William G. Underwood, 90, died on Saturday, November 15, 2025, in Jackson. He was born June 7, 1935, in Philadelphia to M.G Underwood and Nannie Mae Underwood who owned the local grocery
As a young man, he flew small planes, learning to gauge wind direction by which way the cows faced when grazing. He had an interest in the North Jackson Flying Service, where he was a flight instructor. He had stories from those days, including receiving a call from the FBI after one of his hapless students, confused, landed his two-seater Cessna among the B-52s at Barksdale Air Force Base.
With the arrival of children, he wanted to be home more, so he took the job he held for 30 years managing a film developing lab for Fox Photo. He'd carry home extra prints of erupting South Pacific volcanoes or vintage war planes so that his son felt as if they'd grown up going on other people's vacations.
Billy and his family were transferred to Albuquerque in 1971. He and his former wife, Phoebe, opened their home to people who needed a place to sleep and a table to sit at, including foster children, paroled inmates starting in the world again and in the 1970s a family of Vietnam war refugees. Papa was an active father, always there with wisdom and humor. For his daughter, Billy's wisdom extended to beauty tips. "If God had wanted you to have green eyelids, he would have made you a frog."
Dogs were one of his life's greatest pleasures, either training or just enjoying their company. He carried his English bulldog to school with him where Major Muggs was the mascot for Mississippi State, where Billy graduated in 1957. He endured a dark day when Ole Miss kidnapped the dog, dyed it red and blue with food coloring and paraded it on the sidelines of the Egg Bowl. Another of Billy's pets, Satchmo, became the number one bullmastiff in the country and won the Working Group at the 1992 Westminster Kennel Club show.
He used his retirement to do something he'd always wanted to do and got his commercial driver’s license, then saw the country delivering custom recreational vehicles and luxury cars. He made even more new friends, especially in all of the places where he'd have to return and hunt the cell phones he'd lost.
Billy settled in Jackson where he married Marjorie Buie, a sweetheart from his college days. He found another home at Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church where, as long as he was physically able, he fed the sheep at Grace Place four times a week. His kind heart went out to these clients; he was a regular there helping with transportation, driver’s licenses, doctors' appointments or however he could be of service.
This year's Neshoba County Fair will be the first he's missed in 75 years. The cabin front porch will be noticeably empty without everyone coming to see Billy and pretending they hadn't heard the joke about why bees hum (they don't know the words).
God gifted Billy with humor, kindness, wisdom and joy. He'll be forever here because he shared all these gifts with so many people.
Billy is survived by his loving wife Marjorie Underwood, his daughter Amy Underwood, son Graham Underwood (Olimpia), his cherished granddaughter Cordelia, his stepsons Buie Dixon, Joe Dixon (Laura), children Rayna and Charlie, his sister Martha West (Wade), niece Sandy McMillan and nephew Neil West (Nancy), children Sydney and Miller. Billy was predeceased by his stepson Sam Dixon.
Memorials may be made to Grace Place at Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church.
