Gene Knight, 78
December 14, 1945 – October 10, 2024
TUPELO – Legendary Tupelo restaurant owner, James Eugene “Gene” Knight, 78, died Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 at his Tupelo residence after a period of declining health battling cancer. Gene and his family owned Dairy Kream “on the Levee” in East Tupelo, Tupelo’s second oldest restaurant, for 54 years. James Eugene “Gene” Knight was born on December 14, 1945 in the Mississippi Delta town of Moorehead, MS, one of 7 children born to the late Jimmy Howell Knight and Thelma Maureen Bush Knight. Always known as Gene, he started the first grade in Hatley and graduated from Hatley High School 12 years later. Gene and Don purchased Dairy Kream in 1970. In 1977, he bought Don out and owned the restaurant, a Tupelo staple, until his death. Gene was always talking and making friends. He genuinely loved people, was always brutally honest in his dealings with his fellowman and loved talking the history of the area. A great promoter of Tupelo, especially East Tupelo, Gene enjoyed the many Elvis Birthplace visitors who stopped in for a snack or to try their famous ice cream twist in vanilla or chocolate. A nostalgic collector, he had an extensive collection of Coca Cola memorabilia. In 1992, Gene became a licensed Bail Bondsman establishing Triple A Bail Bonding Company. He highly respected all Law enforcement officers and Court Judges and officials becoming good friends with them everywhere in Northeast Mississippi. An incredible southern storyteller, Gene knew how to spin a yarn and entertained many a soul with his magical charm and charisma. He was a member of the Mooreville Methodist Church,
A celebration of life service will take place at 2 PM on Monday, October 14, 2024, in the Sadie M. Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors- Tupelo with Bro. Sammy Washburn officiating. Visitation will be from 12 PM to service time on Monday only at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Gilvo Cemetery in Skyline. For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed at 2 PM at hollandfuneraldirectors.com/live-streaming where it will be afterward archived. Holland Funeral Directors is honored to serve their friends.
Gene is survived by his wife, Julie Knight; children, Austin “AJ” Knight (Katie) of Tupelo, Jada Knight of Tupelo, Debbie Knight of Becker, Tiffany Parham of Becker and Jeff Herndon (Chrissie), and Tammy Herndon Jones (Tim) whom he raised and loved; siblings, Don Knight (Barbara) of Saltillo, Linda Knight Frances (Buzz) of Amory, and Bo Knight (Nancy, deceased) of Amory; his grandchildren and great grandchild and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, Fred Knight, Bob Knight, and Jim Knight, two grandchildren, Ajax and Jamie Knight, and two nephews both named Greg Knight.
Pallbearers will be Craig White, Jeff Herndon, Mike Knight, Patrick Stow, Anthony Knight, and Dennis Knight. Honorary pallbearers are Wayne Butler and Steven “Slap Rock” Sharod.
Memorials in Gene’s memory may be made to the Elvis Presley Memorial Foundation, P. O. Box 1339, Tupelo, MS 38804 for improvements at the EP Birthplace or the Tupelo Police Department Athletic League, c/o Create Foundation, P. O. Box 1053, Tupelo, MS 38802-to assist wayward youth to a path of recovery.
Condolences for the family may be left on Gene’s memorial page at hollandfuneraldirectors.com.
Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.
