Richard Andrew Sosebee

Richard Andrew Sosebee, age 68, passed away on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.

Richard was born on February 15, 1958, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Ralph Edwin Sosebee, Sr. and Anne Cooper Sosebee. He attended South Cobb High School in Austell, Georgia, and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia. He was a member of Oakland Methodist Church in Oakland, Mississippi.

The commercial and residential construction industry is where Richard spent most of his early career in Georgia. In 1996 he formed Sosebee Construction, building and remodeling homes, and moved to Oakland, Mississippi, the same year. He later worked as a project manager for Ferguson Williams at Enid and Sardis Lakes. Upon his death, he was Vice-President of Operations at True North Emergency Management in Tallahassee, Florida. During his time at True North, Richard was a trusted presence who helped communities in the southeastern United States, Puerto Rico, and beyond in the demanding days that followed a disaster. He cared deeply about the people he worked with and took pride in helping his clients navigate the difficult work of recovery. He loved his work family as his own and worked tirelessly doing something he loved. Those who worked with him knew they could rely on his experience, composure, and steady approach.

Richard’s smile, humor, and friendly demeanor are characteristics that will be missed by all who knew him. He had a quick wit and was always up for a prank or practical joke. He loved Jimmy Buffett and country music, which he enjoyed listening to on the screened porch, the pier, and his boat. From a young age, Richard was brought up to “fix” anything and was an expert handyman for so many, often after a referral from his wife! He truly was a jack-of all-trades!

He enjoyed any outdoor activity, from yard work to hunting; however, fishing was his true love, whether bass fishing the lakes of Georgia, crappie fishing the lakes of Mississippi, or saltwater fishing up and down Florida’s “Forgotten Coast.” In his final years, he became an expert at cast netting mullet off his beloved pier at his home in Panacea, Florida. He loved to cook, especially grilling any fresh seafood. He was known for his fried deer steak with biscuits and gravy, deer jerky, grilled shrimp po-boys with homemade remoulade sauce, smoked mullet, country fried turkey bites, and his famous hush puppies, just to name a few.

Left behind to cherish Richard’s memory are Virginia “Ginny” Toole Sosebee, his wife of 44 years, and their son Andrew Cooper Sosebee. He was a wonderful father and husband, who loved his family immensely and took exceptional care of them. He also leaves behind his brother, Ralph Edwin “Eddie” Sosebee, Jr. (Lynn) and daughter Lee; his sister Jane Sosebee Buchanan (Stefan) and daughters Cole and Cason; his brothers-in-law: Mark, John (Valerie), and Hunt Toole and their children; his aunts: Martha Earnhart and Sara Williams Worden; and a host of cousins and great-nieces and nephews, who adored him. He was preceded in death by his parents and his aunt Carolyn Ezzell.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, March 14, 2026, at First Methodist Church in Batesville, Mississippi, at 4:00 p.m. Wells Funeral Home has charge of arrangements. The service can be viewed online through “Batesville First Methodist Church” on Facebook or YouTube.

A gathering will be held for family and friends immediately after the service at The Ice House on Court Street in Batesville. Ginny and Andrew encourage everyone to attend and continue the celebration of Richard’s life.

Memorials in Richard’s memory may be made to:

• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 
• 501 St. Jude Place

Memphis, TN 38105

• Oakland Methodist Church

79 Oak Street

Oakland, MS 38948

• Oakland Cemetery Association

5511 CR 216

Oakland, MS 38948

Pallbearers:

• David Brenard
• Bill Deason
• Jim Garner
• Joey Hudnall
• Victoria Kelly
• Cooper Lewis
• Bryan Roberson
• Tripp Savage
• Roy Tackett
• Derrick Tucker