Emmagene Crunk

Emmagene Hardy Crunk, 96, died peacefully at her home in Columbus, Mississippi, on Friday, January 26, 2024.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ewen Webb Crunk, Jr., her father, Eugene Jennings Hardy, and her mother, Emma Strong Hardy.

She is survived by her children Eugene Hardy Crunk of Ridgeland; Emmagene Haigler Crunk of Hoover, Alabama; and Ewen Webb Crunk, III, of Houston, Texas; her beloved grandson Eugene “Gene” Hardy Crunk, Jr. of Raleigh, North Carolina; and his mother Shelley Howell Crunk Helenius of Ridgeland.

She grew up in the Black Prairie section of Lowndes County where she attended Prairie School and Lee High School. She was a graduate of the University of Mississippi, where she was member of Tau chapter of Chi Omega sorority and served as a cheerleader for Coach Johnny Vaught’s first two Ole Miss football teams.

Following graduation, she lived in New Orleans for several years where she worked for the Louisiana State University Medical School. While living in New Orleans, she was convinced by the late Gene Beard to come home for a weekend to go to a March and Chowder dance with his friend, Ewen Crunk, who later became her husband of 41 years.

Mrs. Crunk made her debut with the Debutante Club of Mississippi. She was a former queen of the Columbus Junior Auxiliary Pilgrimage Ball. She enjoyed participating in many facets of Columbus life and was a member and past president of the Columbus Junior Auxiliary. She was also a member of numerous other clubs, among them the Columbus Garden Club, the Pioneer Society, Magowah Gun and Country Club, Daughters of the American Revolution, National Society of Colonial Dames of America, National Society Daughters of Founders and Patriots, Association for Preservation of Antiquities, and the Columbus-Lowndes Historical Society.

She was a member of Bethel Presbyterian Church from her early years until it was destroyed by a tornado in 2002. She was then a member of First Presbyterian Church USA in Columbus until her death.

A service will be held Sunday, January 28, 2024, at 2:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church USA. Visitation will be held at the church 30 minutes prior to the service. Burial will follow at Jennings Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Bill Branch, Harrison Branch, Jim Evans, Will Hardy, John Bailey Hardy, Tom Porter, Bob Raymond, and Tom Whitaker. Honorary pallbearer will be Bill Threadgill. The family wishes to extend their heartfelt appreciation to Mrs. Linda Brown for the sweet and devoted care she provided to Mrs. Crunk.

Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Jennings Cemetery Fund care of Charon Hardy, 1823 East Lindsey Road, Columbus, MS 39701.