COLUMBUS — Jimmy Lee Sherrod, 79, died Feb. 16, 2026. 

Funeral services will be at noon Saturday, at The Word International Church in Crawford, with the Rev. John Sanders officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church cemetery in Brooksville. Visitation will be from 12-5 p.m. Friday, at Hairston and Hairston Funeral Home. Hairston and Hairston Funeral Home of Columbus is in charge of arrangements. 

Mr. Sherrod was born Dec. 17, 1946, in Noxubee County, to the late Fred L. Sherrod and Emma Sams Sherrod. He was formerly employed as a construction worker and was a member of The Word International Church. 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jean Sherrod; and siblings, James Sherrod Sr., Jessie Lee Sherrod, Edith Sherrod, Freddie Mae Summerville and Rebecca Blevins, Rosie Lee Thomas, Emma Sherrod, Mollie Jenkins and Callie Ruth Smith. 

He is survived by his children, Fredrick Lee Porter, Derrick Porter, Stephanie Gandy, Joanne Porter Jones, Charlotte P. Williams, all of Columbus and Wardell Crockrell of Atlanta, Georgia; sisters, Fannie Sherrod, Betty Mitchell of Columbus and Susie Hendricks of Bridgeport, Connecticut; 13 grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.