Kenneth Hood

KENNETH HOOD - P. Kenneth Hood, 84, of Columbus, MS, died at Baptist Memorial Hospital on January 22, 2026. Funeral services will be Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at 2:00 PM at the First Church of the Nazarene. The interment will immediately follow at Memorial Gardens of Columbus with military honors. Visitation will be Tuesday, January 27, 2026, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory. 

He was preceded in death by his wife Lois Hood, son Tim Davis, parents Lulee and Vaughn Davis, biological father, Pervie Hood, and sister Dathel Louise Music. He is survived by his wife Marilyn Cook Hood, daughter Darlene Ballard, his siblings Eddie Hood (Linda), Diane Smith (Rex), Judy Hood, Sharon Hood Fooshee (Larry), and grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He was born in Mooreville, Mississippi, on August 29,1941 to Lulee and Pervie Hood. From 1959 to 1965 he served in the Army as a paratrooper. He studied environmental engineering at Mississippi State University. He worked for the Columbus Light and Water department for 37 ½ years. He was superintendent of the Water Department when he retired.

Kenneth was a follower of Jesus and lived a strong Christian life. He touched all who knew him. He loved gospel music and singing. Kenneth was a faithful church member and enjoyed singing solos and duets with his wife. Later in life he enjoyed traveling, not just for leisure but to serve others. He participated in mission trips to the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Romania. He loved crossing Canada and Alaska by train, enjoyed cruising to Mexico and various Islands, as well as attending blue grass and southern gospel festivals.

He grew up on the farm, and years later, when his father needed help with the crops, he was proud he could still plow a straight row. He loved playing basketball in high school but was a fan of Mississippi State Football. At Christmas he loved to make handmade gifts and do odd jobs for those in need. He was chairman of the building committee when the First Church of the Nazarene was built on Ridge Road. He loved to talk about his military days to anyone who would listen, particularly about his many experiences as a paratrooper.

Pallbearers will be Billy Wood, Gary Young, Jimmy Funderburk, Grant Davis, Larry Fooshee, Rick Diddebrand, Roger Tousley, and Roscoe Bandy.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in the name of Delta Davis, (Kenneth's little niece who is undergoing treatment for Leukemia), 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105.