Frank Riley

Tupelo - Frank Allen Riley, Sr., 82, died Thursday, September 16, 2010, at North Mississippi Medical Center. He was born October 14, 1927 to Harris D. and Louise Allen Riley of Tupelo. Following graduation from Vanderbilt University in 1949, where he served as President of the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, Frank attended one year of law school at the University of Mississippi before serving five years of active duty with the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. Following his release from service as a Lt. senior grade, Frank completed his law studies, graduating from the University of Mississippis School of Law in 1957, with a juris doctorate. He practiced his entire legal career in Tupelo, where he was senior partner of Riley, Caldwell, Cork & Alvis, PA. Frank served as City Attorney for the City of Tupelo during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1961 he was named general counsel for the Bank of Tupelo, which then had four branches. He remained in that role for 37 years, during which time the bank grew into Bank of Mississippi and then BancorpSouth. He was instrumental in the modernization of banking laws in Mississippi, including those which made it possible for Mississippi banks to expand beyond the borders of the state. He also testified before Congress on matters pertaining to federal banking law. He retired in April of 1998, having also served on the banks Executive Committee and Board of Directors. Frank was active in the Mississippi and American Bar associations throughout his legal career, having served as President of the Mississippi Young Lawyers Section, member of the American Bar Associations General Practice Council and chair of its Mississippi Fellows. He was recognized by the Mississippi State Bar in 2007 for his 50 years of law practice. Frank served his community and state in various capacities. He served on the Board of Directors of Yocona Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and received the Silver Beaver for his service to scouting. He also served on the Oren Dunn Museum Board of Directors, the Community Development Foundation, the Lee County Council of Governments, and as president of both the Tupelo Rotary Club and the Community Concert Association. He and his wife chaired Traceway Manors capitol campaign steering committee and volunteered at the Good Samaritan Free Clinic and Meals on Wheels. A devoted Democrat, Frank also served on both the Lee County and Mississippi State Democratic Partys executive committees. He was a life-long member of First United Methodist Church of Tupelo.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at First United Methodist Church of Tupelo with Rev. Andy Ray and Rev Raigan Miskelly officiating. A private family burial will follow at Glenwood Cemetery. W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.

He is survived by his wife, Jane Anderson Spight Riley of Tupelo; his son, Frank Allen (Kelly) Riley, Jr. of Madison; two grandchildren, Frank Allen Riley, III and Julia Lee Riley of Madison; two cousins Lee (Dr. Tommy) Sweat of Corinth and Dr. William Billy (Christine) Riley of Meridian; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Pete Peg Riley of Nashville; two nephews, Steven Riley of Nashville and Mark Riley of Atlanta; and one niece, Margaret Riley Sisson of Fayetteville, Georgia. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Dr. Harris D. Pete Riley of Nashville.

Pallbearers will be Pat Caldwell, Steve Cork, Les Alvis, Jim Diffee, Dr. Joe Bailey, Lindsey Leake, and Dr. Alan Flowers.

Honorary Pallbearers will be the support staff of Riley, Caldwell, Cork, and Alvis.

Visitation will be from 4:30 until 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Pegues Funeral Home in Tupelo. Additional visitation will be from 1:30 p.m. until service time on Sunday in the Gathering Room at the Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Churchs Helping Hands Ministry, 412 West Main, Tupelo 38801; Good Samaritan Free Clinic, 420 Magazine St., Tupelo 38801; Tree of Life Clinic, 2306 Parkway Drive, Tupelo 38804; or United Methodist Senior Services Meals on Wheels, 2800 West Main, Tupelo 38801.

Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com