1921
Elizabeth
2017
Elizabeth Hemphill
November 17, 1921 — March 2, 2017
Elizabeth McKay HemphillBrandon, MS
Elizabeth McKay Hemphill, 95, went peacefully to her heavenly reward on Thursday, March 2, 2017, at her home in Brandon, MS.
Services will be held at the Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Brandon at 10:30 AM on Monday, March 6, 2017. Visitation will be at the Funeral Home on Sunday, March 5, 2017, from 2-4 PM and again an hour before the services on Monday. Graveside services will follow at the Brandon Memorial Cemetery.
Mrs. Hemphill was born and raised in Pelahatchie, MS and was a lifelong resident of Brandon.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Rosa Lee Wilson Watts and Judge Hill Watts, her loving husband Robert Hemphill, and her sister Hilda “Sugar” Ueltschey. She is survived by her children Otto McKay, Jr. (Penny) and Patsy McKay Brooks (Charles); her grandchildren Josh McKay (Tracey) and Julee Fava (Rick); great grandchildren Jake, Hayes, and Millie McKay and Pheebie Fava.
She labored all her life to provide for her family and especially as a single parent when she often held three jobs. She had an extensive and varied work history including as the County Administrator of the Agricultural Conservation Service, owner of McKay Hardware and Brandon Feed and Seed, Rankin Co. Bank, Busick’s Department Store, Brandon Baptist Church, National Old Line Insurance Co, where she was a leading sales agent.
Her greatest career joys were the indelible marks she made on many young lives as the Brandon Kindergarten teacher from 1954 -1963. (For their graduation the children were required to recite the Lord's Prayer and the A to Z bible verses.) And also the lives she touched in her 20 years as the Night Manager of Primos Restaurant where she created “The Roundtable”. She especially valued the many friends she cultivated there and to whom she ministered, including police officers, nurses, medical students and the patients and their families at the Baptist Hospital. She adopted her other “regulars” as her surrogate family.
She was always ready to offer a cup of coffee and an uplifting word or story.
Her civic involvement included President of the Brandon PTA, Girl Scout leader, and for over 50 years in the Grand Chapter of the Order Eastern Star where she held many offices, and the Brandon Garden Club where she served as President and after 50 years of service she was awarded a lifetime membership.
She deeply loved her family and friends as her greatest treasures. She was a caring lady who loved life and could light up a room with her smile and charm. She ever met a stranger and loved a good time and a good laugh. She was selfless and generous to all. She will be missed more than words can express.
She was a woman who modeled and instilled her strong faith in the Lord in her children and grandchildren. It undoubtedly could be said of her, as the Apostle Paul’s wrote in 2 Timothy 4:7–8, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”
The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Lucius Sams and his assistant Alicia Stepp for their untiring care for many years. And our hearts will always be touched by the faithful loving service of her caregivers Sandral Mack, Lynn Nichols and Betty Davis.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to either the Brandon First United Methodist Church Bus Fund or to the Shriners Hospital for Children 3100 Samford Av. Shreveport, LA 71103
Elizabeth McKay Hemphill, 95, went peacefully to her heavenly reward on Thursday, March 2, 2017, at her home in Brandon, MS.
Services will be held at the Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Brandon at 10:30 AM on Monday, March 6, 2017. Visitation will be at the Funeral Home on Sunday, March 5, 2017, from 2-4 PM and again an hour before the services on Monday. Graveside services will follow at the Brandon Memorial Cemetery.
Mrs. Hemphill was born and raised in Pelahatchie, MS and was a lifelong resident of Brandon.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Rosa Lee Wilson Watts and Judge Hill Watts, her loving husband Robert Hemphill, and her sister Hilda “Sugar” Ueltschey. She is survived by her children Otto McKay, Jr. (Penny) and Patsy McKay Brooks (Charles); her grandchildren Josh McKay (Tracey) and Julee Fava (Rick); great grandchildren Jake, Hayes, and Millie McKay and Pheebie Fava.
She labored all her life to provide for her family and especially as a single parent when she often held three jobs. She had an extensive and varied work history including as the County Administrator of the Agricultural Conservation Service, owner of McKay Hardware and Brandon Feed and Seed, Rankin Co. Bank, Busick’s Department Store, Brandon Baptist Church, National Old Line Insurance Co, where she was a leading sales agent.
Her greatest career joys were the indelible marks she made on many young lives as the Brandon Kindergarten teacher from 1954 -1963. (For their graduation the children were required to recite the Lord's Prayer and the A to Z bible verses.) And also the lives she touched in her 20 years as the Night Manager of Primos Restaurant where she created “The Roundtable”. She especially valued the many friends she cultivated there and to whom she ministered, including police officers, nurses, medical students and the patients and their families at the Baptist Hospital. She adopted her other “regulars” as her surrogate family.
She was always ready to offer a cup of coffee and an uplifting word or story.
Her civic involvement included President of the Brandon PTA, Girl Scout leader, and for over 50 years in the Grand Chapter of the Order Eastern Star where she held many offices, and the Brandon Garden Club where she served as President and after 50 years of service she was awarded a lifetime membership.
She deeply loved her family and friends as her greatest treasures. She was a caring lady who loved life and could light up a room with her smile and charm. She ever met a stranger and loved a good time and a good laugh. She was selfless and generous to all. She will be missed more than words can express.
She was a woman who modeled and instilled her strong faith in the Lord in her children and grandchildren. It undoubtedly could be said of her, as the Apostle Paul’s wrote in 2 Timothy 4:7–8, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”
The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Lucius Sams and his assistant Alicia Stepp for their untiring care for many years. And our hearts will always be touched by the faithful loving service of her caregivers Sandral Mack, Lynn Nichols and Betty Davis.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to either the Brandon First United Methodist Church Bus Fund or to the Shriners Hospital for Children 3100 Samford Av. Shreveport, LA 71103
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