CARRIERE —
On Friday, Pearl River County officials dedicated a walking park here to the late Troy and Bettye Stockstill, a husband and wife, who both served Pearl River County as supervisors.
The park here in the center of the community near the railway tracks on old Hwy. 11 was named the Troy and Bettye Stockstill Memorial Park during the dedication ceremonies.
Bettye Stockstill, who died on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2009, was the first woman to be named to the Pearl River County board of supervisors, the first to be elected to a seat on the board and the board’s first woman president.
She was appointed to the board of supervisors to fill her husband’s after he died unexpectedly in office on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2005, until a Special Election could be held to finish out his term. She won that election and served the remainder of her husband’s term.
Troy Stockstill was a Picayune businessman, owned a tractor dealership for years in Picayune, and was part-owner of a heavy construction company, and was a construction supervisor on many major projects throughout the South.
He was hired in 1989 by supervisors to establish and oversee a county road department, when supervisors where required to transition from the old beat system to the much more efficient county unit system, under which it currently operates.
He was later elected for the first time as District Five supervisor in 1999. He was elected again in 2003. Stockstill also was construction supervisor over the construction of the new Picayune airport.
Current District Five Supervisor Sandy Kane Smith and County Administrator Adrain Lumpkin emceed the event.
The park was begun while Troy Stockstill was serving as District Five supervisor and was completed under the guidance of his wife when she filled the District Five seat.
About 50 residents and officials from the county and the cities of Picayune and Poplarville city turned out for the dedication ceremonies and to honor the Stockstills service to the county.
The ceremonies also were attended by the Stockstills’ two children Sherri Lawley of Carriere, who is director of music for First Baptist Church of Poplarville, and son Terry Stockstill of Houston, Tex., and their families.
Troy and Bettye were members of Roseland Park Baptist Church in Picayune, and lived in Carriere.
Troy Stockstill also envisioned a lake at Millard to spur economic development, and it is still being pushed by supervisors as Lake Troy, although its development has been held up by refusal of EPA to issue a permit for the project.
“Dad and mother loved Pearl River County, and there was no other place,” said their daughter, Sherri, during remarks at the dedication. Besides her, former District Two Supervisor Danny Wise, who served with both Stockstills, and Lumpkin and Smith spoke during the short dedication services before unveiling the park’s marker.
Said Lumpkin, “It was my distinct privilege to work with both Troy and Bettye, and I consider it a great honor to be here today to dedicate this facility to their memory. They truly put Pearl River County first in all of their decisions.”
Said Wise, “I was fortunate to work with both Bettye and Troy and they were passionate about Pearl River County. Troy was a big influence on me, and I ran for supervisor because of his encouragement. I consider it an honor to have served with them, and to be a part of this ceremony and dedication honoring them and their family.”
Said Smith, “I tried to think about how we could honor both Bettye and Troy when some of my constituents brought it to my attention, and I thought what better thing than to designate this park, one which they both worked on so hard, to the memory of their service to Pearl River County. They loved Pearl River County and this park.”
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