Randy Braswell (1948-2025): Prominent Citizen Passes

December 7, 1948, in Winona, to Elmer and Grace Braswell, Randy lived most of his life in Southwest Mississippi, working in the land, timber, and gas and oil leasing business. Through his company Worldwide Companies, his auction, gas, and oil work achieved international acclaim. Most of his auctions, conducted in Magnolia, involved farm machinery and equipment, and the hundreds of buyers would travel from throughout the United States to Magnolia to bid and purchase the varied items auctioned.

Randy was a pioneer in the oil business in Southwest Mississippi and the nation, especially in developing the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale oil and gas exploration in the region. He was a major player in Adams, Amite, Franklin, Pike, Walthall, and Wilkinson Counties in developing TMS drilling techniques. He also held and developed oil reserves in the nation at large.

Randy in the early 1980s purchased the Lampton Reid Estate just east of Magnolia for his family home.

This historic 120 acre estate included a large main house, guest house, pool and pool house, gardens, lakes, barn, zoo, and airfield which was originally constructed in 1935 by Magnolia merchant and pilot Lucius Lampton Reid, designed by the world renowned architect Richard Koch of New Orleans. The main house including Reid’s Rolls Royce in the garage burned to the ground in 1958. With the assistance of famed architect Samuel Wilson, Jr., the structure was rebuilt on the same foundation in 1959-60 again designed by Koch. Reid purchased a 1959 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud which occupied his new garage which was built for it. (Frank Alford of Magnolia later owned that Rolls.) After purchasing the estate, Randy made lovely additions to the main structures in 1983-4 and in 2002-3, and Randy utilized the same respected architectural firm. Randy loved this property and enjoyed entertaining family and friends on his panoramic glassed-in porch, which dated to 1959. Randy expanded the original acreage by hundreds of acres, with children and grandchildren living on the property with him for decades. He was dedicated to his wife and family and centered his life around them. Randy also made many gifts to his community and supported the South Pike School District through his oil leasing on their properties and his significant donation of the Braswell Building, which is used as a South Pike School Administrative Complex, on Highway 48 in Magnolia. He had earlier built the structure for use of a local church, which he also supported. Dr. Luke Lampton, his longtime friend, remembered: “Randy Braswell was an icon in the business community of Southwest Mississippi. No one knew the oil, timber, and land business better than Randy. He was a genius of the art of oil and land. He was also a devoted husband and father to his large family, who were all devoted to him. He was a loyal friend. I loved his sense of humor. My memory of him is sitting on his panoramic porch, a cigarette hanging in his mouth, telling a joke and laughing a wonderful laugh. He will be very missed by this community.” He is survived by his wife of 51 years Jackie Dixon Braswell; daughters Laurie (JJ) White of Madison, Brandi (Doug) Ervin of McComb, Chasity Braswell of Flora, Coty (Chad) Smith of Madison; grandchildren Grace Ann Ervin of Madison, Jacqueline (Link) Greenlee of Bentonia, Amber Ervin of Madison, Taylor Ervin of Madison, Braswell Ervin of McComb, Brandon Ervin of Hattisburg, Laura Leigh Ervin of McComb, Lynlee Brooke Smith of Madison, Mary Catherine Smith of Madison, Ann Braswell Smith of Madison; sisters Yvonne (Hal) Jackson of Minden, La., Yvette (Dalton) McCabe of Baton Rouge, La., Pattye Braswell of Liberty; nieces and nephews Lisa (Richard) Campbell of Minden, La., Damon McCabe of Baton Rouge, La., Jayme McCabe of Baton Rouge, La., Cassie Anderson of Liberty, Cervenia Braswell of Memphis, Tn.; and special friend and caregiver Daniel DeBlanc. Randy was preceded in death by his parents Elmer and Grace Gregg Braswell, brother Dlynn Braswell, sister Mary Katherine Braswell, and nephew Brad Braswell. Visitation was Saturday, August 9, 2025 at Brown Funeral Home in Gloster, and the funeral services followed at 2:00 P.M. at the funeral home, officiated by Rev. Rusty Bowser. Interment followed at Roseland Cemetery in Gloster. TWISTS & TURNS: THIS AIN’T MISS ‘BEE’ HAVEN BY JUDY CAUSEY LOVE, SOUTHEAST ALABAMA CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Randy Braswell (1948 - 2025)