John Gordon Roach Jr., age 87, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, on October 22, 2025. He was born in McComb to J. Gordon Roach and Kathrine C. Roach. A graduate of McComb High School, he was active in debate and served as senior class president. He attended the University of Mississippi where he received a B.A. degree. Upon graduation he was commissioned as an officer and served on active duty in the United States Navy on the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. Subsequently, he received a law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law. He remained in the Naval Reserve until he returned to his hometown to practice law with his father in the firm of Roach & Roach. While at Ole Miss he was a member of Phi Delta Theta social fraternity, Scabbard and Blade college military honor society, president of Anchor and Chain, vice-president of Eta Sigma Phi classical languages honorary, and clerk of Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity. John Gordon practiced law in McComb for over 50 years in the law firm of Roach, McMillan & Wells. He was a board member of the Mississippi Bar Association, a Mississippi Bar Foundation Fellow, President of the Tri-County Bar Association, McComb Municipal Judge, and County Prosecuting Attorney. Active in civic affairs, he was a member and former board member of the McComb Rotary Club, the McComb Chamber of Commerce, and attorney for the Pike County Development Foundation. With his wife, he was president of the Pike County Arts Council which sponsored such entertainers as Crystal Gayle and Bo Diddley. Attorney for the North Pike School District and Southwest Mississippi Hospital, he was a member of the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association and the Mississippi Bar Foundation. He was also a member of the county, state and American Bar associations. The two important books he kept on his bedside table were The Holy Bible and How to Back Up a Trailer. He was the spiritual leader of his family and an ardent student of the Word, often sharing thoughts gleaned from his studies with family, friends, and newspaper columnists. He was gregarious by nature and loved music. For any subject mentioned, he could—and would—sing a song to go with it. He enjoyed playing the harmonica and singing in the shower. He played first chair trumpet in McComb High's award-winning band and often played taps for military burials. He was an expert at making paper airplanes, flying kites; and throwing Frisbees. He particularly enjoyed being called Coach Roach by his son's baseball teammates, whom he coached, and working with his son's scout troops. After health issues forced John Gordon to retire from active law practice, he and Mary Ford downsized and moved to Lake Lorman in Madison County where he enjoyed fishing, hunting, boat rides, and sunsets. They downsized once again and moved to St. Catherine's Village in Madison. He is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Mary Ford McDougall Roach, two beloved children and their spouses, Mary Helen Ferguson and husband Fred of Madison, and John Roach III and wife Meredith of Fairhope, Ala. He is also survived by five dearly loved grandchildren, Jack Ferguson of Houston, Texas; Selah Ferguson of Madison; and Sam Roach, Will Roach, and Ford Roach of Fairhope. He is also survived by one sister, Anne Kohlmeyer of New Orleans and Spruce Head, Maine. A visitation will be held at Hartman-Jones Funeral Home in McComb, Mississippi, on Thursday, October 30, from 2:00 to 3:30, after a private graveside service at the Magnolia Cemetery.
