Rev. John Cathel Volllor

The Rev. John Cathel Vollor, a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Jackson, died Monday, January 10, 2011, at St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital.  He was the pastor of St. Elizabeth and Immaculate Conception parishes in Clarksdale. 

Father Vollor is survived by his mother, Valera Meacham Vollor of Madison; his sister, Valera Derivaux of Huntsville, AL; and three brothers, the Rev. Bill Vollor of Hattiesburg, Tim Vollor (Wanda) of Auburn, AL, and Frank Vollor (Teri) of Vicksburg; and a number of nieces and nephews. 

He is predeceased by his father, William J. Vollor; a brother-in-law, Joe Derivaux; and a niece and a nephew.

Father Vollor was born February 24, 1942, in Vicksburg.  Educated in the Catholic schools of Vicksburg, he enlisted in the Marines and served three combat tours in Vietnam and was discharged as a corporal.

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mississippi College and taught at St. Aloysius High School before entering the seminary.  He received a Master of Divinity from St. Meinard Abbey and was ordained a priest in 1979. 

In addition to Clarksdale, Father Vollor served in parishes in Jackson, Port Gibson, Indianola and West Point.

A funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 15, 2011, at St. Paul Catholic Church with visitation Friday evening from 5 until 7 at the church and again Saturday morning from 9 until the time of the service.  A wake service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at St. Paul.  Burial will be at Cedar Hills Cemetery.  A memorial Mass will be said at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Clarksdale on Monday, January 17, 2011, at 6 p.m. 

Riles Funeral Home has charge of arrangements

Donations may be made to your favorite charity in his memory.

[Rev. John Cathel Vollor was a 1960 graduate of St. Aloysius High School]

From Judy James Youngblood - "He had 5 angioplasties 20 years ago but never went for checkups or saw a doctor.  I don't think he was on any medication.  He had a persistent cough but he said it was what everyone else had and just took over the counter meds.  Christmas Eve he was very short of breath and told me he was just old...only 1 year older than I and I'm not that old to breathe like that.  That Monday he called Brother Frank and one of our parishioners took him to St. Dominic's in Jackson.  Upon evaluation, he had a leaky valve in his heart and had 5 bypasses, Emphysema and possible Diabetic (not sure about that).  His attitude was typical John Vollor, "I'm in a win, win situation.  I'll either get well and go back to work or die and go on to glory."  He always said the best day of your life is the day you die!"

Picture taken by Judy James Youngblood.