Funeral services for David E. Runnels will be on Friday, February 11, 2022, at Galilee Baptist Church in Hazlehurst, MS, at 12:00 PM with burial to follow in the Galilee Baptist Church Cemetery. Bro. Eddie Maher will be officiating the services with Brookhaven Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Visitation will be at Galilee Baptist Church on Friday, February 11, 2022, from 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM.

David Runnels, 67, of Hazlehurst, MS, passed from this life on Sunday, February 6, 2022, at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, MS with his loving family by his side.  He was born on September 26, 1954, in Crystal Springs, MS, to Oscar Lee Runnels and Ruby Lee Clark Runnels. He was a member of New Hope Pentecostal Church in Simpson County and he loved his Galilee Baptist Church family. David was self-employed for many years as a truck tire vendor. He enjoyed working, helping others and mud truck racing in the day. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, sibling and friend. He was an awesome man who took joy in helping others.

Preceding him in death were his parents Oscar Lee and Ruby Lee Runnels Whitten; brother Billy Ray Runnels; and sister Katie Lee Runnels Floyd.

Survivors are his wife of 46 years, Rita Bailey Runnels; daughter Jamie Runnels Odom (Sidney); son Jonathan David Runnels; grandchildren, Karley Morgan Smith,  Keith Morgan (Cheyene Dickerson), Conner Morgan, Lane Odom and Grayson Odom, and Kynlea Runnels;  great-grandchildren, McKenzie Leigh and one on the way; brother Ray Runnels (Sherry); sisters Carolyn Duckworth, JoAnn Smith, and June Heard (Robert); and a host of family and friends.

Pallbearers are Jonathan Runnels, Keith Morgan, Conner Morgan, Jared Whittington and Kevin Clark. Honorary Pallbearer will be Johnathan Thorpe.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Robert Walker, Kathy and Mike Rose, Troy Douglas, Galilee Baptist Church family and everyone who lifted him up in prayer.