Life Reflection

Richard Leon Hyde, Jr., was born on August 29, 1941, to the union of Richard and Ruth Hyde. He was a member and deacon of the Morning Star Baptist Church, Hattiesburg, MS, under the leadership of Pastor Tyreque Reed.

On May 23, 1960, Richard earned his high school diploma from Rowan High School. He later attended Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College, where on May 27, 1968, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education. He was a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Chapter.

Richard proudly served his country in the United States Army. He entered active service on December 11, 1963, and served with the 3rd Artillery, 2nd Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas. He held the rank of Specialist Fourth Class (SP4) and completed two years of honorable active military service before transferring to the United States Army Reserve on December 10, 1965.

On June 8, 1969, Richard united in marriage to Janice Lynette Hayes of Buckatunna, MS; they resided in Hattiesburg, MS. To this union, two lovely daughters were born: Kimberly Anjanette and Katrina Richelle.

Coach Hyde devoted his life to education, coaching, mentorship, and the development of young adults across Mississippi. Throughout his career, he taught health and coached football, basketball, volleyball, and track. His years of service included the Hattiesburg Public School District, the University of Southern Mississippi, the Lawrence County, Mississippi, school district, and the Jefferson Davis County School District. Between teaching assignments, he worked for the Dow Chemical Company in Hattiesburg, MS.

In recognition of his impact as an educator, Richard Leon Hyde, Jr., was selected for inclusion in the Fifth Edition of Who's Who Among America's High School Teachers in 1998, having been nominated by former student Larry Thompson. This honor recognizes teachers who "make a difference" in the lives of their students.

Coach Hyde also devoted many years to supporting young athletes through the Eddie Robinson Football Camp at Grambling State University. A June 16, 1994, letter from legendary coach Eddie Robinson, Sr., acknowledged Coach Hyde's five years of participation and praised the support of the Bassfield "Yellow Jackets" Community. On June 21, 1996, Richard received an Appreciation Award from the Eddie Robinson Football Camp for his long and dedicated service to the youth of Mississippi and Louisiana. He leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond the scoreboard: His true impact is measured in the lives he shaped and the students he mentored.

Richard's memory lives on in the hearts of his sister, Sharrell Nix, and her children, Lilburn, GA; his children Debra Evans (Wesley), LaSonya Bourne, Jackson, MS; Dr. Kimberly Pierce (E. Tyrone), Fayette, MS; and Katrina Young (Alex), Hattiesburg, MS; his grandchildren: C. Ashton Bennett, Jordan Bennett, Trinity Hyde, Darrell Brown, Jr. (DJ), Hattiesburg, MS; Madelyn Evans, Jackson, MS; and Errica Hamilton, Byram, MS. His great-grandchildren- Jaxson Bennett, Pass Christian, MS; Dylan Pierce and Essence Hamilton, Byram, MS. His niece, Christian Hinds, and his nephew, Terrance Hyde, Hattiesburg, MS, and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Ruth Hyde; his sister, Vonceil Hines; his brother, Cornelius Brown (KC); and his grandson, Cameron Leon Bennett.

On April 30, 2026, Richard Leon Hyde, Jr., peacefully transitioned into a heavenly afterlife. This gathering today, attended by family, friends, students, teachers, and administrators, is evidence of how he touched us all in so many ways. Though he may have bid us farewell, he joins his loving wife, Janice, and other beloved family and friends who have journeyed on before him.