Ira Hairston Obituary

Funeral Services for Ira Kemp Hairston, Sr., 79, of Hollandale, Mississippi, will be at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at Hollandale Methodist Church. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until service time. He passed away on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. Burial will be at Hollandale Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Leland, MS.

He was born on May 31, 1946, in Indianola, Mississippi, to William Dow Hairston, Sr., and Annie Rachel Miller Hairston. He graduated from Hollandale High School and Delta State University, where he received a degree in accounting. He was a practicing Certified Public Accountant up until the time of his death. He also proudly served in the United States Army Reserve following his graduation from Delta State University.

He was a member of the Hollandale Methodist Church, where he served as Treasurer until the time of his death, the Hollandale Lions Club, and the Deer Creek Booster Club. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman, being a long-time member of Buck Creek Hunting Club, serving as secretary-treasurer for many years. There was nothing he loved more than sitting in the woods with one of his grandsons by his side.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Mabel Ruth Cole, Francis Marie (Gene) Guyton, William Dow (Marlene) Hairston, Jr., Bobby Edward (Thelma) Hairston, and Wayne Allen Hairston.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary Allene Burnett Hairston, two children: Ira Kemp (Ellyn) Hairston Jr of Vidalia, Louisiana, and Mary Bryan Hairston of Hollandale, two grandchildren, Fred Dow and Jacob Thomas Hairston. He is also survived by one sister, Mary Ann Cooper of Ackerman, Mississippi, and brothers-in-law Thomas C. Burnett and Robert W. Burnett of Hollandale.

Serving as pallbearers will be Bill Hairston, Hayes Miller, Wayne Powers, Dwayne Powers, Felix Sadler, Josh Sadler, Terry Steed, and Buck Furr.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Hollandale Methodist Church, PO Box 381, Hollandale, Mississippi, 38748, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.