Ovie Ann Gray Wilburn, 87, (June 9, 1928-January 30, 2016) passed peacefully from this life to the next at her home in Ballardsville, Mississippi. Mrs. Ann, as she was affectionately called by community members, will be greatly missed. She was a devoted church member at Ballardsville Baptist Church, and the epitome of a Christian Lady. Mrs. Ann believed in looking her best for church on Sunday morning and kept a standing appointment to have her hair expertly coiffed by Mrs. Beth Lesley each Saturday morning. She loved the outdoors. Her flower gardens bloomed beautifully each year, and her vegetables always tasted better than anyone else’s. Mrs. Ann loved her community and the members of the community. Each Halloween she carefully crafted “popcorn balls” to give as treats for those who came to her door. She enjoyed eating at Comer’s restaurant on Friday evenings. She treated all her neighbors as family and was always willing to go out of her way to make people feel welcome. She babysat many children in her home, and fondly remembered them in stories she shared with family. Mrs. Ann worked most of her life as a seamstress at Hunter-Sadler. She always had a story to share and loved to laugh. Today, she shares them with reunited loved ones in her Heavenly home.
Mrs. Ann leaves her legacy of love with her two children, Judy (Robert) Wilburn of Fulton, Jimmy Earl (Ann) Walker of Tupelo; a step-son, Sammy (Jennifer) Wilburn of Oxford; four grandchildren, Patti (Mike) Buse of Fulton, Marie (Randy) Hamilton of Hickory Flat, Wanda (Billy Joe) Rankin of Fulton, and Earl (Kathy) Walker of Leesburg, Ga.; three step-grand children, Karen Gist Crowe of Saltillo, Michaele (Bobby) Hopper of Coffeeville, and Travis Wilburn of Oxford; ten great-grandchildren, Nikki Buse of Fulton, Amber (Cody) Langley of Booneville, Summer Rankin of Fulton, Jesse James of Fulton, Neal Buse of Fulton, Anna Hamilton of Hickory Flat, Justin Walker of Leesburg, Ga., Austin (Chelsea) Hamilton of Ripley, Kelli Jo Rankin of Fulton, and Kaitlyn Walker of Leesburg, Ga,; one step-great-grandchild Kathryn Crowe of Saltillo; and three great-great-grandchildren, Jack Dawson Langley, Tripp Langley, and Jace Hamilton. She also leaves behind one sister Ruth Reese and a host of nieces and nephews.
The family is grateful for all of Mrs. Ann’s friends, but especially for her neighbors Roger and Eva Haley and June Kennedy. These neighbors and friends kept a diligent watchful eye on Mrs. Ann.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, C.N. Walker, J.D. Gray, and James “Jimbo” Wilburn; a son, Paul Douglas Walker; one grandson Scotty Walker; one step-grandson, Kenny Gist; three brothers, Ed McMillen, Johnny McMillen, and Audie McMillen; and one sister, Opal Boyd.
The funeral services will be held at Ballardsville Baptist Church on Monday, February 1, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. with Bro. Jimmy Daugherty offering the eulogy and Bro. Randy Hamilton presiding. McNeece-Morris Funeral Home in Fulton is entrusted with the arrangements.
Pallbearers will be Neal Buse, Austin Hamilton, Jesse James, Cody Langley, Justin Walker and Travis Wilburn. Honorary pallbearers will be the deacons of Ballardsville Baptist Church.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, January 31, at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home in Fulton and from noon until service time Monday, February 1, at Ballardsville Baptist Church.
