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Eugene Coursey Tullos, Attorney, died on May 24, 2016, at his home in Raleigh, Mississippi. Visitation will be on Thursday, May 26, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Smith County Circuit Courthouse in Raleigh, Mississippi, and from 9:30am until service time at First Baptist Church in Raleigh, Mississippi. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, May 27, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Raleigh, Mississippi. Burial will be in North Raleigh Cemetery.
Gene Tullos was born to Braxton Holmes Tullos and wife, Mrs. Willie Jones Harper Tullos, on January 21, 1942 in a house situated on Highway 18 at Raleigh, Mississippi. He was reared there until about 1948 and he lived in Raleigh, Mississippi, all of his life. His brothers were William Holmes Tullos, Glynne Tullos, Edwin F. Tullos, and John Raymond Tullos; and his sister was Beverly Sue Tullos Hood. His mother taught school until her death on July 12, 1993, and his father, Holmes Tullos, served as Chancery Clerk of Smith County from 1936 through 1939.
His grandfather, R. S. “Bert” Tullos began practicing law in Raleigh, Mississippi, in March 1905 and he practiced until his death in February 1963. His grandmother was Mrs. Bessie Martin Tullos, whose father was G. M. “Buck” Martin who served as County Treasurer for one term and as Smith County Sheriff for three terms, and her mother was Mrs. Elizabeth “Betty” Gordon Martin.
Chester J. Tullos, brother of “Bert Tullos” served as Smith County Sheriff for one term from 1928 through 1931. After his term as Sheriff, he was employed as a traveling sergeant for the State Penitentiary and on May 18, 1933, he was shot and killed by Henry Warden, a convicted murderer, while transporting Warden from Hattiesburg to Parchman. One of the brothers of Elizabeth “Betty” Gordon Martin, Jeff Davis Martin, was an attorney in Raleigh, Mississippi; and another brother, Joseph Marion Martin, served as Smith County Sheriff for two terms. Gene’s great grandfather, Jackson W. Tullos, served as Circuit Clerk for three terms and also as Supervisor for two terms.
Gene Tullos was a legendary lawyer who tried more than 500 civil cases, primarily personal injury cases. He had the good fortune of obtaining more than eight large verdicts which broke the records of each case for actual damage awards in Mississippi when representing the plaintiff, either by himself, or when associated by another attorney.
He graduated from Law School at Ole Miss on August 21, 1966, and practiced law in Raleigh, Mississippi for almost fifty years missing only three days from work for almost fifty years.
Gene was a long time member of the First Baptist Church of Raleigh, Mississippi; member Of Cohay Lodge No. 574, Raleigh, Mississippi; member of Mississippi Association for Justice (formerly Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association) for many years; and Foundation Board Member of Mississippi Department of Archives and History; Received Merit Award with Dept. of Archives and History; Served as President of the Smith County Bar Association in 2004, and he received a Resolution of Appreciation for Outstanding Contributions to the Smith County Bar Association; the Judicial System; and His Achievement as a Worthy Adversary on October 25, 2004; Served on Foundation Board at Jones County Junior College for many years; Played basketball at Raleigh High School, two very outstanding years at Jones County Junior College, and two years at Mississippi College; Elected Mr. Jones County Junior College in 1962 and also named “Mr. Basketball” and awarded the Sportsmanship Award at Jones County Junior College in 1962; Elected to Sports Hall of Fame for basketball at Mississippi College in 2007; Sports Hall of Fame at Jones County Junior College in 2008; and Sports Hall of Fame in Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges in 2009. Alumnus of the Year at Jones County Junior College in 1999; Nada and Gene Tullos created several academic scholarships at Jones County Junior College; The “Tullos Suites” at Jones Hall at Jones County Junior College is named for Nada and Gene Tullos; Got the names of combat soldiers who served in World War I, World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War and purchased the large markers which are placed on East side of Smith County Circuit Courthouse; Got pictures of hundreds of combat soldiers who served in World War I, World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War and placed them in large frames; Obtained pictures of Smith County Officeholders, Attorneys, and combat soldiers killed in action and placed in large frames and hung them in Smith County Courthouse. Also obtained thousands of other photographs of Veterans and others related to Smith County; Wrote Historical Articles for Smith County Reformer and for Smith County History Books; Organized several Veterans Day programs at Smith County Courthouse; Organized and got legendary Florida State Football Coach, Bobby Bowden, to come speak at Centennial Celebration of Smith County Courthouse in April 2012, which his grandfather, Robert Cleckler, built in 1912 and which information Gene Tullos discovered; and had one thousand booklets printed pertaining to the Courthouse which Gene Tullos wrote; Purchased several historical markers including: 1. Harrison Hotel 2. Grierson’s Raid 3. Ance McLaurin’s Home at Burns 4. Smith County Courthouse 5. Boykin Church; Purchased and had installed the Bronze Statute of Jesus Christ in Prayer Garden of First Baptist Church of Raleigh, Mississippi, in memory of Mrs. Willie Jones Tullos, the mother of Gene Tullos and mother in law of his wife, Nada Tullos; John R. Tullos, William Holmes Tullos, Glynne Tullos, Edwin Tullos, and Gene Tullos purchased and had installed the stained glass mural behind the choir in First Baptist Church of Raleigh in memory of Mrs. Willie Jones Tullos, their mother; Paid several thousand dollars for repairs to be made to Antebellum Colonel Frederick Carr house in Carr’s Church area; John R. Tullos and Gene Tullos purchased the dome for Smith County Courthouse; John R. Tullos and Gene Tullos paid for repairs to be made to steeple at First Baptist Church of Raleigh; Gene Tullos and Nada Tullos have set up a very large bank account for First Baptist Church, Raleigh, Mississippi.
Gene left surviving him, his lovely wife, Nada Jo Craft Tullos, to whom he was married on April 13, 1975; brothers, Edwin F. Tullos and John Raymond Tullos; one sister, Beverly Sue Tullos Hood; a host of nieces and nephews; and many, many friends.
Predeceasing him were his parents, Braxton Holmes Tullos and Mrs. Willie Jones Harper Tullos, and brothers, Glynne Tullos and William Holmes Tullos.
PALLBEARERS; Sheriff Charlie Crumpton Circuit Clerk Anthony Grayson Attorney Tom Tullos (my nephew) Attorney Raymond Tullos Braxton Tullos Stephen Glynne Tullos Andrew Hood Jimmy Kelly Attorney Crymes George Pittman Attorny Crymes Morgan Pittman Ronald Russum Jimmy Craft (Nada’s nephew) Attorney Wayne Easterling Attorney David Garner Ronnie Hallman Circuit Judge Stan Sorey Circuit Judge Eddie Bowen Chancery Judge Gerald Martin Chancery Judge David Shoemake Dallas Little, Jr. Thomas Keyes (My long time employee) Don Means Mitchell Sullivan . . Larry Blakeney Charles (Hop) Blakeney Charles (Fuzz) Wilson Todd Smith Terry Therrell George R Sullivan Robert Bray Joe Kenneth Vinzant Mike Ashley Buddy Craft Attorney Tommy Bott Rogers (Collins, MS) Mike Shelden Jerry (Sally) Smith (Leakesville, MS) Carl Bass (Seminary, MS) Thomas Tullos (Tommy’s son) Richard Little Dallas Little, III Joe Mack Martin Randy Knight Marc Boyles Jimmy Phillips Charles Robert Prince (CPA, Magee, MS)
HONORARY PALLBEARERS:
Attorney Ken Adcock Mack Ainsworth Coroner Billy Allen Steve Allen(Director of Boswell) Austin Ashley Terry Ashley Ben Atkinson Justice Judge Jerry Baldwin Frank Black Jack Blackwell(My former employee) Keith Bounds Guy Bounds Art Bradshaw Donnie Boykin Coach Randall Boone Attorney Wesley Broadhead Vernon (Oinkie) Buffington Hugh Byrd Attorney John Benton Clark Paul Cockrell John Crout Attorney Ned Currie Attorney Bill Creel Attorney Bill Dalehite Attorney Jeremy Hutto Bo Eaton Benji Ford Dr. Dewey D. Garner Deputy Sheriff Robert Garner Attorney Bob Germany Dr. Larry Gibson Wilson Hallman Gus Harrison Mack Hawkins Otho David Hollingsworth Attorney Chris Hennis Luther Horn Coach A. B. Howard Randall Hutchinson Hubert Jernigan Supreme Court Justice Jim Kitchen, Attorney Gary King Allen Martin Lee Martin Freddie Martin Attorney Noble Lee Attorney Thomas D. Lee Judge Tom S. Lee Attorney John Lee Dr. David Lee (Hattiesburg, MS) (Son of Attorney John Lee) David Lee (Raleigh, MS) Wayne Martin Bingham Moncrief, Clifton Morgan Attorney Mark Morrison Alfred McDaniel David Bryant Reverend Hueston Adkins Herman Cockrell Attorney Tom Louis Attorney Mark Norton Attorney Rick Norton Attorney Vie Smith Attorney Herman Hollensed Attorney Robert Logan Jerry Kennedy Herbert Jones Oliver Parker Bennie Jernigan Don Jordan (Manager of Southern Pine EPA) J. T. Childs Cliff Currie Scott Corley Rudolph Craft Johnny Mack Darden Attorney Joe Deaton Rev. James Ray Easterling James James Henry Westbrook Constable David (Red) Easterling Stanley Gibson Glenn Gregory Rickey Hand Nick Hillman Ted Hillman Robert Cooper Houston Lambert Henderson Attorney R. K. (Sonny) Houston, Jr Bruce McDonald David Huff Clayborn Huff Rayborn Huff Jimmy Ray Martin Joe Mosley Robert Wayne Martin Attorney Lawson Hester Congressman Greg Harper Stanley Shows Attorney Maison Heidelberg Dr. Bobby Dale Maddox Eddie Jordan Jamie McClellan Jimmy Nichols,. Sr. (Morton, MS) Malcolm Parker Dewayne Phillips Mike Phillips (Polkville, MS) Junior Hamilton (Polkville, MS) Ray Prine Marty Patterson Randy Powell Paul Russum Dr. Venom Hughes Larry Hudson Bert McDaniel Larry Murray David Nichols Hubert Parks Irvin Sistrunk John Bill Tillson Joe Tally Tommy Grant (Stringer, MS) Rodney Smith (Rosemary Smith’s Husband) Kenneth Puckett Attorney Rickey Ruffin Attorney Joe Roberts Joe Rogers (Sylvarena, MS) Otis Seaberry Dr. Jesse Smith(President of JCJC) Attorney Bobby Sneed Dist. Atty. Matt Sullivan Attorney Robert Sullivan (Laurel, MS) Attorney Wendell James Billy Tadlock Perry Tadlock Deputy Wayne Thompson Will Tullos (Tommy’s son) Attorney Vic Welsh Justice Judge Hulon West Rev. Van Wilbon Glenn Sowell Robert Sorey Scott Vanderford Don Wilson (Sylvarena, MS) Glendell Webb Junior White Robert Dale Stringer Roger Jordan Bert Wallace Jerry Hawkins Jerry Ainsworth Jim Perkins Larry Garner Fred Huff Crumpton Bodie (Tuffy) Crumpton Jeff Martin Gary Ben Chisholm Attorney Rance Ulmer Gerald Garner George Ivey Attorney Richard Webb
