Sybil Sellers Tharp

Funeral services for Sybil Sellers Tharp of Winona, will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 9, at First Baptist Church in Winona, with burial following in Milligan Springs Cemetery in Webster County.  Rev. Jay Anderson will officiate the service, with music by Bro. Gary Anglin and Betty Blakely Love. Pallbearers will be great-grandsons, Hiram Eastland IV, Sumner Tackett, John Hollis Tackett, Reed Tharp, Adam Tharp, and Anthony Mosconi.

Visitation will be Wednesday, June 8, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Oliver Funeral Home in Winona.

Mrs. Tharp, 96, went to be with the Lord on Monday, June 6, 2022, at Oxford Health and Rehab in Oxford. She was born in Webster County on August 27, 1925, to the late Allen McDonald Sellers and Lula Box Sellers. She was married to the late Wiley Mildred (W.M.) Tharp for 42 years, and together they raised two sons.

In her early years, Mrs. Tharp was a member of Pine Forest Baptist Church in Lodi, where she sang with her dad in the choir while her mom played piano; and after moving to Winona with her husband and sons, she became a member of First Baptist Church, where she worshipped for over 70 years.

A loyal servant to God, Mrs. Tharp devoted her life to service with dedication to her church, work in the community, and to her family and friends.  She retired from a 25 year career as Montgomery County Deputy Tax Collector/Assessor, and then served another 8 years as an elected official and Chair of the Montgomery County Elections Commission.  She was active in various clubs and civic groups; a charter member of the Winona Crossroads Lions Club, serving as president for two years; secretary and treasurer of her Sunday school class; past-president and activities chair for the church Triple L Club (Live Longer and Love it); member of Women’s on Mission; founder, committee chair and treasurer for Mulberry Cemetery; and nominated for Montgomery County Woman of the Year.   

Mrs. Tharp was a sports enthusiast, especially for the Ole Miss Rebels and New York Yankees.  She loved to travel across the US and to other countries; and enjoyed gardening, cooking and baking, being outdoors, spending time at her childhood home and farm, playing cards with her weekly Rook Club, and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Mrs. Tharp is survived by her granddaughters, Jennifer Eastland (Hiram III) and Jodie Tharp of Oxford; Beth Tackett (Randy) of Greenwood; Kristy Tharp of Winona; grandsons, Jay Tharp (Monica) and Stephen Tharp (Kara) of Winona; Andy Edwards III (Rachelle) of Banner; daughter-in-law, Nancy Senner Tharp of Oxford; 15 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren, and a host of extended family and friends.  In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Tharp has joined in Heaven her beloved sons, Glen Allen Tharp and Jerry (Jaybo) Tharp; daughter-in-law, Kathy Looney Tharp; and great-grandson, Andrew Tharp.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, PO Box 408, Winona, MS 38967.