Edna Earle Dearman, 90, affectionately known as Nana, went home to be with the Lord on December 8, 2014.
Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 10, in the parlor of the Family Life Center, Forest Baptist Church. The funeral service will follow at 11:30 a.m. in the sanctuary of the church with Dr. Gordon Sansing officiating. Private family interment will be held at Eastern Cemetery. Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Forest is in charge of arrangements.
Born Edna Earle Higdon on February 27, 1924, in Hazlehurst, she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior and was baptized at the age of ten. Her father started a hardware business in Forest and her family moved there when she was thirteen. In school, she enjoyed being in the band and was a cheerleader. She also was the singer in a jazz band combo which performed at the Neshoba County Fair. In high school, she made lifelong friends. This group of ten young ladies, known as the Sub Debs, began meeting regularly. They planned parties and formals, as well as activities for the football team. This special group of friends continued meeting at least annually throughout their lives.
At Forest High School, she also met the love of her life, Bill Dearman. They were married in a sunrise service at the bride’s home. Mrs. Dearman enjoyed cooking, gardening, yard work, and sewing. She was a Girl Scout leader, served in the PTA, and was president of the La Petite Fortnightly Club. She also enjoyed playing bridge, golf, and bowling. She was a member of the Forest Baptist Church, where she taught children in Sunday School for many years. In recent years, she was an active member of the T.W.L. Sunday School Class and the Fabulous Fitness exercise group at her church. Her favorite scripture was the 23rd Psalm and her favorite hymn was “In the Garden.” She exemplified the woman described in Proverbs 31 who served her family, friends, and Lord with noble character.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Edna and T.A. Higdon; her husband of nearly fifty eight years, Bill Dearman; and her son, Billy Dearman.
She is survived by her daughter, Nancy Dearman Lee and son-in-law, Jerry Lee; sister, Cheryl Higdon Jones (Hugh); granddaughters, Kristy Lee Sanders (Dr. Michael), and Jennifer Lee Lowe (Mike); and grandsons, Bill Dearman (Toni) and Russ Dearman, and their mother, JoAnn Dearman. She is also survived by seven great grandchildren, Ashley, Philip, and Nancy Lee Sanders, Michael and Mary Elise Lowe, and Bentley and Liam Dearman; as well as a host of nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly.
Memorials may be made to Forest Baptist Church, P.O. Box 338, Forest, MS, 39074.