Robert Heflin

Tupelo - Robert Heflin, 72, died Friday, May 16, 2008, at The North Mississippi Medical Center after an extended illness. A Baldwyn native, he was born November 9, 1935 to the late Lloyd and Ethel Wood Heflin. He graduated from Baldwyn High School in 1955 where he was active in football and basketball. During that time he was known as See Saw. He then went on to Northeast Community College where he served as president of the Baptist Student Union. He worked over 50 years in the heating and air conditioning industry with several companies including Paine Supply, Southern Pipe and Supply, ACR Supply, Nash Plumbing, and Saltillo Plumbing and Supply before retiring in 2006. Active in his community, he was a member of the breakfast Civitan Club of Tupelo. He was also a member of the well known gospel quartet, the Sportsmen, founded in 1954, which had the first and only live program on channel 9 other than the news. They also had a Sunday morning radio show on WELO for several years. The greatest highlight of the group was singing at the Ryman Auditorium, sharing equal billing with the Statesmen, Oak Ridge Boys, Blackwoods, and LeFevers.

He was a charter member of Parkway Baptist Church where he served as an ordained deacon. He also served as music director in a number of area churches. He was dedicated to his family and his keen sense of humor stayed with him until the end. No matter how bad a person felt or how bad their problems may have been, Robert could put a smile of their face.

Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with Dr. Paul Brashier officiating. Burial will be in Lee Memorial Park.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Edith Heflin of Tupelo; one daughter, Teresa Chaney of Tupelo; two sisters, Nancy "Teniny" Grissom of Tupelo and Juanita "Tootsie" McVey of Baldwyn; a sister-in-law, Waurene Heflin of Tupelo; a brother-in-law, Dennis Parham and wife, Kathryn, of Tupelo; two grandchildren, Alan Chaney of Nashville and Jonathan Chaney of Tupelo; several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Lloyd "Junior" Heflin and Charles "Brother" Heflin.

Pallbearers will be Nicholas Roberson, Landon Roberson, Ian McVey, Shaun McVey, Barrett Loague, Chris Hopson, and Wesley Gray.

Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.