Elmo Wheat, 86, of Poplarville, Miss., died Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, at his residence.

Mr. Wheat was born June 17, 1929, in Poplarville to Otto Wheat and Laura Amacker Wheat. He was a roofer, a member of Bethel Baptist Church and a Mississippi Army National Guard Veteran.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

Family members include his wife of 59 years, Lois Seal Wheat; six children, Sheila Knight (James), Frankie Wheat, Calvin Wheat (Jeanna), Jane Ann Hillman (Rodney), Kim Spears (Bruce) and Shannon Smith (Mark); one brother, Ronald Wheat (Mollie); one nephew, Elmer Davis Jr.; 17 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and his granddaughter and caregiver, Shantel Abney (Beau).

Funeral services will be at Bethel Baptist Church, 7451 Highway 43 North, Poplarville (Crossroads), on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 3 p.m. The Rev. Billy Kent Smith and the Rev. Kirk Hoelzel will officiate the service.

Burial will follow in Crossroads United Pentecostal Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends and have visitation from 1 p.m. until the time of services, Wednesday at church.