Mr. Winford will be laid to rest Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at Willis and Sons Funeral Home in the Chapel. His services will begin at 11:00 a.m.Committal will be at Tru Union Church Cemetery in Yazoo City, MS .Visitation will be on Tuesday November 8, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Willis and Sons Funeral Home, 5235 Robinson Road Ext, Jackson, MS.

First Sergeant (Retired) Robert Don ("D" or "RD") Winford, 84, died peacefully at the Mississippi State Veterans Home on November 1, 2016.

First Sergeant (Retired) Winford was born on February 12, 1932 in Vaughan, Mississippi to William "Bill" Winford and Eula Hudson Winford.He attended Bunch Elementary School and Junction City High School where he received his GED. He later attended J.S. Reynolds Community College (Richmond, Virginia).In 1983, he graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, Virginia)where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice and Public Safety.

In 1955, Robert joined the Army and began a long and distinguished military career, serving in the Republic of Korea (multiple times), Dominican Republic (1964), Caribbean (April 1964-June 1967) and two tours in Vietnam.His awards include:Bronze Star Medal w/Valor Device & 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Commendation Medal w/ 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Good Conduct Medal w/7th Award; National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Medal w/Palm; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and Meritorious Unit Citation.

Robert loved to fish, hunt, garden, read and keep up with current events and could "hold court" and debate a myriad of topics.He donated to many charities and was an active member of various organizations:National Rifle Association (Endowment Member); Veterans of Foreign Wars (Life Member); American Civil Liberties Union; Republican National Committee (Sustaining Member), to name a few.

Robert was predeceased by his parents, William and Eula Winford; three sisters, Almeda O'Neil, Odessa Harrison, and Iranette Mason; one brother, Joelynn Winford; Dorothy Winford (1st wife); Doris Winford-Thurston (daughter); Corriennie Estella Green (2nd wife), and Sharde Winford-Turner (granddaughter).

Robert leaves to cherish his memory:Lieutenant Colonel Ave M. Winford (loving daughter); Louis Blount (sister); Glenn (Flora) Moorehead (son); LaVerne Ross (daughter), Justin Winford (son), Marsha Winford (wife); Bettie (Cleotha) Sanders (special cousins); John and Clara Farrar (brother-in-law and sister-in-law), Lisa Hendrick (close niece), and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.