Sparkman Boothe "Tubby" Gresham was born in Ashland, Mississippi, on May 10, 1932, the seventh child (of eight children) of Marvin and Elizabeth Gresham. He attended school in Ashland, where he met the love of his life and future wife, Frances McGill. He played basketball in school and was named to All State teams. Following graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving in Korea.
Tubby and Frances married on May 11, 1954, and resided in Austin, Texas, while he was stationed at Bergstrom AFB. Upon leaving the Air Force, they moved to Holly Springs to start their family, and for Tubby to begin his long and distinguished banking career, which would last over sixty years. He joined the Bank of Holly Springs in 1955, as a teller, and worked his way up to President/CEO and Chairman of the Board. Upon retirement from full time service at the bank in 2004, he continued to work with the bank part time until 2017, when he retired to stay home and take care of Frances. Tubby continued to serve as Chairman of the Board until January, 2022. During his tenure at the Bank of Holly Springs, he helped lead the bank's growth from $3,000,000 to over $380,000,000.
Tubby enjoyed sports, playing softball with the Jaycees, participating in basketball events with local schools, rafting, and horseback riding. He later took up golf, after his sons started playing, and enjoyed golf trips with friends, and especially playing on the Delta Seniors Golf circuit. He was active in the Mississippi Bankers Association, and enjoyed attending bank conventions with Frances and a host of bankers throughout the state. He received 40, 50, and 60-year certificates from the Bankers Association, and was a Paul Harris Fellow in the Holly Springs Rotary Club.
Tubby was an active member of Holly Springs First Baptist Church, serving as Treasurer, Deacon, and serving on numerous other church committees.
One of the greatest joys of his life was his family. Tubby and Frances had three children, Greg, Steve, and Anita. Frances would say that she wouldn't see Tubby for at least an hour when he got home from work, because he always stopped to play outside with the children. The six grandchildren and four great grandchildren brought even more joy to his life, and soon made him remove the word "no" from his vocabulary.
Tubby passed away peacefully, at home, on August 11, 2023, at the age of 91. He is survived by his three children, Greg (Laney), Steve (Mindy), and Anita Barnett; six grandchildren, Steven Gresham (Angie), Ellen Dodson (Houston), Maddie Bennett (Aaron), Boothe Gresham, Amanda Barnett, and Rosamond Barnett, and four great grandchildren, Taylor Gresham, Palmer Gresham, Ollie Bennett, and Nell Dodson. He also leaves a brother, Edward Gresham. Preceding him in death were his beloved Frances and a son-in-law, Heath Barnett.
Services for Tubby will be held on Monday, August 14, 2023, at 12:00 pm, at First Baptist Church of Holly Springs. The family will receive friends and family at the church from 10:00 am until service time. Burial will be at Hill Crest Cemetery. Serving as Pallbearers will be Bobby Bonds, Fred Carlisle, Steve Elgín, Sherwin Haynie, Gary Hickman, James Hurdle, Charles King, Jeffrey King, CJ Samoly, Dick Sanders, Orma Smith, and Rodney Whaley. |