HONORING
Troy Catchings, Jr.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 2025 • 11:00 AM
MISSISSIPPI NORTHERN JURISDICTION
C.O.G.I.C. HEADQUARTERS
CLARKSDALE, MISSISSIPPI
A CELEBRATION OF HIS LIFE, LEGACY AND LENS
PROCESSIONAL
MUSICAL SELECTION
New Jerusalem M.B. Church Choir
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Deacon Nakia Ratcliff
Missionary Sandra Allen Ross
PRAYER
Minister Linda C. Downing
WORDS OF COMFORT & SONG
Reverend Marvin K. Myles
EXPRESSIONS
Brother Johnny McGlown
— As a Deacon —
Hon. Mayor Orlando W. Paden, City of Clarksdale — As a Community Leader —
Jason H. E. Ward
— As an Uncle —
Alexandria Simone Carson
— As a Grandfather —
SOLO
Reverend Emmanuel Lackey
RESOLUTIONS & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Minister Linda C. Downing
MUSICAL SELECTION
New Jerusalem M.B. Church Choir
EULOGY
Reverend Jimmy Glasper
RECESSIONAL
“Let the Church Say Amen”
A Note from Your Wife, Daughter and Granddaughter
You left us broken-hearted, not knowing what to do, But now we find such comfort in recalling the memories of you.
The legacy you left us was of happiness and love
In Loving Honor of a Devoted Husband
58 Years of Love and Togetherness
Troy Catchings, Jr.
Troy Catchings, Jr. was born in Abbeville, MS to the late Troy Catchings, Sr. and Ester Mae Reed Catchings on February 1, 1942. He was the fourth of eight siblings and was raised in Clarksdale, MS, where they enjoyed playing marbles, checkers, pop whip, and a variety of ball games. Troy grew up in a close-knit family that loved God. In this environment, with exposure to images of love, grew a man of epic stature in the community and church.
He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age and was a member of Bell Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Clarksdale, MS. He later became a founding member of New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church in 1951, alongside his parents and siblings. He remained a faithful servant in the church until his health declined. Troy served at the church in many capacities, including deacon, Sunday school superintendent, finance board chairman, block party chairman, and choir liaison.
Troy was the valedictorian of the class of 1960 at W.A. Higgins High School. He continued his education at Jackson College (Jackson State University), where he completed a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. While there, he excelled in his studies and was an honor student, an
Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society member, a sportswriter for the school newspaper, and a library clerk. Troy’s desire to participate in the college’s extracurricular activities led to him meeting the love of his life, Shirley Anderson, whom he would later marry. Upon graduating, he was active with the university alumni association and was named Alumnus of the Year in 1974. He loved his JSU Tigers and supported the school’s football team as often as possible.
After completing his degree, Troy and his wife Shirley moved back to Clarksdale, MS, where they raised their baby girl, Alisa Renea Catchings. He began working for Coahoma Opportunities Incorporated (COI), a private nonprofit community service agency connecting people to various resources. During his tenure, he served as a technician, coordinator of summer youth programs, director of the Manpower program, equal opportunity officer, inventory control officer, and ultimately executive director. These positions helped him acquire content, concept, and composition skills, which led to his passion for photography.
As he excelled in his career and perfected his photography hobby, he began to exhibit his passion for the community’s youth. At
his request, New Jerusalem M.B. Church organized Boy Scout Troop #397, which was active for many years and impacted the lives of many young men in Clarksdale and surrounding counties. As a Boy Scout leader, he received the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America. Troy often spoke about that time as one of the greatest joys of his life.
Upon retiring from a fruitful career with Coahoma Opportunities Inc., he expanded his love of photography from a self-taught hobby to a secondary career. Armed with little experience, natural curiosity and a genuine love of people, the Clarksdale Press Register hired Troy as a photographer. There he worked for 19 years and won multiple awards for capturing people, culture, the arts and Mississippi Delta life. His work has been featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, London’s The Times, and The New York Times. While those are notable accolades, he was most proud of the “Smile Page,” a collection of candid photographs of local people enjoying life. It was featured in the newspaper weekly and became an instant success with readers.
Troy was a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, godfather, and friend, but most of all, he was a child of God. Troy Catchings, Jr., returned home to God on July 26, 2025, at his daughter’s home in Jackson, MS, surrounded by love. He was preceded in death by his parents,
Troy Catchings, Sr. and Ester Mae Reed Catchings; his brother, Roy Lee Catchings; and his sister, Mary Lee Catchings.
Cherishing Troy’s memory is his wife of 58 beautiful years, Shirley A. Catchings; his devoted daughter, Alisa Carson of Jackson, MS; his precious, precious granddaughter, Alexandria Simone Carson of Raleigh, NC; his sisters, Rosie Jackson of St. Louis, MO, Vergene Lester of Horn Lake, MS, and Earnestine Ward of Charlotte, NC; his brothers, Robert and Walter Catchings of Clarksdale, MS; his sister-in-law, Alzenia Catchings of Kosciusko, MS; and a special cousin, Linda Downing of Clarksdale, MS.
He also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, family members, and friends. Additionally, he leaves his Goddaughters Ericka Marshall, Darlene Page, Bessie Jones, and Shakaja McDaniel, as well as his Godson, Troy Wilson.
I Am Free
Don’t grieve for me, for now I am free
I’m following the path God laid for me I took His hand when I heard Him call I turned my back and left it all
I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work or pray
Tasks left undone must stay that way
I found that peace at the close of day
If my parting has left a void
Then fill it with remembered joy
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss
Oh yes, these things I too shall miss
Be not burdened with sorrow or time I wish for you the sunshine of tomorrow
My life’s been full, I’ve savored much
Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief
God’s Garden
God saw you getting tired
When a cure was not to be. He wrapped His arms around you And whispered, “Come to Me.”
You didn’t deserve what you went through, So He gave you peaceful rest.
God’s garden must be beautiful, He only takes the best.
God saw you getting tired when a cure was not to be. He wrapped
God’s garden must be beautiful because He only takes the best.
ROBERT, WALTER, ROSIE, VERGENE AND EARNESTINE
PALLBEARERS
Sheridan Maiden • Michael Stamage • Jesse Harris, Sr. Gregory Clark • Freddie Harris • Dr. George Mangle
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
George Jones • Samuel Kimmons • Roderick Yarbrough
Walter Catchings • Robert Catchings • Jimmy Carson
Darryl Bowen • Silas Anderson • Dennis Washington
PJ Anderson • Cenior Hunt • Harry Anderson
Eta Zeta Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma
Gregory Wilson {Posthumously}
FLOWER BEARERS
Members of Zeta Phi Beta, Incorporated
OFFICIANT
Reverend Jimmy Glasper
New Jerusalem M.B. Church
PROGRAM GUIDE
Minister Linda C. Downing
INTERMENT
Heavenly Rest Cemetery Highway 61 North • Lyon, Mississippi
REPAST
New Jerusalem M.B. Church Fellowship Hall
835 Florida Avenue • Clarksdale, Mississippi
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Century Funeral Home
906 Desoto Avenue • Clarksdale, Mississippi
FUNERAL KEEPSAKES
Regina Johnson of Enduring Print • 662-820-4247
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The family wishes to acknowledge with deep gratitude and appreciation the expressions of love and kindness extended to us during our time of bereavement. We extend a special thank you to Carla Weatherall and Accent Hospice Care.