TUPELO - Robert Edward Tedford Sr., 74, died Sunday, July 4, 2004, at his home in Tupelo after a brief illness. He was born July 29, 1929, to the late Ed and Grace Horn Tedford. He grew up in Tupelo and graduated from Tupelo High School. In July 1948 he joined the U.S. Air Force and served during the Korean conflict. He was a member of Harrisburg Baptist Church.
His first employment was as a delivery boy for the L.D. Hancock Company, where he later became a salesman. A lifelong entrepreneur, he purchased the Peoples Bargain Store on North Spring Street in Tupelo, where he first pioneered the concept of retailing fabric, expanding to stores in Tupelo, Amory, Baldwyn, Booneville and Corinth. In 1956 he partnered with L.D. Hancock to form Hancock Textile Inc. In 1957 they started their franchised retail fabric business which led to 38 different corporations across the South and West. After retiring in 1980, he opened Ted's Trading Post, which originally dealt with antiques. He later manufactured solid oak furniture, building this into a successful business. In 1989 he sold this business to L.D. Hancock and it became Hancock Furniture. He also was the inventor of the popular "Teddy Burger," a half-pound all meat burger in which he took great pride.
An avid conversationalist, he enjoyed fishing at his Florida home. He was admired and loved by his family and a great circle of friends.
Services will be at 10 a.m. today at Lee Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Dr. Forrest Sheffield will officiate, and Steve Holland will deliver the eulogy. Burial will be in Lee Memorial Park.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Bonnie Kennedy Tedford of Tupelo, whom he married May 6, 1950; a daughter, Sandy T. Maharrey, and son-in-law, Rick Maharrey, of Verona; his grandchildren, Ed Tedford, Katie Maharrey, Kelsey Maharrey and Blake Tedford; a brother, Sam Tedford and wife, Pauline, of Haleyville, Ala.; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Grace Kennedy of Tupelo.
He was preceded in death by a son, Bob Tedford, in 1992; his parents; and a brother, James Tedford.
Pallbearers will be Blaine Butzberger, Mike Knight, Bob Knight, Morris Jarvis, Charles Warren, Junior Hancock, Donny Ritchey, Tommy Moran, Leon Malone and John Wayne White.
Honorary pallbearers will be Banks Livingston, William Birmingham, Sam Patterson, Larry Hancock, Bill Benson, Bill Sheffield, Gerald McGill, Murray Coward, Chris Richardson, James Kilgore and Russell Sheffield.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to service time today at the funeral home.
His first employment was as a delivery boy for the L.D. Hancock Company, where he later became a salesman. A lifelong entrepreneur, he purchased the Peoples Bargain Store on North Spring Street in Tupelo, where he first pioneered the concept of retailing fabric, expanding to stores in Tupelo, Amory, Baldwyn, Booneville and Corinth. In 1956 he partnered with L.D. Hancock to form Hancock Textile Inc. In 1957 they started their franchised retail fabric business which led to 38 different corporations across the South and West. After retiring in 1980, he opened Ted's Trading Post, which originally dealt with antiques. He later manufactured solid oak furniture, building this into a successful business. In 1989 he sold this business to L.D. Hancock and it became Hancock Furniture. He also was the inventor of the popular "Teddy Burger," a half-pound all meat burger in which he took great pride.
An avid conversationalist, he enjoyed fishing at his Florida home. He was admired and loved by his family and a great circle of friends.
Services will be at 10 a.m. today at Lee Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Dr. Forrest Sheffield will officiate, and Steve Holland will deliver the eulogy. Burial will be in Lee Memorial Park.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Bonnie Kennedy Tedford of Tupelo, whom he married May 6, 1950; a daughter, Sandy T. Maharrey, and son-in-law, Rick Maharrey, of Verona; his grandchildren, Ed Tedford, Katie Maharrey, Kelsey Maharrey and Blake Tedford; a brother, Sam Tedford and wife, Pauline, of Haleyville, Ala.; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Grace Kennedy of Tupelo.
He was preceded in death by a son, Bob Tedford, in 1992; his parents; and a brother, James Tedford.
Pallbearers will be Blaine Butzberger, Mike Knight, Bob Knight, Morris Jarvis, Charles Warren, Junior Hancock, Donny Ritchey, Tommy Moran, Leon Malone and John Wayne White.
Honorary pallbearers will be Banks Livingston, William Birmingham, Sam Patterson, Larry Hancock, Bill Benson, Bill Sheffield, Gerald McGill, Murray Coward, Chris Richardson, James Kilgore and Russell Sheffield.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to service time today at the funeral home.
TUPELO - Robert Edward Tedford Sr., 74, died Sunday, July 4, 2004, at his home in Tupelo after a brief illness. He was born July 29, 1929, to the late Ed and Grace Horn Tedford. He grew up in Tupelo and graduated from Tupelo High School. In July 1948 he joined the U.S. Air Force and served during the Korean conflict. He was a member of Harrisburg Baptist Church.
His first employment was as a delivery boy for the L.D. Hancock Company, where he later became a salesman. A lifelong entrepreneur, he purchased the Peoples Bargain Store on North Spring Street in Tupelo, where he first pioneered the concept of retailing fabric, expanding to stores in Tupelo, Amory, Baldwyn, Booneville and Corinth. In 1956 he partnered with L.D. Hancock to form Hancock Textile Inc. In 1957 they started their franchised retail fabric business which led to 38 different corporations across the South and West. After retiring in 1980, he opened Ted's Trading Post, which originally dealt with antiques. He later manufactured solid oak furniture, building this into a successful business. In 1989 he sold this business to L.D. Hancock and it became Hancock Furniture. He also was the inventor of the popular "Teddy Burger," a half-pound all meat burger in which he took great pride.
An avid conversationalist, he enjoyed fishing at his Florida home. He was admired and loved by his family and a great circle of friends.
Services will be at 10 a.m. today at Lee Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Dr. Forrest Sheffield will officiate, and Steve Holland will deliver the eulogy. Burial will be in Lee Memorial Park.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Bonnie Kennedy Tedford of Tupelo, whom he married May 6, 1950; a daughter, Sandy T. Maharrey, and son-in-law, Rick Maharrey, of Verona; his grandchildren, Ed Tedford, Katie Maharrey, Kelsey Maharrey and Blake Tedford; a brother, Sam Tedford and wife, Pauline, of Haleyville, Ala.; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Grace Kennedy of Tupelo.
He was preceded in death by a son, Bob Tedford, in 1992; his parents; and a brother, James Tedford.
Pallbearers will be Blaine Butzberger, Mike Knight, Bob Knight, Morris Jarvis, Charles Warren, Junior Hancock, Donny Ritchey, Tommy Moran, Leon Malone and John Wayne White.
Honorary pallbearers will be Banks Livingston, William Birmingham, Sam Patterson, Larry Hancock, Bill Benson, Bill Sheffield, Gerald McGill, Murray Coward, Chris Richardson, James Kilgore and Russell Sheffield.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to service time today at the funeral home.
His first employment was as a delivery boy for the L.D. Hancock Company, where he later became a salesman. A lifelong entrepreneur, he purchased the Peoples Bargain Store on North Spring Street in Tupelo, where he first pioneered the concept of retailing fabric, expanding to stores in Tupelo, Amory, Baldwyn, Booneville and Corinth. In 1956 he partnered with L.D. Hancock to form Hancock Textile Inc. In 1957 they started their franchised retail fabric business which led to 38 different corporations across the South and West. After retiring in 1980, he opened Ted's Trading Post, which originally dealt with antiques. He later manufactured solid oak furniture, building this into a successful business. In 1989 he sold this business to L.D. Hancock and it became Hancock Furniture. He also was the inventor of the popular "Teddy Burger," a half-pound all meat burger in which he took great pride.
An avid conversationalist, he enjoyed fishing at his Florida home. He was admired and loved by his family and a great circle of friends.
Services will be at 10 a.m. today at Lee Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Dr. Forrest Sheffield will officiate, and Steve Holland will deliver the eulogy. Burial will be in Lee Memorial Park.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Bonnie Kennedy Tedford of Tupelo, whom he married May 6, 1950; a daughter, Sandy T. Maharrey, and son-in-law, Rick Maharrey, of Verona; his grandchildren, Ed Tedford, Katie Maharrey, Kelsey Maharrey and Blake Tedford; a brother, Sam Tedford and wife, Pauline, of Haleyville, Ala.; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Grace Kennedy of Tupelo.
He was preceded in death by a son, Bob Tedford, in 1992; his parents; and a brother, James Tedford.
Pallbearers will be Blaine Butzberger, Mike Knight, Bob Knight, Morris Jarvis, Charles Warren, Junior Hancock, Donny Ritchey, Tommy Moran, Leon Malone and John Wayne White.
Honorary pallbearers will be Banks Livingston, William Birmingham, Sam Patterson, Larry Hancock, Bill Benson, Bill Sheffield, Gerald McGill, Murray Coward, Chris Richardson, James Kilgore and Russell Sheffield.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to service time today at the funeral home.
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