Jason Chrestman, 70, of Batesville,  passed away Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023 at his home.

The funeral service will be held Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 3 p.m. in the Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from Noon until the time of service. Interment will follow in Forrest Memorial Park.

Jason was born June 30, 1953, in Sardis,  to Baby Joy Rutherford Welch and Lonnie Chrestman. A graduate of South Panola High School, he received numerous awards and scholarships for his outstanding performances playing football.

During his working life, Jason worked as a painter with Lawrence Brothers for several years until he started working with the Panola County Sheriff’s Office. Jason worked in law enforcement in several roles including as a deputy, investigator, and a commander at the Narcotics Task Force for 29 years until he retired in 2018.

Jason enjoyed hunting, fishing, and taking children and wounded veterans grabbling. He also loved to just take the day to play golf with his friends. He enjoyed teaching his grandchildren the importance of using firearms, taking them turkey, dove, and deer hunting and also enjoyed reloading shells in his spare time.

Jason was preceded in death by his wife, Dessie Chrestman, his father, Lonnie Chrestman, and four siblings, Larry Chrestman, Bill Chrestman, Leo Chrestman, and Lemmie Chrestman.

The family he leaves to cherish his memory include his two daughters, Tresah Harden (Mike) and Kellie Potts (Van), both of Batesville,  his mother, Baby Joy Welch, of Batesville, one brother, Lonnie Chrestman, Jr. (Martha), of Batesville, his step sister, Shelia Estes (Eddie), of Pontotoc,  two step-brothers, Mike Welch and Robert Welch, both of Pontotoc, and his sister-in-law, Betty Chrestman, of Batesville. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Cortney Anderson (Rodney), of Batesville, Jordan Potts Brassell (Kyle), of Greenwood, Logan Potts (Chelsea McCullough), of Batesville, and Tyler Potts (Meg Lytal), of Batesville,and one great-grandchild, Corbyn Anderson, also of Batesville.