Noel Webster Guthrie, Jr.

Noel Webster Guthrie, Jr. passed away on July 6, 2023.  Noel was born on July 23, 1935, in Oklahoma City, OK, to Noel Webster Guthrie and Katherine Hewgley Guthrie.  He moved to Yazoo City, MS, with his parents when he was six years old and was raised on Valley Plantation south of Yazoo City. 

Noel attended Yazoo City High School and graduated in 1953.  He played football, ran track and was an Eagle Scout.  He then attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, and graduated in 1957.  While at Vanderbilt, he was a member of SAE fraternity.  He later received an MBA from Mississippi College. 

Noel worked for the Mississippi Research and Development Center for much of his career and was the author of a number of publications designed to attract industries to Mississippi.  He served as manager of the Business and Industry Division as well as other management and staff positions.  Later in his career, he was instrumental in establishing Mississippi’s first Foreign-Trade Zones on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and in the Vicksburg/Jackson areas.  Noel also served on the Board of the National Associations of Foreign-Trade Zones and as the Research & Development Center’s liaison to the state college board.  He worked with the Mississippi Development Authority for several years before retiring.

After retiring, Noel enjoyed time as a part-time tree farmer and traveling with his family.  He felt fortunate to have visited every state in the union.  He was an enthusiastic sports fan of Vanderbilt University and attended many of its athletic events – particularly football.  He served as president of the Jackson Vanderbilt Club.

Noel was a long time member of Briarwood Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder and sang in the choir.  He was a member and served as president of the North Jackson/Madison Kiwanis Club and served on the boards of the Downtown YMCA and the Mississippi Children’s Home Society.  He was also a long time volunteer at the Methodist Rehabilitation Center, and in 2002, Noel was presented the Governor’s Award for Volunteering Excellence.

Noel was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Suzanne Fox Guthrie, and his son Web Guthrie.  Noel is survived by his daughter Laura Barbour (Jep) of Ridgeland; two grandchildren, Katherine LeFlore Barbour Lucas (Conrad) of Charleston, West Virginia, and Jeptha Fowlkes Barbour, V (Louise) of Gluckstadt; three great grandchildren Jeptha Fowlkes Barbour, VI, Anne Frances Barbour and Stollings LeFlore Lucas; and his sister-in-law Corinne Fox of Jackson.

Visitation will be Monday, July 10, 2023, at 10:00am at Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Jackson, followed by the celebration of life at 11:00am.

Memorials may be made to the choir fund of Briarwood Presbyterian Church or to a charity of your choice.

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