Don Self, a leader in the Mississippi peanut industry and a member of the National Peanut Board, died Oct. 1 in a harvesting accident.

Monroe County Sheriff Cecil Cantrell said Self, who was hauling peanuts for another farmer, apparently was connecting a trailer “and the truck backed up and caught him and took him under the truck.”

DON SELF

Self, 55, a life-long farmer in the Hamilton community of Monroe County, was one of the pioneer growers of peanuts in northeast Mississippi.

He was completing six years of service on the National Peanut Board and the board of the Mississippi Peanut Growers Association, according to Malcolm Broome, MPGA executive director.

“Don was the kind of board member every organization wishes it had,” Broome said. “He immersed himself in the business of peanuts, and was an extremely effective spokesman for the industry. He will be missed by everyone in the industry.”

“Don was integral in establishing Mississippi as a major peanut producing state,” says Bob Parker, president and chief executive officer of the National Peanut Board. “He was elected to the board in 2008 and has proudly served as the chair of the Domestic Promotions Committee. He has traveled from New York to California and points in between promoting peanuts.”

Donald Dennis Self was born October 13, 1958 to Dennis Ruben Self and Mary Anna Lavender Self at Hopkinsville, Ky.

He was a lifelong resident of Hamilton, Miss., a graduate of Hamilton High School and attended Mississippi State University. He was co-owner of Self Farms, a deacon in New Prospect Baptist Church, and served on the Monroe County school board.

Services will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 4, at New Prospect Baptist Church with Rev. John Maxey officiating. Burial will be in New Prospect Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.

He leaves his wife, Lisa Springfield Self, daughter Leslie Harrington (Hank), son Nathan Self (Tara); four grandchildren, Lexi Self, Myles Self, Laney Harrington and Walker Harrington; and his parents, all of Hamilton. He was preceded in death by a son, Dustin Self, and a sister, Patti Jo Self.

Memorials may be made to New Prospect Baptist Church Family Life Center, Hamilton MS 39746.