Robert Henry Darville, Jr.

Robert Henry Darville, Jr, age 95, a lifelong resident of McComb, passed away on April 7, 2026.

The family will receive friends at 9AM on Friday, April 10, at First Baptist Church of Summit, with funeral services there at 11AM.

Mr. Darville's sons, Dr. Robert H. Darville, III, and Dennis Patrick Darville, and Dr. Larry LeBlanc will officiate.

A private graveside service for the family will be in Hollywood Cemetery. Hartman-Jones Funeral Home of McComb is in charge of arrangements.

Bobby, or Hollis as most called him, was born in McComb on Aug. 2, 1930, the son of the late Robert Henry Darville, Sr. and Viola Marie Van Darville.

His wife of 73 years, Joe Ann Crawford Darville, preceded him in death on March 18, 2025.

He was also preceded in death by his sister, Roberta Joan Darville Jackson; brother-in-law William (Billy) "Hoot" Jackson; as well as his brother-in-law and wife, Capt. (ret. USN) Dr. and Mrs. Benton E. Crawford, Jr. of Atlanta.

Bobby graduated from McComb High School in 1949 and truly left a legacy. He served on the Student Council for 5 years. He was voted Mr. MHS, Most Handsome, and was the first President of the M Club.

He was the last surviving member of the 1946 football team, which holds the distinction of being the only team in school history to be unscored on. This team won the All-Big 8 Championship in 1946.

He was the starting tight end from 1947 to 1949, and the starting forward in basketball, lettering each year of his high school career. He also threw the discus one year as a member of the track team. He was All-Big 8 in football and basketball.

Hollis was offered a football scholarship to Auburn University after high school, but declined the offer. He walked on at the University of Southern Mississippi, earning a spot.

After the first quarter of his sophomore year, he enlisted in the United States Air Force for 4 years. At Lackland AFB in San Antonio, he served as a swim instructor for 2 years.

He was transferred to Warner Robins AFB in Georgia, where he was in charge of the 190 Section's Division, which maintained all records of the Air Reserve of the 14th Air Force in the Southeastern United States.

Hollis began dating Joe Ann when he was a high school junior and she was in the eighth grade. They married on Jan. 5, 1952, at Centenary United Methodist Church, and lived in San Antonio, Texas, until he was transferred to Warner Robins.

Bobby served for 2 years until the Korean War ended and the Air Force released him with an Honorable Discharge.

He and Joe Ann returned to McComb, which he called "My City."

Hollis invested his life in McComb in a myriad of ways. When they first returned to McComb, he worked with his father at the Taste and Sip Shop, then later owned and operated the Hollis Drive-In with his father, "Big Hollis," for 13 years.

To this day, people still say, "I would give anything to have a Hollis Hamburger!" They usually follow up with, "Do you have the recipe for the hamburger or the chili?"

When Bobby sold the Drive-In, he ran for public office but lost, which turned out to be a blessing. At 37, he went into the insurance business with Bo Bilbo. Their agency then merged with Gordon Covington's agency in Summit, creating Southwest General Insurance Agency.

Bobby served as President of that agency for 35 years.

The insurance business and Bobby were made for each other. His love for all people and his desire to help others, particularly in the financial realm, were the fuel that kept him going for many years. He was a member of the President's Club of Lamar Life Insurance and USF&G, and a member of the Million-Dollar-Round Table.

In addition to the insurance business, Hollis had a vision for McComb, wanting to see what he called "my city" prosper economically and socially.

That vision included building and property development, including Honey Land and Woodland Town Homes, and he was instrumental in obtaining funding from Lamar Life Insurance for the Medical Arts Building, among many others.

Bobby always saw the good, the best, or what was possible in any and every situation. He was a giver, an encourager, and a visionary who always had ideas in his head.

He was chosen an "Unsung Hero" by the Enterprise-Journal. He served on the Board of Directors for First Bank in McComb and was active in his church, serving as a deacon and Sunday school teacher for many years. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Summit, where he taught Sunday School until his health no longer permitted it.

When he and Joe Ann moved to The Claiborne in McComb, his first goal was to create a mid-week Bible Study for the residents.

As much as he loved the insurance business, helping people, and his vision for building and developing McComb, 2 items always outranked everything else: Jesus and his family. His love for Jesus was the driving force for all he did.

Whatever blessings he received, he credited to Jesus, and he made sure his family knew it. Bobby was never ashamed to proclaim his Faith in Christ.

Thanksgivings always included the family holding hands and each one telling one thing they were thankful for.

Papa, as we all called him, was always involved in each child's and grandchild's life at every level: Financial advice, life issues, walking through the difficult times we each encountered, and always advice on Faith. He lived and modeled how to be a person of Faith, a Godly man, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. In his eyes, all was for naught if Jesus was not the source of it all! For that one thing, we, his family, are grateful.

Survivors include his children, Dr. Robert H. Darville, III (Gayla), Dennis Patrick Darville (LeeAnne), Holly Dee Turnage (David), and Jody Jean Johnson (Shea); 10 grandchildren, Sarah Darville, Stephen Darville (Morgan), Joanna Fife (Joe), Jonathan Darville (Jillian), Courtney Everett (Jamie), Benton Turnage (Rachel), Hunter Turnage, Hollis Turnage, Case Johnson, and Camryn Burton (Scott); 11 great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law and husband, Dr. William and Jean Stirling, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be grandsons: Stephen Darville, Jono Darville, Benton Turnage, Hunter Turnage, Hollis Turnage, and Case Johnson.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Missions at First Baptist Summit, P.O. Box 100, Summit, MS. 39666.

Bobby's family thanks The Claiborne for their loving care and compassion for the last 9 years. The staff cared for Bobby as if he were part of their family, often calling him Pops.