Funeral services for Ralph Verdo Callender, of Brookhaven, are Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016, at 11 a.m. at Riverwood Family Funeral Service with burial in Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery.

Visitation is Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Riverwood.

Mr. Callender, 88, died Monday, Aug. 15, 2016, at University Medical Center. He was born Oct. 14, 1927, to Isaac Earl Callender and Dovie Walker Callender.

He was a pastor, teacher, and retired from Mississippi Welfare Department as a social worker. He was a member of Philadelphia Baptist Church.

Preceding him in death were his parents; first wife, Monnell Laird; and sister, Charlene Smith.

Survivors are his sons, Larry Callender, Mitchell Callender and Robert Callender; daughter, Patsy Smith; seven grandchildren, Wade Callender, Shanna Gage, Randy Smith, Jacob Smith, Brandi Callender, Taylor Callender and April Scroggs; and seven great-grandchildren.

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