John Austin Hood Jr., “Pete,” age 93, passed away peacefully Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, at his home in Madison.
Mr. Hood was born Oct. 27, 1930, on Gooden Lake, a close-knit rural community outside of Belzoni. He was a U.S Air Force veteran of the Korean War and later served in the Army National Guard.
He made his home in Belzoni with his wife, Gloria Breazeale Hood, where they started a family and built a successful auto and agricultural parts business, Superior Parts. Mr. Hood’s dedication to serving his customers’ needs, day or night or weekends, was part of his philosophy in helping his fellow citizens. After they retired, they moved to Madison.
Mr. Hood and his wife were dedicated members of Belzoni Methodist Church and after moving to Madison, St. Matthew’s Methodist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Austin Hood Sr. and Lucile Jones Hood; his wife, Gloria Breazeale Hood; and his siblings, Durwood Hood, Evelyn Hood Upchurch, Keith Hood Schubert, Margie Hood Fredric, Sherry Hood Sugg, Bobby Jo Hood and James Lewis Hood.
He is survived by his children, Cheryl Hood Hines and John (Therese) Hood of Vicksburg, and Andy Hood and Lou Anne Hood (Jay) Morgan of Madison; his sister, Marian Hood McClintock of Madison; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
The family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to caregivers, Lowvonee Ross, Kisha Wilson, Taquetta Gibbs, Bridget Jackson, and Clemie Davis; hospice nurses, Beth Alliston and Olivia Harris; and physical therapist, Mathew Woodruff, for their excellent homecare and kindness to Mr. Hood during his last years.
Services will be held at First Methodist Church in Belzoni on Friday Jan. 5. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. with the funeral service beginning at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Belzoni Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Barry Millwood, John Austin Hood and Jack Morgan; his granddaughters’ spouses, Pierce Azuma, Will Brown, George Crews and Daniel Baxter; and Denon Braswell Jr. and Bubba Braswell. Honorary Pallbearers will be two of his great-grandsons, Austin Hood and Reid Hood.
Burton Funeral of Indianola is entrusted with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Belzoni Methodist Church.
