Agatha Herring Black Novak

Mrs. Agatha Herring Black Novak, 88, passed away Monday, July 28, 2025, at Winona Manor Nursing Home. She was born July 6, 1937, in Poplar Creek, MS. She was the daughter of Lily Lucille King and Carl Edward Herring. She was married to Gwain Black of Poplar Creek on December 24, 1954. He died eleven months later from a hunting accident.

Agatha graduated from Kilmichael High School and attended Draughan’s Business College, in Greenwood, after which she worked for Billups Petroleum Company in Greenwood. After moving to California, she worked at Nut Tree in Vacaville, CA, where she met Frank “Rusty” Novak, one of the managers, and they became friends. Several years later, they were married. Together, they managed a 52-apartment building until they moved to Mississippi in December 1982. They built a house on land near where Agatha grew up and enjoyed living there thirty-five years. They had been married 39 years when Rusty passed away on April 15, 2018.

Agatha was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, Gwain Black and Rusty Novak; stepdaughter, Mary Ann Cross; sister-in-law, Helen Hovas and her husband Jerry Hovas. She is survived by one stepdaughter, Lisa Pino (Gary) of Fairfield, CA; two stepsons, Alan Novak (Donna) and Steve Novak, both of Vacaville, CA; four step-grandchildren, Macey Cross of Vacaville, CA, Deanna Pina and Thomas Pina of Fairfield, CA, and Lindsay Novak of Vacaville, CA. Other family surviving are Janie and Charles Fondren of Stewart, MS, Bill Cross of Vacaville, CA, and many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to express a sincere thank you to Linda Montague, Carolyn Velcek, and Gerome Harrington for their friendship and taking care of Agatha in her time of need. Also, a special thank you to Rev. Don Smith and his wife for taking her to church at Poplar Creek Church, where she was a member since the 1950’s.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 2, in the Oliver Funeral Home chapel, with burial following in Poplar Springs Church cemetery in Poplar Creek. Rev. Don Smith will officiate the services.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Poplar Springs Church cemetery fund, c/o J. Lane Greenlee, 709 Ridge Road, Kilmichael, MS 39747.