Memorial Services for Edsel Wayne Criswell of Wesson are 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, at Philadelphia Baptist Church with burial. Riverwood Family Funeral Services is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Criswell, 87, died Jan. 28, 2015, at his residence. He was born on Oct. 3, 1927, in Detroit, Michigan to Clarence Alexander Criswell and Mary Ozell Mauney Criswell.

He was a machinist and craftsman and a member of Philadelphia Baptist Church where he taught Sunday school.

Mr. Criswell was an excellent marksman in the Marines. While in the Merchant Marines he was second cook and baker. He had a special love of all of God’s creatures.

Preceding him in death were his parents; infant brother, Bobby Criswell, brother, Bill Criswell; close cousin, Francis (Fanny) Street; and great-grandchildren, Jadin Case, Molly West and Issac Moore.

Survivors are his wife, Betty Jean Case Criswell; sons, Edsel Leland (Herby) Criswell and wife, Carroll of Madison, Randall Wayne Criswell and wife, Donna of Wesson; daughters, Barbara Gail Criswell Case and husband, Robert Earl of Brookhaven, Sylvia Ann Criswell Douglas and husband, Gary of Brookhaven, Mary Ruth Criswell Fagan and husband, Michael of Hammond, Louisiana; sister, Cathy Criswell Grove of Bellwood, Pennsylvania; 12 grandchildren, Becky Criswell Roberts, Daniel Case, Trudy Case Dawkins, Emily Criswell Stephens, Laurie Douglas Moore, Amanda Criswell Hale, Tony Case, Kris Case, Julie Douglas Branning, Tammy Case Williford, Toby Criswell, Megan Criswell Crotwell; and 31 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Hospice Ministries, Inc. 397 Brookhaven St. Brookhaven, MS 39601 or the plant a tree program at www.nationalforests.org.

A special thanks to Hospice Ministries, Haven Hall and King’s Daughters Medical Center.

To express your thoughts to the family, you may visit riverwoodfamily.com and click on his name to leave a comment.