The Prentiss Headlight
Jefferson Davis Co., MS
December 18, 1947

Jefferson D. Riley Dies at Newhebron

Jefferson D. Riley, 77, prominent merchant, banker and planter of Newhebron, and one of the state's outstanding citizens, died at his home at Newhebron Tuesday morning at 11:10 o'clock.

Funeral services will be held Friday morning at 11 o'clock from the Hebron Baptist Church, the church of Mr. Riley's choice from boyhood. Interment will be made Friday afternoon in Lakewood Memorial Park in Jackson.

Mr. Riley, born July 26, 1870, near his present home, was educated at Mississippi College and the University of Virginia Law School. He practiced in Chicago for nearly a quarter of a century, becoming one of the city's outstanding attorneys.

While in Chicago, he met and married Miss Ida Mae Allot of Wilmington, Illinois, and this devoted companion survives him.

The son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Franklin L. Riley, Sr., the deceased has been very active and influential in every progressive development of his community and section for the past 30 years. He was president of the Newhebron State Bank, with offices at Newhebron and Monticello, and he owned and operated the F. L. Riley Mercantile Company, which was founded by his father 76 years ago.

Besides the widow, he is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Ima Mae Myers of Newhebron, and Mrs. Esther Myers of Gloster; and by six sons, Vernon L. Riley, Newhebron; J. Kenneth Riley, Monticello; John M. Riley, Silver Creek; Merle A. Riley, Prentiss; Rodney M. Riley, Newhebron; and William F. "Billy" Riley, a student at Ole Miss. Seventeen grandchildren also survive.

The six sons of the deceased will serve as pall bearers, and the funeral will be in charge of Aultman-Saulters Funeral Home of Prentiss.