William (Bill) Bryant Nelms, passed away at his home on Monday, July 12, 2010. He was born June 17, 1945, in Vaiden, Mississippi, to The Late Bryant and Mozelle Nelms. Bill married Sandra Parker Nelms, and in 1979 they moved to Senatobia. Bill devoted his career to the banking industry for over thirty years, serving as President of BancorpSouth in Senatobia prior to relocating to Collierville, Tennessee, in 1999 when he assumed the role of Memphis Division President. He returned to Senatobia in 2003, to serve First Financial Bank as President of the Northwest Mississippi Division.

Throughout his distinguished career, Bill supported local economic development. He was a two-time President and Director of the Tate County Economic Development Foundation, a member of the Industrial Development Authority in Collierville, TN, and served on the Board of Directors of the Collierville Chamber of Commerce. Bill also served as President and Director of the Senatobia Chamber of Commerce, Vice-Chair for the Private Industry Council in Mississippi, and President of the Foundation Board of the Southwest Tennessee Community College Foundation.

He was recognized as a dedicated leader, being selected as one of four state-wide recipients of the Teamwork Mississippi Community Leadership Award. Bill served as Chairman of the Tate County Extension Office Advisory Board, Chairman of the Senatobia Community Hospital Advisory Board, member of the Advisory Board for North Delta Planning and Development District, President and Director for the Senatobia Rotary Club, and member of the Memphis Downtown Rotary Club. Bill's service was recognized as he was selected to receive the Paul Harris Fellow Award. In recognition of his dedication and avid community involvement, he was also selected as the Senatobia Outstanding Citizen of the Year.

Bill was a long time member of the First Baptist Church in Senatobia, where he served as a deacon. He will be remembered not only for his achievements, but also the readiness with which he offered a smile and quick joke. Bill leaves behind an imprint evident in the family he nourished, relationships he built, and the community he so diligently helped to grow.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Sandra. He is also survived by his daughters, Bethany Nelms Hesser (Casey), and Abby Lauren Nelms. Also surviving is his beloved granddaughter, Harper Elizabeth Hesser.

Preferred Charities and Donations
The family requests that memorials be made to:

Northwest Mississippi Community College Scholarship Fund

American Cancer Society

First Baptist Church
Senatobia, MS

Visitation will be Thursday, July 15, 2010 from 5-7 p.m. at Ray-Nowell Funeral Home - Senatobia Chapel.

Funeral services will be Friday, July 16, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church, Senatobia. Burial will follow in Bethesda Cemetery.

Please note that in the event First Baptist Church is not operable, due to air conditioning problems, the funeral will be held at First United Methodist Church, Senatobia.

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Vice Chairman Economic Development
Bill Nelms
BancorpSouth


William B. (Bill) Nelms is the Memphis Division President for BancorpSouth with responsibility for the Bartlett, Wolfchase, Collierville, Germantown and East Memphis branches. A Vaiden, Mississippi native he is a graduate of Holmes Community College and majored in personnel management and general business at Mississippi State University. He is a graduate of School of Banking of the South at Louisiana State University, the Mississippi School of Banking and the Tennessee Bankers Commercial Lending School.

He is past president and director of the Senatobia Chamber of Commerce, past president and director of the Senatobia Rotary Club, has served as chairman of the advisory committee of the Tate County Extension Service and advisory committee member of the Northwest Mississippi Community College School of Business.

He has been a director and president of the Tate County Industrial Development Authority, treasurer of the Tate County Health Association, and chairman of the community advisory board of directors of Senatobia Community Hospital.

He has served on the advisory board of the North Delta Planning and Development District, was vice chairman of the Private Industry Council for the Mississippi service delivery area and a director of the Mississippi Economic Council.

He is presently a member of the Memphis Downtown Rotary Club, and is a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship Award. He joined the Chamber Board of Directors in January 2002 and currently serves as the Vice Chairman of Economic Development.

He and his wife Sandra have two daughters.