Graveside services were held Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at North Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, New Hebron, for Mr. M. C. Cato, 99, who died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, at Lawrence County Hospital in Monticello.  Rev. Moses Johnson officiated with Johnson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Mr. M. C. Cato was born to the late Whittie and Leundra Morris Cato.  He was a member of North Pleasant Hill Baptist Church where he usher, male choir member and teacher of the adult men Sunday School. He was ordained as a deacon in 1958.  He served as a World War II veteran and received an honorable discharge.

Mr. Cato was married to the late Reaner Mae Smith and to this union, four children were born.  He was a farmer and construction worker.

He was preceded in death by one sister, five brothers, daughter-in-law, son-in-law and three grandchildren.

He is survived by one daughter, Mary Pearl Stewart of Silver Creek; three sons, Grover Cato, Darius (Mary) Cato of New Hebron; and McKenneth (Della) Cato of Byram; two sisters, Cora Gholar of Altadena, California and Ora Mae (Tommie) Rogers of San Diego, California; sister-in-law, Jewel Cato of Oakland, California; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild and many other relatives and friends.