August 19, 1944 to March 3, 2024

Dr. Harold S. Aycock, 79, of Brandon, MS, passed away March 3, 2024 after a lengthy illness requiring hospitalization.

Harold was born and raised in the Hero community in Jasper County and graduated from Hickory Attendance Center in 1962.   He continued his education at East Central Junior College and then at Mississippi State University where he completed both his Bachelor and Master of Science in Agronomy.  He then went on to Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, where he earned his PhD in Plant Breeding and Genetics and an MS in Industrial Management.  His career took him many places, from conducting research and teaching at Virginia Tech to the Midwest where he worked for various seed companies.  He spent the final two decades of his career in California, managing the genetics and breeding programs for the corn used in the CornNuts product lines.

Upon his retirement in 2017, he returned to Mississippi, living in Brandon, where he was a member of Crossgates United Methodist Church.

Across his personal and professional lives, Harold met and made many lifelong friends and could always be counted on to lend a helping hand in times of need.  He will always be remembered for the kindness and generosity he showed towards others. He enjoyed watching almost any sport and was always up on current events, making him a formidable opponent in Trivial Pursuit.  In his younger years, he was an avid racquetball player, spending many hours on the court working on improving his game while spending time with his friends. Harold enjoyed travel and his career enabled him to visit many places, including frequent trips to Chile, where the winter research nurseries for the corn breeding programs he managed were located.

Harold is survived by his daughter, Margaret Aycock, of Sparta, New Jersey.   He is also survived by nieces Avis Aycock, Anita Quinnelly, Susan Taylor, Karen Oldano, and Sandi Stuart.   Harold also has several great nephews and great nieces.

Harold is preceded in death by his parents Emmett Fair Aycock and Annie May Aycock, sisters Frances Johnson and JoAnn Thomas, brother, Cecil Aycock and niece, Paulette Hopkins.

Education was one of Harold's great passions and he had a strong interest in helping deserving students attain higher education. To this end he had funded several East Central Community College Scholarships.   The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Dr. Harold S. Aycock Memorial Scholarship.   Please send contributions to ECCC Foundation, PO Box 129, Decatur, MS 39327.

Graveside services for Mr. Harold Aycock will be held Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 11 A.M.at Hopewell Methodist Church in the Rose Hill Community. Rev. Bruce Taylor will officiate. There will be no visitation.

Hopewell Methodist Church

2852 County Road 20

Rose Hill, MS 39356