A lifelong Jones Countian now heads the state’s Grand Lodge.

Longtime Ellisville resident Bobby Ralph Ainsworth has been elected to lead the Grand Lodge of Mississippi.

Ainsworth, the son of the late Ralph Ainsworth and Gayola Ishee Ainsworth, was elected by the Masons of Mississippi as the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mississippi F&AM.

Ainsworth, who is married to the former Hilda Cole, has been a mason for the past 37 years. He was elected in 1971 to receive his Entered Apprentice and was raised to Master Mason.

Ainsworth, a member of Ellisville Lodge No. 161, has served as master four times and served as their secretary for the past 30 years.

Ainsworth said his election marks history for Jones County.

“This is the first time in 52 years that we’ve had a Grand Master from Jones County,” the Jones County native said. “The last Grand Master from here was Victor Walters in 1956.”

Based on his election, Ainsworth will serve as Grand Master through 2009.

“For one year, I’m the head man for the lodge in the state,” he said. “It’s the highest honor you can get by being elected statewide for this position.”

Ainsworth said he’s proud of the honor and the trust that his fellow masons entrusted in him.

“You are selected by the membership all over the state,” he said. “It’s a real honor.”

Ainsworth is also a dual member of Ovett Lodge No. 571, and on March 13, 1990 he was appointed as a district deputy grand lecturer for the 25th District. He served in this office for 17 years until he resigned in 2007 in order to have more time to devote to his Senior Grand Warden office.

While Ainsworth was a District Deputy, his district included his home lodge, Ellisville No. 161, his dual Lodge Ovett No. 571, Laurel Lodge No. 414, John Henry Wooten Sr. Lodge No. 503, Union Lodge No. 415, Strengthford No. 568, Fuller No. 515, J.M. Bradley No. 447, Pleasant Grove No. 634, Clyde Howard No. 525.

Ainsworth’s son-in-law Greg “Red” Dickerson now serves the offices of Deputy Grand Master and District Deputy Grand Lecturer of 25th District.

“This is a busy year. ...There will be cornerstones to lay for Masonic Lodges as well as for public buildings,” said Ainsworth, a local businessman. “As Grand Master you travel the state of Mississippi visiting as many of the 251 lodges as possible and lay cornerstones when needed.”