Rev. Randle S. Poss, 87, of Maben passed away on Saturday, August 17, 2019, at North Mississippi Medical Center – Eupora. He served the Lord faithfully as a Minister of the Gospel for over 60 years. A celebration of his life will be held on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church in Maben, Mississippi. Visitation with the family will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 20, 2019, in the Family Life Center at First Baptist Church, Maben, and again prior to the services on Wednesday from 12:00 until 1:30 in the sanctuary. The funeral services will be officiated by Rev. Tommy Temple and Rev. David Hamilton and music will be provided by Rev. Billy Crosby. An interment service will be held immediately following the funeral at Maben Memorial Gardens and will be conducted by the Rev. John Foles and Rev. Donnie Buckner.

Bro. Poss was born on September 13, 1931, in Itta Bena, Mississippi, to Lovic and Dovie Slaughter Poss. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 53 years, Gloria Ward Poss, four sisters and two brothers. He is survived by his wife Jackie Christopher Poss; a son Dr. Randy Poss (Connie) of Grenada, MS; a daughter Lecia Poss Bain (Dr. Randy) of Water Valley, MS; six grandchildren, Kent Poss of Nashville, Lauren Poss Jenkins (Chris) of Oxford, Kathryn Harlow Cox (Michael) of Grenada, Lawson Harlow (Beth) of Olive Branch, Ryan Bain (Christy) of Clinton, and Brett Bain of Water Valley; four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by Jackie’s family: Renae Christopher Sisk (Stanley) and their son Jeb; Tom Christopher (Erica) and their children Laken Chriswell (Randall), Bryse Christopher (Kimberlin) and Keely Christopher; two great-grandchildren.

Randle graduated from Humphreys High School in Itta Bena, Sunflower Junior College (now Mississippi Delta Community College), and William Carey University prior to attending New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. An accomplished athlete, Bro. Poss played football and ran track at Sunflower and William Carey. While at Carey Poss made headlines when he had touchdown runs of 70 and 63 yards in a victory over Livingston University. He served four years of active military service in the United States Navy during the Korean War.

He began his Ministry of the Gospel at Petal Harvey Mission near Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 1954 while attending William Carey University and served there until 1956. In 1956 he was called to New Henleyfield Baptist Church near Picayune and continued there while attending the seminary. Calvary Baptist Church in Meridian, Mississippi called him as Associate Pastor and Youth Director in 1958 and he remained there until 1963.

In 1963 Bro. Poss began a ministry that would affect the lives of hundreds of people. For 32 ½ years he served not only the people of First Baptist Church in Maben, but the entire community. Upon his retirement from FBC in 1996 he filled in at various churches in the surrounding area and served for a brief time as interim pastor at First Baptist Church in Mathiston, Mississippi. In 1998, Rev. Poss returned to the full-time pastorate at Providence Baptist Church in Choctaw County, Mississippi. He remained there until 2016.
Pallbearers will include Andy Johnson, Jr., Field Johnson, Bobby Mathews, Tony Miles, Roy Oswalt, Danny Reed, Billy Shackelford, and Cecil Simmons. Honorary Pallbearers are Paul Allen, Billy Crosby, M.L. Faler, Curtis Green, Larry Green, Roy Holland, Durwood “Step” Martin, John Waits, Ken Wilkinson, David Young along with members of the Maben Literary Society and the Friends of Cardiac Rehab.

The family request that no flowers be sent. Contributions may be made to the Randle S.Poss Memorial Fund at First Baptist Church, 123 Main Street, Maben, MS 39750.