Camilla Nell Plunk Felker was a native of Bethel Springs, TN and a longtime residence of Selmer, TN. Camilla passed away in her home in Selmer on Sunday, August 21 after a long but courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. She was 93 years of age.
Camilla was born on January 2, 1923. She was the eldest farmer’s daughter of Nelle Mae and Oscar Lafayette Plunk. She was one of seven children. She atteneded Old Liberty and Purdy Elementary Schools and Old Liberty and Rose Hill churches. She graduated from Bethel Springs High School in May of 1941. She was loved by many and was lifelong friends with many as well.
Camilla was united in marriage to the love of her life Alfred Clifton Felker Jr. on February 9, 1943 in Corinth, MS. In her early married years and as an U.S. Air Force wife and mother, she traveled and lived from coast to coast as well as in Canada. In 1963 and upon her husband’s military retirement, Camilla and her family returned home to McNairy County and Selmer.
Camilla Loved artistic painting, antique hunting, reading and learning. She was a highly-skilled hand-made quilt maker and very talented knitter of afghans and other excellent needlepoint works. She supplied many of her fine works as non-profit fundraising items for many good causes around the county. Her collection of over 3000 elephant figurines and other elephant themed collectables were truly her insatiable passion. She was an avid Golfer and loved to travel and vacation as well.
Camilla loved our Lord and served as Selmer’s First Presbyterian Church’s treasurer for many years. She was also a long-time active member of the McNairy County Historical Society. The McNairy County Historical Museum’s Art Gallery is named after her. Camilla was equally as dedicated to Meals On Wheels elderly food service program and was a long time active volunteer.
She is survived by her two children, Barbara Lynn Felker-Tennyson and Alfred Clifton (Fred) Felker III both of Selmer, TN; two sisters, Imogene Plunk Johnson of Bethel Springs, TN and Billie Plunk Smith of Fair Oaks, CA; two brothers, Glen Plunk and wife Ima Jo of Finger, TN and Roderic Plunk and wife Sherrill of Bethel Springs, TN; three grandchildren: Jennifer lynn Threadgill and husband John of Cordova, TN, Alfred Clifton Felker IV of Henderson, TN and Camilla Dean Keese Molica and husband Matt of Springfield, MO; Twelve great grandchildren; one great great granddaughter; and a host of other friends and relatives.
Camilla was preceded in death by an older infant brother, Oscar Lafayette Plunk Jr.; her husband, Alfred Clifton Felker Jr.; an older brother, Rudolph Laverne Plunk; her parents, Oscar Lafayette and Nelle Mae Plunk; a great grandson, William Nathan Keese; a sister, Marion Earline Plunk Murray.
Memorials may be made to West Tennessee Alzheimer’s Association, 713 S. Mendenhall Rd., Memphis, TN 38117
