Betty Kathleen Gilliland Pearson, 78, died Sunday, August 16, 2015 , at her home after an extended illness. She was born February 10, 1937, to Luther and Retha Summerford Gilliland. She was a member of the Fulton United Methodist Church. She was the Fulton City Clerk for 38 years and she did consulting work for Nettleton, Plantersville, Verona, Okolona, Saltillo, and Smithville, along with several other cities. She was past president of the Mississippi Municipalities Clerk’s Association and the Fulton Civic Club. She was former Mother of the Year in Fulton. She was an avid bridge player, where she was a hostess in a bridge club for many years.
Services will be at 11 a. m. Wednesday, August 19, at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home Chapel in Fulton with Rev. Phillip Box officiating. Burial will be in Itawamba Memorial Gardens.
Survivors include two sons, Eddie Pearson (Wanda) of Tupelo and Phil Pearson of Houma, LA; one granddaughter, Stephanie Brooke Pearson Nettles; two great-grandchildren, Chandler Nettles and C.J. Nettles, all of Saltillo; and her special caregiver, Rachel Crane.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Leon Pearson, who died in 1983; one brother, Billy “Ghost” Gilliland; and her parents.
Pallbearers will be Mickey and Matt Russell, Jim Long, and Nicky Gilliland.
Honorary pallbearers will be present and past employees of Fulton City Hall and the clerks she trained and worked with.
Visitation will be from 10 a. m. until service time Wednesday at McNeece-Morris Funeral Home in Fulton.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are asked to be made to the Fulton United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 907, Fulton, MS 38843.
