Margie Leigh Kennedy Pharr was born on February 18, 1932 in Rara Avis, Itawamba County, MS to William Bailey Kennedy and Jessica Lee Rogers Kennedy. She went to her heavenly home on July 16, 2024, at the age of 92, a resident of Southern Magnolia Estates II in Golden, where she had received loving, attentive and exemplary care from their staff as well as Gentiva Hospice.
In 1950, she married the great love of her life, Lamois Pharr, and they lived a devoted life together for fifty-four years, until his death in 2004. She was the oldest living member of Calvary Baptist Church in Belmont, having joined and faithfully participated in that church for sixty-eight years. She served in many capacities there through the years including teaching children, serving as church clerk and recording secretary, coordinating hospitality ministries, overseeing church dinners and Vacation Bible School meals. She was active in Women on Mission both in the local church and in the larger Tishomingo Baptist Association.
She was a frequent poll worker at elections and was active in MSU Extension classes, especially enjoying sewing. She was a master of designing and making beautifully tailored clothing. She sat up many nights after work designing and sewing breathtaking doll clothes for Renelda’s Barbie dolls. She was a Cub Scout den mother.
She was an avid and talented gardener, loving to spend time outdoors tending to her beautiful flowers and abundant vegetables. She was an excellent practitioner of food preservation as well. She had learned quickly how to keep a home running and a family fed and clothed when her own mother died unexpectedly when Margie was only twelve, leaving behind several young children including a five year old, a two year old, and a six month old. As a mostly self-taught cook, she eventually had a double page feature story in a national magazine about one of her recipes. Her chocolate pie and her perfectly fried fish and homemade hush puppies were especially memorable.
Early in their marriage, she and her husband co-owned and operated Pharr Grocery and Texaco Station in Dennis. She worked as a clerk at Strickland’s 5 and 10, as a waitress at Effie’s Cafe, and as a cashier at Pat Howard’s Grocery. She worked for several years as an inspector at Blue Bell and at Winfield Manufacturing Company in Golden.
She was a patient and fervent prayer warrior, partnering with the mothers of her children’s friends to meet together and pray for them. She loved to send cards of encouragement to those suffering illness or loss. She possessed a quick wit and a lively sense of humor. She was especially fond of the color green, anything chocolate, and beautiful high heels.
Services will be Friday, July 19, 2 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, 559 Green St., Belmont, MS with Bro. Barry Holcomb officiating, assisted by Bro. Chris Higginbottom. Burial will be beside her husband at the Ridge Cemetery, Golden, MS. There will be no graveside service. Deaton Funeral Home, Belmont, MS will be in charge of arrangements.
She is survived by her son, Gregory Dean Pharr and his wife, Debbie Vinson Pharr, of Belmont and her daughter, Renelda Lynn Pharr Owen of Blue Mountain; four grandsons, Ben Pharr and his wife, Cassie, of Oxford; Brandon Pharr and his wife, Tamara, of Belmont; Whitney Owen of Long Beach, CA and Dr. Andrew Owen and his wife, Jamey, of Athens, TN. She is survived by seven great-grandchildren, Luke and Liam Pharr of Oxford, Peyton and Kennedy Pharr and Ellie Kemp of Belmont and Emily and Graham Owen of Denver, CO. She is also survived by one sister-in-law, Barbara Spencer Kennedy of Belmont; one brother-in-law, James Byram of Sunbrite, TN and several beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her step-mother, Leona Kennedy, three sisters, Eulene Whitehead Turman, Ann McCalpin and Phyllis Byram; five brothers, Virgil Ray Kennedy, James Kennedy, Lewis Kennedy, Nealy Kennedy and Charles Gene Kennedy and her son-in-law, the Rev. Billy N. Owen.
Pallbearers will be Bob McCalpin, Dicky Turvaville, Woody Watson, Wayne Stanfield, Don Hall and Tony Sparks.
Visitation will be Friday, July 19, 12-2 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church.
