Willie Darnell Upton
April 23, 1934 — November 30, 2016
Willie Darnell Huff Upton, age 82, of Columbus, MS, passed away November 30, 2016, at her residence. Funeral services will be Saturday, December 3, 2016 , at 10:00 AM at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Sammy Crawford and Slater Murphy officiating. The interment will immediately follow at Memorial Gardens Columbus. Visitation will be Friday, December 2, 2016 , from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at Memorial Funeral Home. Gunter & Peel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Upton was born April 23, 1934, in Columbus, MS, to the late Winston D. Huff of Pickens County, Alabama and Lida Hannah Huff of Gordo. She was a graduate of S. D. Lee High School and began working at The Bell Telephone Company in 1958 as an operator. She retired from South Central Bell having worked as a supervisor in both the Columbus and Starkville business offices. Mrs. Upton was a member of Fairview Baptist Church since 1962 where she played the piano and organ for many years for the Sanctuary Choir, as well as the Ladies Ensemble and the Third Grade Choir. She was a member of the Northhaven Woods Garden Club and served as secretary/treasurer.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Glyn E. Upton. She is survived by her son, Dr. Don Upton and his wife ,Vicki, daughter, Melissa Upton, sisters, Marie Wright, June Upton and Hannah Huff, and brother-in-law, Richard Upton, all of Columbus, MS, grandchildren, Brad Upton and his wife Casey of Mandeville, LA, and Ben Upton and his wife Hailey of Columbus, MS, and great-grandchildren, Brady Upton, Bree Upton and Abby Scott Upton.
Pallbearers will be her nephews Joe Upton, Darryl Upton, Daniel Upton, Tim Upton, Tommy Upton, Mike Upton, Frank Upton, Johnny Wright and Randy Wright.
Honorary pallbearers will be Leon and Valera Speck and the Ester Sunday School Class of Fairview Baptist Church.
And with grateful hearts, the family would like to thank caregiver, Alice Patterson, Valerie Miller, RN, and the tender and nurturing staff of Sanctuary Hospice.
Memorials can be made to Fairview Baptist Church, 127 Airline Road, Columbus, MS 39702.
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