Bruce D. Little
Rev. Bruce D. Little, 83, passed through death into eternal life May 15 at his home in Brandon, Miss.
He was born in Buffalo, N.Y. and at age 12 moved with his family to St. Petersburg, Fla. After high school graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army with assignments in the U.S. and Europe.
Following his military service, Rev. Little entered the field of law enforcement beginning as a deputy in the Pinellas County Florida’s sheriff’s department where he rose to the rank of detective on the Vice and Intelligence Squad.
In 1971, he enrolled at Florida State University and graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. Degree in Criminology and immediately entered on duty with the FBI as a special agent. Rev. Little served as an FBI agent in the New Orleans and Jackson, Miss. divisions. While living in Gulfport Miss., he sustained a line of duty injury during a fugitive apprehension.
Following his bureau service, Rev. Little answered a call to full time Christian ministry in the United Methodist Church.
In 1984, he graduated Magna Cum Laude from Candler School of Theology at Emory University (Master of Divinity). Rev. Little was ordained an elder in the MS Methodist Conference and pastored churches throughout Mississippi until he retired in 2003. At this time, he relocated to Jackson Tenn. where he continued to serve for 20 years in different congregations in West Tennessee.
Rev. Little is survived by his wife, Glenda Bishop Little of Brandon, Miss.; two sons, Jeremy Little (Mandy) of Jackson, Tenn. and Scott Little (Terica) of Barlow, Ky.; his bonus children, Barry Watts (Kellie) and Warren Watts (Shelbie) of Brandon, and Lauren Watts Tigrett of Tupelo, Miss.; his grands, Josh and Will Little, Ben and Brody Little, Brandon Hauswald, Dillon Fancher, Sienna Watts, Rylee Watts, Townsend Watts, Rory Watts, Tucker Watts, Chelsea Hicklin (Thomas), Kayla Little and Alyssa Little; great-grands, Kenzie, Mason, Julian and Hope; and numerous nieces and nephews from New York and Texas to Florida, all who loved their dear Uncle Bruce.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Jeannie Olsen Little; his brothers, Russ Little and Dick Little; and his sisters, Joyce Stroke and Cheryl Stone.
A celebration of life service honoring Rev. Little’s life was held on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Faith Community Church in Humboldt.
The family received friends at the church, beginning at 11 a.m. and continuing until the service time.
A graveside service was held Monday, May 20, 2024, at 1 p.m. at the National Cemetery in Corinth, Miss. with full military honors.
A reception followed at First Methodist Church on Shiloh Rd in Corinth.
In lieu of flowers, Rev. Little had requested donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital through their website at www.stjude.org.
Arrington Funeral Directors in Jackson was in charge of arrangements.
