Richard Cunliffe McBee III died peacefully at his home in Greenwood, MS, on Thursday, October 19, 2017, after having battled lung cancer for many years. Mr. McBee was born September 6, 1939 in Greenwood to Richard Cunliffe McBee, Jr. and Sara Bailey Kimbrough McBee. He grew up in Greenwood and graduated from GHS in 1957.

Mr. McBee attended the University of the South where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He received a BA in economics from the University of Mississippi and was subsequently admitted to the Mississippi Bar Association. He was also a United States Marine Corp. veteran.

Mr. McBee was a partner in the family farming operation in Minter City, Mississippi. While there, he was a member of the Glendora Lions Club and Glendora Investment Group. In 1977, he and his family moved to New Orleans where he was a Commodities Trading Analyst (CTA) with Howard, Weil, Labouisse, Friedrichs Inc. He was a member of Saint Georges' Episcopal Church and served on the vestry for many years as treasurer.

Mr. McBee and his family returned to Minter City continuing his work as a CTA. He was an avid golfer and a longtime member of the Greenwood Country Club and the Church of the Nativity.

Mr. McBee was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Bailey Hardy McBee; his maternal grandparents, Lucile Hardy Kimbrough and Orman Lanier Kimbrough; and his paternal grandparents, Richard Cunliffe McBee and Hermine Havercamp McBee.

He is survived by his wife of fifty years, Christine Equen Ward McBee, and three children, Richard Cunliffe McBee IV (Frances) of Roseville, CA, Ward Kimbrough McBee (Christine) of Memphis, TN, and Sykes McBee Zimmerman (Paul) of Starkville, MS.

The family thanks Mamie McMillian, Mary Green, Beauty Meeks and Hal Haney for their loving care.

A celebration of his life will be held at the Church of the Nativity on Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at 4 p.m. Visitation will be from 2:30 p.m. till service time at the church with interment following in Equen Cemetery. Pallbearers are his six grandchildren, Sarah Bailey and Henry Zimmerman, Mary Frances and Jack McBee, and Will and Lucy McBee. Rev. Peter Gray will officiate the services.

Wilson and Knight is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association (6852 Belfort Oaks Place, Jacksonville, FL 32216) and Church of the Nativity (400 Howard Street, Greenwood, MS 38930 or 662-453-7786).