Dai Waters Wilson

Margaret “Dai” Daisy Vaughan Waters Wilson, age 91, passed away peacefully at her home on March 7, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. F.M. Vaughan Jr., Dai was born on August 25, 1933, in Lowndes County, Mississippi, the second of five children. Growing up in the countryside, she nurtured a deep love of the outdoors, animals, and game hunting. Dedicated to her education, Dai graduated from Lee High School in 1951 and attendedMississippi State University.

Through a chance introduction by her brother, Dai met Ray Waters. The two quickly fell in love and married on December 21, 1952, at Murrah’s Chapel in Lowndes County—a church founded by Dai’s great-great-grandfather and ever close to her heart. Their life together was filled with adventure, further enlivened by the arrival of four sons—Mike, David, M.L., and Ine. As a mother, Dai was both loving and supportive, while giving her boys the freedom to grow and explore. She instilled in each of them her boundless love of nature, and the family enjoyed countless hunting trips around the globe, as well as local outings at their camp house—fondly known as the “Water Hole.”

Dai was devoted to enhancing the beauty of the world around her—through flowers, nature, art, and historic preservation. She partnered with her lifelong friend, Betty Dill, to form Special Designs, a floral design business that brought beauty and creativity to countless weddings, conventions, and events. An active community member, Dai was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church, a charter member of the Home and Garden Club, a member of the Columbus Garden Club, and served with the Junior Auxiliary of Columbus, where she acted as Pilgrimage Ball Chairman in 1960.

After Ray’s passing in 1989, Dai further focused her energy on the beautification of her community. Working with the Columbus Garden Club, she spearheaded the “Plant the Town” campaign, which funded the planting of over 1,000 trees throughout Columbus—a project that won multiple awards statewide and received recognition from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In 1991, Dai found love again with Tandy Wilson. The couple moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and shared a wonderful life before eventually returning to Columbus.

Dai’s unwavering energy and imagination were matched only by her devotion to family. She celebrated life’s joys—from hosting her famed “Grandmother Parties” to enthusiastically supporting the Waters family business, even selling refrigerators and milking machines when needed. She had a remarkable ability to transform the ordinary into a memorable occasion, making the world around her brighter for everyone who knew her.

Always a teacher at heart, Dai thrived on fostering growth and creativity—whether among her four sons, her grandchildren, the neighborhood children, or local artists. Dai’s life was defined by her love, resilience, and creativity, and she will be dearly missed by her family and by the many friends whose lives she touched with her generous and larger-than-life spirit. We imagine our beloved mother and Mimi is now entertaining the saints in glory with her grandiose stories—ensuring that even heaven is filled with her laughter and warmth.

Dai was preceded in death by her first husband, Raymond Michael Waters Jr., and is survived by their four sons, Mike Waters (Betty) of Columbus, Miss.; David Waters (Ginny) and M.L. Waters (Kim) of Meridian, Miss.; and Ine Waters, of Wilton Manors, Fla.

She was also preceded in death by her husband, Tandy West Wilson III, and is survived by his children, Tandy Wilson (Connie) of Nashville, Tenn.; Eleanor Ray Sherrill (Ron) of Knoxville, Tenn.; Jeff Wilson of Williamsport, Tenn.; and Steve Wilson (Judy) of Vonore, Tenn.

In addition, Dai was preceded in death by her parents, F.M. and Margaret Vaughan, her brothers F.M. Vaughan, III and Lloyd Vaughan, and her sister Sarah Emily Travis. She is survived by her sister, Jenny May Russ; 16 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and special family members Katie Mae Bigbee, Terry Coleman, Linda Lang, and her other loving caretakers.

Visitation will be held on March 11, 2025, at First Methodist Church in Columbus from 10 am to 12 pm. A celebration of Dai’s life will follow at the church, with Reverend Dr. Vaughn Stafford officiating, and interment afterward at Friendship Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandsons Michael Waters, Vaughan Waters, Josh Waters, and Winfield Waters; and great-grandsons Brockton Norris, Waters Norris, Gipson Hicks, Ray Waters V, Tucker Collins Norris, and Fox Waters. Honorary pallbearers will be Charles Russell Berry, Reau Berry, and Duke Berry.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Meridian Restoration Foundation, “Merrehope” (once the Lloyd Family Home), P.O. Box 8262, Meridian, MS 39303; Camp Rising Sun, P.O. Box 8241, Columbus, MS 39705; or First Methodist Church, 602 Main Street, Columbus, MS 39701.