Alton Tollison, 88, passed away on Sunday, August 4, 2019, at Winston Medical Center Nursing Home in Louisville, Mississippi. Visitation will be Tuesday, August 6, 2019, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Nowell Massey Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 7, 2019, in the Nowell Massey Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Sammy McMillan officiating. Interment will follow in Whitehall Methodist Church Cemetery.
Alton was born September 28, 1930, to Edgar and Lola Woods Tollison. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Louisville. After 25 years of teaching, Alton retired from the Memphis City Schools. He retired from the United States Army as a 1st Sargent with over 22 years of active duty as well as fighting in the Korean and Vietnam Wars where he achieved many awards and medals such as the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Award, Good Conduct Medal, Army Occupation in Germany, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Presidential Unit Citation for Meritorious Service, Combat Infantryman Badge, National Defense Ribbon and the Jungle Expert Badge. Alton was a past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Tennessee. He was also a 33 Degree Scottish Rite Mason, a past Master of Bartlett Masonic Lodge and for 18 years he served as secretary. He was also past presiding officer of the Red Cross of Constantine in Memphis, Tennessee, and past presiding officer of The Chapter Council and Commander York Rite Beadier, and a member of Grotto in Memphis and a member of the Meridian, Mississippi Shrine and past patron Order of the Eastern Star of Tennessee.
Alton is survived by his wife of 63 years, Faye Black Tollison; two sons Michael Tollison and wife Cynthia of Memphis, Tennessee; and Mitchell Tollison and wife Dana of Jackson, Tennessee; and a host of nieces and nephews. One of his greatest joys was being “Grandpa” to his grandchildren: Gabrielle Tollison and Tyler Tollison; and his great-grandson, Sabastian Tollison. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters Betty Jean Tollison and Frances Goggans; his brother James Tollison; and his grandson Logan Tollison.
Serving as pallbearers will be Luke Roberson, T. J. Roberson, Chad Fulcher, Case Fulcher, Parker Easley, Terry Humphries, Holland Humphries, Tyler Tollison and Keagan Humphries.
Services are under the direction of Nowell-Massey Funeral Home, 724 North Columbus Avenue, Louisville, MS. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by signing the guest register at www.nowellmasseyfuneralhome.com.
