Diane King

Shirley Diane  King, age 71, a resident  of  Forest, died early Sunday morning, March 17, 2019, surrounded by her family at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson following a brief illness.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11am Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at the Ott & Lee Funeral Home Chapel with interment to follow in the Eastern Cemetery.  Bro. Bob Smith will officiate.  Visitation will be held from 5pm to 8pm Tuesday, March 19, 2019, and again from 9am to 10am prior to the service at 10:30am.

Mrs. King was born to her parents,  John  Townsend and Mildred Sigrest Townsend on January 15, 1948 in Neshoba County.  She was a Baptist.  She had worked many years at Forest Packing Company until her retirement in 1986.  She was a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and sister.  She loved all her family and being with them.  She especially loved her first cousin  Elija Townsend. Together, they shared a passion for fishing at the Washington Lake.  Her son-in-law always picked on her about her being so short and would tell that when she carried a baby in her arms, the baby’s feet would be dragging the floor!  She loved to sit on her front porch and watch her grandchildren at play.   She loved the outdoors, watching the birds, squirrels, and hummingbirds gather at her feeders.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Survivors include her daughter, Shirley K. Runnels (James) of Forest, one brother; Robert Townsend (Nell) also of Forest, 2 grandchildren; Jeffrey Runnels, Lorena Fortenberry (William), 2 great-grandchildren Hemi Fortenberry and Raeleigh Fortenberry.

Pallbearers are Terry Goggins, Eric Townsend, Timothy Townsend, Alfred King, Chris Fortenberry and Nicholas Monk.  Honorary pallbearers are Kenneth Goggins and Brian Runnels.

Services provided by Ott & Lee Funeral Home of Forest.

Telephone: (601) 469-3412