder of his life, with brief sojourns to Jackson and Oxford for the collegiate experience and to Gulfport for a six-month period for his first job after law school.

Sonny attended Bay Springs High School and graduated in 1957. He enjoyed teasing his children that he walked "five miles to school, uphill both ways, in all sorts of terrible weather". He did walk to school with his sisters, cousin and friends, but it was only one small hill, through a little grassy pasture, and across what is now Houston Street to his parents' home. He also told his children stories about how his dog would sometimes accompany him to school and wait outside the classroom door, which did actually occur on occasion.  Sonny enjoyed playing football during high school, and he was still friends with many of the people he knew during his Bay Springs Elementary through High School years.

Sonny attended Millsaps College, where he enjoyed singing in the Millsaps College Concert Choir and the Millsaps Madrigal Singers. Just as he did in High School, he continued playing football while at Millsaps. He graduated in 1961. He attended the University of Mississippi, School of Law. He graduated in 1964 and received an LLB, which was later converted to a Juris Doctorate degree. He served as the President of the law school student body during his third year.

Sonny practiced law in Gulfport, Mississippi for approximately six months from November 1964 through April 1965, when he returned to Bay Springs. He practiced law for 50 years, during which time he represented: the town of Heidelberg for approximately 2 years; the City of Bay Springs for 30 plus years; the Jasper General Hospital for 30 plus years; and the West Jasper County School Board for 20 plus years. He was appointed Jasper County Attorney to finish an unexpired term on November 1, 1967, until the end of the year, and was elected and served as Jasper County Attorney from 1968 through 1971. He was then elected and served as District Attorney for the Thirteenth Circuit Court District of the State of Mississippi from 1972 through 1975, serving Covington, Jasper, Simpson, and Smith counties. He served as City Prosecutor for Bay Springs for over 30 years. He also enjoyed serving one term as a Bar Commissioner for the Mississippi State Bar Association. And he was honored to serve as a Special Chancellor for the Second Chancery Court District of the State of Mississippi for a one-month period during the illness of a sitting Chancellor. After a long and distinguished 51-year career as an attorney, Sonny retired from the practice of law on November 4, 2015. In addition to practicing law, Mr. Sonny, was a member of the Bay Springs Rotary Club for more than 30 years and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He also enjoyed serving for 8 years on the Board of Trustees of William Carey University.

Sonny was a lifelong member and a Deacon of the Bay Springs Baptist Church. He also enjoyed being an Adult Sunday School Teacher for over 45 years. But he was a choir member for much longer- his mother, the choir director, had him singing alto in the choir before his voice changed, and he continued to enjoy the church choir until 2016.  Sonny always loved music and was fortunate to have been born into a very musical family.

In 1965, Sonny was reintroduced to the lovely, Alice Gray Wiggers. They had attended Millsaps College together and two mutual college friends decided to play matchmaker. Alice and Sonny were a perfect match. They fell in love and married in September 1966. This beautiful love story and marriage grew into a beautiful family of five in Bay Springs. They were married for 56 wonderful years. Sadly, Alice Gray Wiggers Houston, predeceased Sonny, December 24, 2022.

Sonny is survived by his three perfect children: Jeffrey Grey Baker Houston (Michelle); Jennifer Cooke Houston Edwards (John); and John Denson Houston (Nora Blake). And his four beautiful and talented grandchildren: Emily Denson Edwards Whittaker (Sam); Riley Katherine Houston; Jayne Grey Edwards; and Audrey Grace Houston. He loved to listen to them sing the blessing at the dinner table.

Sonny is survived by his oldest sister, Patsy Ruth Houston Gold Higgins, and his sisters-in-law, Carolyn Wiggers Duncan; Mary Alex (Sandra) Rawls; and Vicky Wiggers; and by his many wonderful nieces, nephews, and great nieces and great nephews, and cousins.

Sonny was predeceased by his loving parents: Reuben Kidd Houston, Zenobia Ruth Denson Houston; his older sister, Barbara Joan Houston McCollum and her husband Jerald Douglas McCollum; his dear cousin and friend, Zaidee Chatham Galloney; his brother-in-law, Ron Duncan; his brother-in-law Francis Earl Wiggers, Jr.; and his brother-in-law Don Gold; and his brother-in-law, Raymond Higgins.

Visitation will take place Saturday, September 16, 2023, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Bay Springs Baptist Church. The service will follow at 12:00 p.m. with a graveside service immediately after in the Bay Springs Cemetery.