Willie Elery

Published 12:00 am Friday, July 25, 2008

NATCHEZ – Services for Willie B. Douglas Elery, 87, of Natchez, who died Friday, July 18, 2008, will be at noon Saturday at Zion Flower Baptist Church with the Rev. Dan Alexander officiating.
Burial will follow at Pine Hill Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of George F. West Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home and from 11 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.
Mrs. Elery was born May 22, 1921, in Adams County, the oldest daughter of Calvin Douglas and Laura Jane Early. She was educated in Adams County and was a graduate of Brumfield High School. Mrs. Elery attended Natchez College and received her elementary education degree from Alcorn A&M College. She taught the elementary grades at Painters School, in Adams County, until 1958. Later, she worked as a private nurse to many who loved and appreciated her gift of providing excellent health care.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Willie; an infant son, Willis Ivory; her parents; her only sister, Mary Ella Randall; and one son-in-law, Cleotha Vaughan.
Survivors include eight children, Charles and wife, Barbara, Laura Vaughan, Lee Calvin and wife, Nancy, Exeleana and husband, Dave, Johnny and wife, Daisy, and Brenda and husband, Kenneth, all of Chicago, Hattie and husband, Alvin, both of Natchez, and Lynda and husband, Mark, both of Columbus; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; two very special nieces, Cozy Griffin and Shirley Randall; one godson, Freddie Woodfork; two brothers-in-law, Monroe Elery and Sam Elery; four sisters-in-law, Lena Stewart, Cassie Elery, Vera Elery and Shirley Elery; two special cousins, Wilson Early and Gardest January; and a number of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.