Mary James

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, May 15, 2007

NATCHEZ — Services for Mary Alice Peoples James, 74, of Natchez, who died Saturday, May 12, 2007, at Natchez Regional Medical Center, will be 10 a.m. today at Laird Funeral Home Union Street Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Judson W. Hurt officiating.

Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Mrs. James was born Oct. 10, 1932, in Baldwin County, Ala., the daughter of Isaiah Levens and Florence Barnhart Levens.

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Mrs. James graduated from Baker High School in Mobile, Ala. in 1949 where she participated in school athletics. Upon graduation she entered business school. She was employed in the banking industry for nearly 30 years. She enjoyed meeting new customers and visiting with familiar ones. She was a member of the Institute of Banking. She enjoyed playing rummy with friends Betty McLemore and Mary Rozier. She was a true caregiver with all she came in contract. She would always help any way she could. She tried to live her life as much like Jesus as she could. She loved her children and grandchildren and never wanted to see any of them suffer. She gave all and asked nothing in return. She will be missed by her children but they will have her love and memories to carry with them for a lifetime. Mrs. James was cared for not only by her family but her sitters as well, Veronica McMorris, Linda Holden and Pat Hoggatt. They saw to it that her physical needs were met as well as keeping her fed in God’s word and her prayer needs.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Cecil Mayo Peoples and Charles E. James Sr.; and sister, Wilda Jean Lindsey.

Survivors include her sons, Joe David Peoples and wife, Mary Ann, both of Natchez and Glen Peoples of West Monroe; daughter, LeJean Rand and husband, Ed, both of Natchez; grandchildren, Brandon Peoples, Adam McElroy, Brittany Peoples and Nici Rand; sisters, Laura Lee Jordan, Linda Carlton and husband, David, all of Natchez; a very dear sister-in-law, Catherine Wiggins of Winnsboro, with whom she talked two or three times a day, they were like sisters and loved each other very much; a friend who she loved like a daughter, Kathy McElroy; and a very dear friend that she sat with for five years, Harold Sterling.

Pallbearers will be Billy King, James Jordan Jr., Charles Wiggins, Fred Rand, and grandsons, Brandon Peoples and Adam McElroy.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Kenneth Stubbs, Dr. Jack Rodriguez, LaVon Breland, Harold Sterling and Vondale Breland.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Relay for Life, 150 D’Evereaux Drive, Natchez, MS 39120, Hospice Ministries of Natchez, 106 Jefferson Davis Boulevard, Natchez, MS 39120.