A graveside service for Nancy Jo Pearson of Kilmichael will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 23 at Poplar Creek Nations Cemetery near Kilmichael, with Mr. Nathan Jones officiating. Pallbearers will be Josh Pearson, Kyle Poe, Braxton Pearson, Kaiden Beckwith, Liam Beckwith, and Judah Beckwith.
Nancy Jo Pearson, 88, passed away at her residence in Kilmichael on Friday, August 21. She was born in Attala County to Percy Lee and Effie Missouri Millwood and grew up on a farm in Sallis, MS. As a teenager, she helped her mother teach dance lessons in the Attala County area. She played basketball for Sallis High School and was a fierce protector of her family and friends. Mrs. Jo and her husband owned a dairy farm in Kilmichael for 20 years (where they had holsteins) and also helped with the family grocery store. In 1985 they became managers of the Greenhill Refuge for Mr. Vernon Chesteen. She held that position until just recently.
She loved people, talking, dancing, and music. She enjoyed beautiful flowers, good food and recipes, and was an avid fan of Mississippi State Football. With her smile and straight to the point attitude, she will be missed by friends and family alike. We rest assured she is in the arms of Jesus, ringing a MSU cowbell and shouting “Hail State”.
She is survived by two sons, Johnny Pearson (Viva) and Jimmy Pearson, both of Kilmichael; four grandchildren, Josh Pearson (Leslie) of Kilmichael, Deanna Beckwith (Brad) of Cleveland, Kyle Poe (Nikki) of Teoc, and Jason Carpenter of Oxford; nine great-grandchildren, Braxton Pearson, Lyla Pham, Sophie Pham (J.P.), Katlyn Poe, Dawson Poe, Samantha Beckwith, Kaiden Beckwith, Liam Beckwith, and Judah Beckwith; very special great-niece and nephew, Sara Claire and Casey Jones; sister, Kathy Nash (Don) of Starkville; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John Lester Pearson; daughter, Catherine Louise “Cissy” Carpenter; son-in-law, Mike Carpenter; and her siblings, Phillip “Speedy” Millwood, David Millwood, and Patricia Roberts.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Poplar Creek Nations Cemetery Fund, 488 Hwy 413, Kilmichael, MS 39747.