Robert E. Pickett died Nov. 10, 2014, at Select Specialty Hospital in Jackson. He was 78.

Robert began his teaching career in Pass Christian in 1957, Rolling Fork in 1958 and Vicksburg in 1959, and served as administrative assistant and coach at Rosa A. Temple High School. From 1964 to 1986, Mr. Pickett started his principalship at McIntyre Elementary, Jefferson Junior High School and Vicksburg High School.

Mr. Pickett moved to the Vicksburg Warren County School District in 1987, serving as assistant superintendent, deputy superintendent and later superintendent of schools from 1994 to 1999.

Robert Pickett began his service on the Hinds Community College Board of Trustees while he was superintendent of the Vicksburg Warren School District, and after his retirement in 1999 from VWSD, continued to serve as an appointed Warren County trustee. He was elected president of the board in May 2008.

He was affiliated with many civic organizations: Port City Kiwanis, Three Rivers, Boy Scouts of America, United Way of West Central Mississippi, Vicksburg Chapter of the American Red Cross, Elks Fidelity Lodge No. 507, Communications Improvement Inc. (WLBT TV3), Vicksburg Urban Redevelopment Group, Board of Directors for Merchants Bank, and the BancorpSouth Board of Directors.

He was a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. and a very active member of the Alcorn State University National Alumni Association.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jessie and Willie Mae Pickett.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Owens Pickett (59 years of marriage); daughter, Deborah (Marshall) Sanders of Vicksburg; son, Ritchie (Belinda) Pickett of Sugar Land, Texas; five grandchildren, Melanie Sanders of Vicksburg, Ryan (Ashlee) Pickett of Stafford, Texas, Rashad Sanders of Vicksburg, Kiana Sanders of Vicksburg and Evan Pickett of Sugarland, Texas; three bothers-in-law, John (Ruby) Owens of Gulfport, Ernest Carter (Linda) of Midland, Mich., and Hubert (Denise) Carter of Ypsilanti, Mich.; two sisters-in-law, Earnestine Carter and Vanessa Jackson, both of Wayne, Mich.; other relatives and friends, including three special cousins, Butch (Linda) Jones, Judy Tyler of Long Island, N.Y., and Rosie Williams of Marlton, N.J.

Visitation will be Friday from 1 to 6 p.m. at Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home, 2102 Clay St., followed by a Rosary at 6 p.m.

Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014, at St. Paul Catholic Church, 113 Crawford St. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

A repast will follow at the Vicksburg City Auditorium, 901 Monroe St.