Deweese Warren Jernigan Butler passed away on Thursday May 8, 2025, at the Regional One Medical Center in Memphis, TN. She was born on December 11, 1932, to Herman and Gladys Hitt Warren. At an early age Deweese accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior and joined Harmony Baptist Church. After graduating from Pontotoc High School in 1950, she completed a business course at Memphis School of Commerce, soon after finishing there she began a career in banking. She first worked for a short time at Citizens State Bank, Tupelo, MS, until the opportunity to work at Bank of Pontotoc. She and Stanley Jernigan married soon after he was discharged from U.S. Army, they moved to Memphis, TN. While he was attending school, Deweese worked for a few years at National Bank of Commerce until their daughter Debbie was born. After Stan finished school they moved back to Pontotoc, and Deweese again worked at Bank of Pontotoc from this time until retirement. Their son Mike was born, and he died at the age of thirteen. Her husband, Stan died at the age of fifty-eight. After a few years, she married Billy Butler. Deweese retired in 1996 as assistant cashier at the bank. She was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Pontotoc. Deweese enjoyed working sudoku puzzles, reading and especially reading her Bible.
Services will be Monday, May 12, 2025, at 12 noon at First Baptist Church in Pontotoc, with Dr. Ken Hester officiating, burial will follow in the Pontotoc City Cemetery. Browning Funeral Home is honored to assist the family with the arrangements.
Survivors include her daughters, Debbie Caughlin (Jerry), Jane Sipes (John) and Becky Samuels; three grandchildren, Sarah Cowherd (Joshua), Spencer Caughlin (Kayla) and Beth Smith (Richard); and four great-grandchildren, Hannah, Harper, Elle, and Zoe.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Stanley Boyd Jernigan, and William “Billy” Reese Butler; her son, Michael Warren Jernigan; and son-in-law, Mike Samuels.
The Pallbearers will be Phillip Cox, Joshua Cowherd, Spencer Caughlin, Jerry Robbins, Wayne Carter, and Jody Stringer. Honorary pallbearer will be Dr. Terry Woods.
Visitation will be Monday from 10 to 12 at First Baptist Church.
