JACKSON, Miss. ( WJTV ) – Retired Hinds County Court Judge Melvin V. Priester Sr. died at his Jackson home on Wednesday, October 2. He was 74.
Priester concluded a public service career of nearly 40 years with nine and one-half years of service on the Hinds County Court. He was elected in a runoff to Sub-District 1 in November 2010 and took office on January 4, 2011. He retired on June 3, 2020, due to health issues.
He was a public servant who tried to guide community residents and counsel courtroom defendants so they would not be defined by past mistakes, and he encouraged young people to dream big and seek higher goals. For many years, he sponsored and/or coached football and soccer teams for young boys, and he successfully mentored older students to compete in debates and mock trial events. He coached mock trial teams at Lanier High School, Murrah High School, and Mississippi College School of Law. He also coached little league baseball and earned a black belt in karate, which he later used in teaching karate to inner city children.
Priester’s Family