Funeral for Inez Mims Petty, 85 of Moulton will be Saturday, August 10, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. at Freeman Tabernacle Baptist Church in Moulton with the Reverend Bernard Smith officiating and inhumation to follow in Moulton Memory Gardens. The body will be placed in the church one hour prior to service. There will be no public viewing. Reynolds Funeral Home will be directing.
Inez Mims Petty was born November 11, 1927, in Vida, Alabama (Autauga County), to the late Thomas Edgar and Lela Mims. She was the only child from this union.
Inez confessed Christ at an early age and joined Friendship Baptist Church in the Friendship community where she served until she left home to attend college. Inez attended college at Alabama A&M University, Normal, Alabama (Huntsville) and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in Home Economics Education in 1946. Inez later received a master’s degree in Home Economics Education from Tuskegee University in 1964.
As a 20 year old graduate from Alabama A&M University, Inez moved to Moulton, when she was hired as the Negro Home Demonstration Agent in Lawrence County. While living in Moulton, Inez was married to the late Anderson Grant Petty and to this union they were blessed with two lovely children, Andrea Petty-Blankenship and Norris Anderson Petty. Inez worked with the office through the 1964 court order that combined the black and white offices under one roof.
On August 1, 1977, Inez was promoted to County Agent Coordinator – Home Economics Agent, taking on administration of the county extension service as part of her duties. Until then, there had not been a woman who had served as head of the county extension office in the state of Alabama. After 36 years of service in the Extension Service, Inez retired in September 1985.
When she first came to Moulton, Inez was a member of Freeman Tabernacle Baptist Church but later joined her husband at Smith Chapel CME Church. Inez served faithfully at Smith Chapel as Sunday school teacher, Sunday school superintendent and as chairperson for several programs.
Inez is survived by her daughter, Andrea Blankenship Petty of Litiz, Pennsylvania, and son, Norris Anderson. Petty (Eletra), of Madison; two grandsons, Gabriel Blankenship and Zachary Blankenship of Litiz, Pennsylvania, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Flower bearers will be Obra Chapter Number 148 Order of the Eastern Star.
Pallbearers will be Donnie Mims, Daniel Mims, Billy Petty, Roderick Petty, Freddie Gilchrist and Fredrick Gilchrist.
