Rev. Robert Curtis Ragland, Sr., 91, of Belzoni, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 12, 2025, at Indywood Glen in Greenwood.

Bro. Robert was born July 2, 1933, in Cleveland, to E.A. Ragland and Audrey Reed Ragland. He grew up in Leland where he attended school. Bro. Robert earned his associate's degree from Clark College. He became a Baptist minister in 1960. He preached in Humphreys County for 54 years, retiring from Beulah Baptist Church in 2016. During his ministry, he baptized all three of his children and many other family members and married all his grandchildren. Bro. Robert was always full of joy, whistling, and doing magic tricks for children. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing. Bro. Robert was a very talented man and was a gifted painter, wrote many poems, books, and songs. He loved the Lord, his family, and especially his beloved wife, JoJo. Bro. Robert was a member of First Baptist Church in Belzoni.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 65 years, JoAnn Cleveland Ragland, his son, Mike Ragland, and four brothers: Earnest Ragland, Ronald Ragland, Larry Ragland, and Sid Ragland.

Bro. Robert is survived by his son, Robert Ragland, Jr. (Cindy) of Belzoni; daughter, Tami Ragland Hawkins (Bubba) of Belzoni; sister, Ann Hill of Seattle, Washington; nine grandchildren; and seventeen great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 14, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Belzoni. The funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m., with Rev. George Johnson, Rev. Lee Kirk, and Rev. Trent Sligh officiating. A private burial will follow in Belzoni Cemetery. Burton Funeral Home of Indianola has been entrusted with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Belzoni or Beulah Baptist Church of Inverness.