Paul Anthony Portera of Grenada, Mississippi, died August 19, 2018, at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi.
Paul was born on January 1, 1953, in West Point, Mississippi, and was the first baby of the new year. He was preceded in death by his father, Anthony Joseph Portera, his mother, Dallie Sanders Portera, and his brothers Dr. Joe Portera and Dr. Louis Portera.
He was a member of All Saints’ Episcopal Church where he served on the Little Saints’ Preschool Board of Directors and volunteered at the church’s Food Pantry as well as St. Nicholas’ Treasure Chest every Christmas. He was also a longstanding member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Paul graduated from West Point High School and Mississippi State University. He received his Master's degree from the University of Alabama and completed postgraduate study at the University of Mississippi. He was an avid Crimson Tide football fan although he wore a lucky green, rather than a crimson, shirt to watch every football game.
He was the youngest principal hired in the West Point School District and was principal in West Point and Grenada for 38 years. He also served as Personnel Director for the Grenada School District and was named Outstanding Educator in Mississippi. As a principal of Grenada Elementary, his school was named by BusinessWeek as the Top Rural Elementary School in the United States. Among his many positive traits were fairness and excellence as he led a superlative educational staff to whom he conveyed his expectations and then left them alone to do their best. He was known as a steadfast source of honor and for his unwavering support and generosity to his staff and to his family.
Exemplifying his motto, Sempre Famiglia (Family Forever), he was most proud of his wife, Eloise Wyman Portera to whom he was married for 35 years, four children and grandchildren: Stark Hayden (Kelly), Atlanta, Georgia; Paige Logan (Skip), Bowling Green, Kentucky; Molly Portera, Ridgeland, Mississippi; Lee Karen Portera Dambo (Bio), Memphis, Tennessee; grandchildren: Anna Grace Hayden, Stark Andrew Hayden, Vaiden Logan, Caleb Logan, John Stark Logan, Catherine Logan, and Remi Dambo. He also leaves two brothers: John Cangelosi of West Point, Mississippi, and Dr. Mack Portera (Olivia) of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Celebrating continuity of family memories and recipes, Paul compiled Sempre Famiglia, a cookbook of favorite tales and Italian recipes from his ten aunts and uncles, all first-generation Americans. He was an admirable Italian cook and loved celebrating his birthday by making cannolis with family and friends.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 25, 2018, at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Grenada, Mississippi, with The Reverend Joshua Messick officiating. Inurnment of the ashes in the church columbarium will follow the service. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the church until the time of the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to All Saints’ Church Food Pantry,
(P. O. Box 345, Grenada, MS 38902-0345) or to the charity of one’s choice.
Arrangements are with McKibben and Guinn Funeral Home, Grenada, Mississippi.
Danny Mize
Paul Anthony Portera
( January 01, 1953 - August 19, 2018 )
Paul Anthony Portera of Grenada, Mississippi, died August 19, 2018, at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi.
Paul was born on January 1, 1953, in West Point, Mississippi, and was the first baby of the new year. He was preceded in death by his father, Anthony Joseph Portera, his mother, Dallie Sanders Portera, and his brothers Dr. Joe Portera and Dr. Louis Portera.
He was a member of All Saints’ Episcopal Church where he served on the Little Saints’ Preschool Board of Directors and volunteered at the church’s Food Pantry as well as St. Nicholas’ Treasure Chest every Christmas. He was also a longstanding member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Paul graduated from West Point High School and Mississippi State University. He received his Master's degree from the University of Alabama and completed postgraduate study at the University of Mississippi. He was an avid Crimson Tide football fan although he wore a lucky green, rather than a crimson, shirt to watch every football game.
He was the youngest principal hired in the West Point School District and was principal in West Point and Grenada for 38 years. He also served as Personnel Director for the Grenada School District and was named Outstanding Educator in Mississippi. As a principal of Grenada Elementary, his school was named by BusinessWeek as the Top Rural Elementary School in the United States. Among his many positive traits were fairness and excellence as he led a superlative educational staff to whom he conveyed his expectations and then left them alone to do their best. He was known as a steadfast source of honor and for his unwavering support and generosity to his staff and to his family.
Exemplifying his motto, Sempre Famiglia (Family Forever), he was most proud of his wife, Eloise Wyman Portera to whom he was married for 35 years, four children and grandchildren: Stark Hayden (Kelly), Atlanta, Georgia; Paige Logan (Skip), Bowling Green, Kentucky; Molly Portera, Ridgeland, Mississippi; Lee Karen Portera Dambo (Bio), Memphis, Tennessee; grandchildren: Anna Grace Hayden, Stark Andrew Hayden, Vaiden Logan, Caleb Logan, John Stark Logan, Catherine Logan, and Remi Dambo. He also leaves two brothers: John Cangelosi of West Point, Mississippi, and Dr. Mack Portera (Olivia) of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Celebrating continuity of family memories and recipes, Paul compiled Sempre Famiglia, a cookbook of favorite tales and Italian recipes from his ten aunts and uncles, all first-generation Americans. He was an admirable Italian cook and loved celebrating his birthday by making cannolis with family and friends.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 25, 2018, at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Grenada, Mississippi, with The Reverend Joshua Messick officiating. Inurnment of the ashes in the church columbarium will follow the service. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the church until the time of the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to All Saints’ Church Food Pantry,
(P. O. Box 345, Grenada, MS 38902-0345) or to the charity of one’s choice.
Arrangements are with McKibben and Guinn Funeral Home, Grenada, Mississippi.