William Elliott Hendon, 78, of Hattiesburg, and formerly of Indianola, passed away Sunday, May 29, 2022, at Asbury Hospice House in Hattiesburg.

Elliott was born April 23, 1944, in Shaw, to W. C. "Coyette" and Wilma Watkins Hendon. He was raised in Indianola and was a  Mississippi Army National Guard veteran. Elliott was a simple, honest, generous, Christian man who loved the Lord! He was a loving, supportive, devoted, nurturing, caring, sibling, friend, co-worker, spouse, father, and grandfather. Elliott read his Bible daily and took so many notes and referenced scriptures to help him live his BEST LIFE through the wisdom of GOD. He spent his life as a "peacemaker" focused on living in peace with others as a living-example of "turning-the-other-cheek". Elliott was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, loved GOD, family, his country, and the Mississippi Delta. He was a simple, humbled outdoorsman who absolutely loved the great outdoors, farmer, mechanic, and a true "jack-of-all-trades" and always willing to help another person in need. Elliott loved watching and feeding deer and the squirrels. He loved the sound of rain on a tin roof, the wind blowing, watching his planted field grow healthy, and the smell of rain, fresh cut grass, and well water from the rice fields. His true character was to help another person even if it sometimes meant a loss to himself to help someone else succeed. He easily saw the good in others and gave the "benefit-of-a doubt" when others would not. Elliott always took care of his family and stressed the importance of Salvation in Jesus Christ and living a good Christian life. He loved his grandkids SO MUCH and would say, "I Love you more than a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck"! He reminded his children often in different ways to "Live in the world and not of the world"!   KJV  1 John 2:15-17. Elliott always loved having dogs around as pets, loved listening to Pastors Billy Graham and Charles Stanley, and had many favorite hymns but was so moved-spiritually he had to pull over on the side of the road the first time he heard, "I Can Only Imagine".

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, LaVera Morris.

Elliott is survived by his wife of 56 years, Diane Hendon; two sons, Chuck Hendon and Chris Hendon; one daughter, Terri Lynn Hendon-Warden; two brothers, John "Bud" Hendon and Donnie Hendon; two sisters, Judi Otts and Julie Spenser; and three grandchildren, Bay Hendon, Sarah Elliot Hendon, Everett Hendon.

Visitation will be held Thursday, June 2, 2022, from 12:00 pm until 1:30 pm at Fairview Baptist Church in Indianola. The funeral service will begin at 1:30 pm. Burial will follow in Indianola City Cemetery. Burton Funeral Home of Indianola has been entrusted with arrangements.

Memorials may be made to Fairview Baptist Church, 536 Fairview Road, Indianola, MS 38751.