Couple allegedly killed by teen who broke into their home remembered as sweet, loving

SIMPSON COUNTY, Miss. (WLBT/Gray News) - A Mississippi couple who authorities say were fatally shot in their home by a 17-year-old suspect are being remembered as loving and caring members of their community.

Billy Blair, 74, and his wife, 71-year-old Virginia Carol Blair, were shot and killed in their Mendenhall home last Wednesday after a 17-year-old boy allegedly broke in. The suspect is facing more than a dozen charges, including two counts of capital murder.

Now, the Blairs are being remembered by their pastor, Andy Fullington of New Hebron Baptist Church, as “the sweetest couple” who were always together and loved the Lord. They owned a tire business in Magee and worked right alongside each other.

“The neat thing about Mr. Billy and Ms. Carol, where you saw one, you saw the other; they were always together,” Fullington said. “They were just the sweetest couple and had such a beautiful spirit about them. They loved the Lord, and it was evident in their life.”

Carol Blair played the piano at the church for 30 years, and Billy Blair served in a number of different roles.

“You didn’t have to wonder about Ms. Carol or Mr. Billy,” Fullington said. “You knew that they were just good people that would help anyone.”

The pastor says the couple would always come up to him after sermons with words of encouragement.

“Ms. Carol would always come up to me after I would preach the sermon, and she would always say, ‘You did a great job.’ Even if it was a bad sermon, even messed up, she was just a godly woman who had such encouragement, and she would always share some encouraging words,” he said.

Fullington admits there will now be a void left behind that can’t be filled.

“They walked with the Lord. They have left behind a beautiful example, a shining light. We’re going to miss them so much, but we know where they are and that gives us great comfort,” he said.

Teenage suspect denied bond

Cordarius Hobbs, 17, is accused of breaking into the Blairs’ home and killing them before getting into a standoff with law enforcement officers. He now faces 13 charges, including:

• 2 counts of capital murder
• 1 count of burglary 
• 4 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon 
• 4 counts aggravated assault on a law officer with a deadly weapon 
• 2 counts aggravated assault over 65 years old

Hobbs made his initial court appearance Friday morning, where he was denied bond. In court, it was revealed he allegedly fired shots at four different law enforcement officers and an infant at the scene. All five received injuries that were not life-threatening.

The Blairs’ family members called for a welfare check last Wednesday afternoon after they couldn’t reach the couple. According to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, when officers arrived, a burglary was in progress, and Hobbs began shooting at officers.

Investigators say he then barricaded himself inside the house. He told them he would surrender and come out the front door but ended up running out the back door before being chased down by officers.

Hobbs was shot by a state trooper during the standoff. His injuries were not life-threatening.

Even in the midst of grief, Fullington says it’s still important to show forgiveness.

“We know this person is going to get punishment for what they did, and we certainly need to pray for this person that this person would find Jesus and come to know Christ as his savior. But justice is going to be served,” he said.

Hobbs’ next hearing is set to take place later this month. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.