Myrtis Marks Norman

 Myrtis Marks Norman, a long-time resident of Yazoo City, MS, died peacefully on Friday, December 6, 2024, surrounded by her family at age 98.  

Myrtis was born on December 22, 1925, near Howard in Holmes County, Mississippi, the only child of Helen and William Marks. Born prematurely weighing 2 pounds and 12 ounces, Myrtis fit in a shoebox and was kept warm with hot water bottles.  Tragedy would mar Myrtis’s young life with her father, Willie, succumbing to pneumonia when she was a toddler and her mother, Helen, dying when Myrtis was 7 following an operation to remove her gallbladder.  Following her mother’s death, Myrtis went to live with her grandparents, Henry and Mattie Brock. The Brocks, the parents of 10 children themselves, including Myrtis’s mother, Helen, gladly welcomed their eldest granddaughter into their home where they raised her like a daughter. Myrtis also spent many weekends with her mother’s sister, Lillian and her family. 

At Tchula High School, Myrtis played the piccolo. She was also an excellent twirler, winning a superior rating as a twirler, the highest rating achievable in a state held contest.  On a visit to Yazoo City to spend the night with family friends, the Vaughan's, Myrtis met her future husband, William “Billy” Ross Norman. They quickly fell for one another and married on June 27, 1942, at the Episcopal Church in Yazoo City. The couple were married for 66 years until Billy’s death in 2009. The couple’s marriage produced five sons: William Ross Jr. (Bill), Harvey Lee, Edwin “Eddie” Marks, Patrick “Pat” Frederick, and Michael “Mike” Harris.  Five months after their wedding, the Army Air Corps swore Billy Ross in, where he would achieve the rank of Flight Officer. While Billy was away, Myrtis lived with his parents at their home on North Street, affectionately known as the Norman House. Myrtis accompanied her husband to training in Oklahoma and lived for a time with him and their son, Bill, in Texas.  

After the war, the couple made their permanent home on Grand Avenue in Yazoo City, where they would remain for the rest of their union. In 1957, Myrtis found her life’s work opening Norman’s Nursery School in her home on Grand Avenue. Myrtis operated Norman’s Nursery until retiring in 2000. Over four decades, Myrtis cared for many Yazoo residents’ children on whom she left a lasting impact. Myrtis continued to live in her house on Grand Avenue until 2015, moving to Beau Ridge in Ridgeland before moving back to Yazoo City to the Martha Coker Green Houses. 

Her life hobbies included cooking her famous spaghetti with chili powder seasoning and squash dressing, gardening flowers, reading magazines about the home, such as Southern Living, and good conversation. She was an avid viewer of The Price is Right, Rachel Ray, and HGTV. Most of all, Myrtis loved giving to others and always gave unselfishly for the joy she knew her gifts would bring to others.  

Preceding Myrtis in death were her father William, mother, Helen, brother, Edwin Marks, sister, Elizabeth Temple; and husband, Billy Ross. Myrtis is survived by her five sons Bill (Martie) Norman, of Ardmore, AL; Harvey Norman, of Yazoo City; Eddie (Debbie) Norman, of Mason, OH; Pat (Carol) Norman, of Yazoo City; and Mike Norman, of Yazoo City; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.  

 Services for Myrtis will take place in the Chapel at Stricklin-King Funeral Home in Yazoo City, MS on Tuesday, December 10, 2024. Visitation will take place from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM. Services will begin at 2:00 PM with Father George Woodliff officiating. Burial will follow in Glenwood Cemetery.  Stricklin King Funeral Home will handle all arrangements for the family. 

Myrtis’s family would like to thank Julie Hoffman, Jennifer Bowman, and the staff of Martha Coker Green House in Yazoo City for the care they provided to Myrtis during her time living there and Adoration Hospice in her last hours.

  Herbert Jones peacefully passed away on December 11, 2024, at the age of 92 at SummerHouse Beau Ridge Memory Care in Ridgeland, Mississippi. 

Upon graduating from Mississippi State University, Mr. Jones joined the United States Air Force. After serving his country, he was employed with Mississippi Chemical Corporation. He later joined Delta National Bank, where he served as a branch manager for 23 years. After his tenure in the banking industry, he sold insurance for 5 years. 

Mr. Jones was preceded in death by his parents, Obe Jones and Annie Leitchfield Jones; sisters, Edna Slaton, Coriene Tucker, Myrtle Wilson and Gladys Hood. 

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Faye Bonds Jones of Ridgeland; daughters, Betty Robinson (Billy) of Benton, Tamra Rowland (Ronnie) of Madison; grandchildren, Jeremy Robinson (Katie) of Flora, Ashley Cerda (Brett) of Yazoo City; five great grandchildren, Nora Kate Robinson, Rosie Robinson, Gray Robinson, Jaden Cerda, and Millie Cerda; and a host of nieces and nephews. 

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 14 at noon at Bethlehem Baptist Church. Burial will follow at the church cemetery under the direction of Stricklin-King Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 10:30 A.M. until service time. 

Serving as pallbearers will be Billy Robinson, Ronnie Rowland, Jeremy Robinson, Brett Cerda, Jaden Cerda, and Bill Gilmer. 

 Shirley arrived on this earth July 9, 1938, and departed this earth to be with her Heavenly Father and love of her life, Lewis Veazey, as well as many other loved ones on December 11, 2024, at Baptist Memorial Hospital Oxford.

 Ms. Shirley was a very special person to many, but to Randy Veazey (Patsy), Darlene Veazey Peden (Alvin), Paul Veazey (Lisa), Patton Veazey (Jessica), and Randa Veazey Nicholson (Josh), she was mom. The most loving, caring, kind-hearted, strong-willed, and determined woman were just a few of her characteristics. 

 She was truly blessed on her journey of life with her grandchildren Shelby Veazey Brooks, Phillip Veazey, Brandon Peden, Brenton Peden, Drew Smiley, T.J. Smiley, and Sara Smiley. 

 She loved spending time with her great-grandchildren Dalton Veazey, Catie Merrell White, Ellis Veazey, Skyler Hope Nicholson, Trace Nicholson, Madison Eads, Caleb Peden, Weston Peden, Jaxon Peden, Aubrey Brooks, Clay Brooks, Winter Veazey, Sidney Smiley, Colton Smiley, Spencer Smiley and Aubree Hartfield and great-great grandchildren, John Patton Veazey and Pacey Veazey, as well as a host of nieces and nephews. 

 Shirley was preceded in death by her father and mother, Mr. & Mrs. B.J. Rusche of Benton, MS; her husband, Mr. Ellie Lewis Veazey of Benton, MS; her brother, Paul Leroy Rusche of Benton, MS; one great grandchild, Sophia Elaine Smiley. 

 Shirley was a servant of the Lord and loved worshiping the Lord and going to church, where she was a member at Trinity Pentecostal Church of God. Until we see her again, we will continue to carry on her legacy by doing what she has taught us through her example.

Visitation will be held Saturday, December 14, 2024, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at Stricklin King Funeral Home. Services for Shirley will be held Sunday, December 15, 2024, at 2:00 PM in the chapel at Stricklin King. Burial to follow. The family has requested that Stricklin King Funeral Home handle all arrangements.