Claire Luebke Gregory, after a valiant battle with cancer, met her Savior face to face on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at Sanctuary Hospice House. Claire was born in Aberdeen on November 15, 1951 to the late Wes and Margie Bradley Luebke. She grew up there and graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1969, with honors. Claire chose to further her education at her beloved University of Mississippi earning a BS in Accounting. While at Ole Miss, she was an active member of the Delta Gamma Sorority. A lifelong circle of friends developed from her affiliation with Delta Gamma and she served many years as Treasurer of the Housing Corporation, including overseeing the finances of the new sorority house. Claire married the love of her life, John Andrew Gregory in the First United Methodist Church of Aberdeen on May 23, 1976. To this union was born two children, Julie and John Wesley. Claire enjoyed entertaining her family and was the consummate wife, mother and “CooCoo” to her two grandsons. Her marriage drew her to the Presbyterian faith and she served as Treasurer for several decades at the Okolona Presbyterian Church as well as Elder. Claire had a full career with the Mississippi Department of Human Services, first as an accountant and retiring as Director of the Chickasaw County Department of Human Services. A selfless lady with class, she enjoyed her quiet time especially her morning coffee and daily Bible study. She served faithfully at the Mission Okolona Food Pantry for years, loved her yard and flowers and was all things Ole Miss. She and John Andrew enjoyed traveling with their close friends, Mike and Nancy Sullivan.
A Service celebrating her life will be held at 2 PM Thursday, July 13, 2023 at the Okolona Presbyterian Church on Main St. with Rev. H. B. Miller officiating. Burial will follow at the Gregory Family Cemetery on the Gregory Farm. Visitation will be from Noon-service time on Thursday all at the Church. Holland Funeral Directors-Okolona is honored to be serving their friends. Condolences may be e mailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net
Claire is survived by her husband, John Andrew Gregory of Okolona; her daughter, Julie Gregory Hensley and husband, Rob of Tupelo; two grandsons, Knox and Lucas, whom she constantly doted over and seldom missed their sporting events; a sister, Karen Stewart and husband, Bill of Okolona; nieces and nephews; close family relatives, Jessica Gregory and daughter, Jilli Grace of Amory, special friends, Nancy Sullivan, Jan Carter, Mary Lin White and Janet Bowen, a sister in-law Susan Gregory and her sister group Ole Miss/Delta Gamma friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved only son, John Wesley Gregory on March 13, 2019.
Pallbearers are Mike Sullivan, Preston Sullivan, Tommy Darnell, E. J. Gregory, III, Will Stewart, Bill Stewart, David Kelly and Reggie Dill. Honorary pallbearers are Bubba Young, Felix Randle, Omar Moore, and Ronnie Hill.
The family extends thanks to the staff of Sanctuary Hospice House esp. Sonya Hall and Marye Hayes. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sanctuary Hospice House, P. O. Box 2177, Tupelo, MS. 38803 or to Okolona Presbyterian Church, P. O. Box 142, Okolona, MS. 38860
