Troy was born October 3, 1928, to Willie Archie and Willie Margaret Glass Coward in Noxapater, Mississippi. He was a member of Liberty Baptist Church of Noxapater and he retired from GM&O Railroad after 42 years. He and Jean loved to travel and traveled to all of the 48 contiguous United States. After retirement, he spent his time woodworking, fishing, gardening, and selling anything he could.
Troy is survived by four children: Beverly Wilkes of Noxapater; Janice (Doug) Stephens of Eupora, Mississippi; Troy (Marsha) Coward, Jr.; James (Judy) Coward all of Noxapater. One of his greatest joys was being “PawPaw Troy” to his 10 grandchildren: Jodie (Ralph) Duran, Chet (Amy) Wilkes, Amy (Matt) Page, Stephanie (Ben) Hoffman, Dusty (Brittany) Coward, Justin (Holly) Wilkes, Hays Stephens, Kristy (Clint) Tindall, Corey (Bailey) Coward, and Kayla (Blake) Byrd; 24 great-grandchildren: Ty Duran, Morgan Duran, Madelyn Wilkes, Nona Wilkes, Carson Page, Hallie Page, Walter Hoffman, Grady Hoffman, Clara Hoffman, Timothy Coward, Riley Coward, Elijah Wilkes, Jodie Wilkes, Zane Wilkes, Addie Claire Stephens, Emily Stephens, Blakelee Stephens, Connor Tindall, Emma Tindall, Baylor Tindall, Mac Coward, Bo Coward, Baker Byrd, and Ellie Rose Bryd; and one great-great-grandchild, Oakleigh Wilkes, in addition to a host of nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends. Troy is also survived by his brother Olyn (Betty) Coward of Philadelphia, Mississippi; in-laws, Jewel and Evelyn Brumfield of Bogalusa, Louisiana; and Gene and Jennie Norman of Summit, Mississippi. He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Jean Brumfield Coward; son-in-law, Tuck Wilkes; and granddaughter, Amanda Coward; his parents; and 11 siblings: Wessie Patton, Birdie Stevens, Arlene Thomas, Wilma Wilson, Sybil Kinard, Thomas Coward, Prentiss Coward, Percy Coward, Bill Coward, Dewey Coward, and Adam Coward.
Serving as pallbearers are Chet Wilkes, Justin Wilkes, Corey Coward, Hays Stephens, Blake Byrd, Ben Hoffman, Clint Tindall, and Matt Page. Memorials may be given to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital online at stjude.org or to Winston-Choctaw Gideon Camp, P. O. Box 556, Louisville, MS 39339
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..
