- Date Of Birth: October 20, 1945
- Date Of Death: December 21, 2022
- State: Mississippi
Dr. John Eugene Privett, DMD, passed away on December 21, 2022 at the age of 77. He practiced dentistry in Pascagoula, MS for 50 years. He was privileged to have treated thousands of people over the years, including multiple generations of many families. His staff and patients knew him as a humble professional.
Dr. Privett was born in Thomasville, AL and graduated with honors from Thomasville High School in 1963. He received a full scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) in Hattiesburg, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology with honors in 1967. At USM, he was a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa pre-dental/medical honor society.
He received the Claude S. Williams award for the senior with the highest GPA in pre-dentistry. He received a full scholarship to the University of Alabama School of Dentistry in Birmingham, where he graduated with honors in 1971.
After graduation, Dr. Privett joined the Army and served two years from 1971-1973. He opened his dental practice in Pascagoula, MS in August 1973. In 1994, after 21 years at that location, he moved his practice to the current location on Ingalls Ave.
Dr. Privett truly loved dentistry and often talked about how lucky he was to continue practicing later in life. He had a special relationship with many patients and staff members through the years. He often said “I always came away feeling blessed for being able to help”.
Dr. Privett was a long-time member of First Baptist Church in Gautier, MS and served as Deacon in years past.
Above all, he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend.
In August of this year Dr. Privett celebrated 55 years of marriage to his beloved wife Sharon Newton Privett. They had three children.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon of Gautier, MS; daughter Jana Privett Smallwood (Brad) of Spanish Fort, AL and daughter Meribeth Privett (Lad) of Houston, TX; three grandchildren, Harlon Smallwood, John Major Smallwood, and Jack Smallwood and his sister Linda Privett-Bearden (Andy) of Thomasville, AL.
Dr. Privett is preceded in death by his mother, Mabel Rutledge Martell; his step-father William Walter Martell; his father; Joseph Edward Privett, his sister Elizabeth Ann Privett; and his son, John Thomas Privett.
