Rachel Tadlock

Rachel Lewis Varner Tadlock

(June 28,1934-June 3, 2018  )

Rachel Lewis Varner Tadlock began her life’s journey on June 28, 1934 in Scott County. Her parents, Jimmie Lee and Ollie Vaughan Lewis welcomed her along with her older sister and brother, Laverne and Billy Lewis. Her Mom had lost a son previously. In five years, she would welcome a baby sister, Jimmie Ann.

She spent most of her childhood in the Springfield and Independence Communities. Her father, a carpenter, built the Independence Methodist Church where she publicly gave her life to Jesus. She attended Morton beginning at age 5 and graduating at 16. She left Morton and began her career in Jackson working for Gunn’s Dairy. It wasn’t long until she fell in love with the love of her life, James Edward Varner. They married on April 17th, 1954. She moved to Pelahatchie where she spent the rest of her life. She began working for the Davis Brothers. She kept their books and continued to work until she chose to work along side her husband at the Pelahatchie Locker Plant for many years. During her career she was blessed to have a daughter and son, Janet Lee and John Keith Varner yet sadly lost an unborn baby boy between Janet and Keith.

Around the mid 70’s James began working for the Mississippi Department of Agriculture. Rachel started working for the Town of Pelahatchie in the water department. She loved people and she enjoyed the opportunity to minister to the community when people actually walked in and paid their water bills. After many years, she decided to retire due to an injury in her back. Through hours of physical therapy and determination, she recovered and spent hours and hours working in her yard. She received two “Yards of the Month”….one at her home in town and one at her home on the Pelahatchie Lake. She always loved cooking as her family and friends knew! She was known for her pies. She had a pie auctioned off at a Church Youth Fundraiser for $75! Every Sunday she would cook 5 course meals for her family! She would tell us that this is the last apple pie she was cooking and then we would find 5 frozen crust ready for apple pie to come.

In 1994, James decided to retire and they bought a house at Pelahatchie Lake. He had always told her he would buy her a pond! The first day they spent at their house, he turned and said, “I promised you a pond but I decided I would buy you a Lake!” They enjoyed about 6 months until he was diagnosed with cancer. He passed on March 11, 1995.

Yet…..God is always faithful, He sent her another wonderful godly man...Leon Tadlock. On February 3, 2000 they were married and enjoyed the beautiful house on the lake for 17 years. Unfortunately, Leon died in December 2017.

Through her life, God continued to bless her with beautiful grandchildren and great grandchildren:

Benjamin (Lauren) Brown- Addison, Audrey and Ethan

Brandi Rache’l (Justin) Chancellor- John Walt and LynLee Rachel

Joshua (Mary) Varner

Dylan (Abby) Varner- Nash

She joins her parents–Jimmie Lee and Ollie Lewis, her sisters- Laverne Renfrow (Deborah and Gilbert) and Jimmie Ann (Clark) Mashburn.

She is survived by her brother- Billy (Betty Jo) Lewis Family.

Survived by her children- Janet Varner Brown Family and John Keith (Pam) Varner Family

as well as  step children- Rodney (Venetta) Family, Tammy (Renee) Family and Martha (Pat) Family as well as a host of precious nieces, nephews and friends.

God has been so good! He has blessed her abundantly and given Rachel Varner Tadlock such a godly heritage and legacy!

Visitation will be conducted Tuesday, June 5, 2018 from 5pm-7pm at Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Morton and 9am-9:45 Wednesday at Pelahatchie Baptist Church.

Services will be conducted 10am Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at Pelahatchie Baptist Church with burial in Florial Hills Gardens.

Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Morton.