Lavell Whiren

Obituary for Lavell Whiren Tupelo - Lavell Palmer Whiren, 91, died Wednesday, September 21, 2011, at The North Mississippi Medical Center. A Bigbee native, she was born August 3, 1920 to John Talbert and Mary Cordelia Lancaster Palmer. She is the sole survivor of seven siblings. Before moving to Tupelo in the early 80s she lived in Slovack, Arkansas, where she worked as a nurses aide. She was a dedicated volunteer with meals on wheels and took people to the doctors and shopping. From early childhood she was formed by the Scriptures and lived her life around the word of God. She loved working in her yard and gave special attention to her roses. She was a devout Catholic and member of St. James Catholic Church. She was a delightful person to meet and to know. She was known for telling you exactly what she thought. She had great respect for her priests and supported them by her affection and prayers. She bore her suffering with great faith and dignity joining her suffering to Jesus passion, death and resurrection. Everyone who knew her loved her and will miss her dearly. She was a pistol. A Mass for the deceased will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 23, 2011, at St. James Catholic Church with Father Tom Lalor officiating and Father Henry Shelton assisting. W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements. Survivors include one step-daughter, Randi Saba of Bull Shoals, Arkansas; two step-sons, John Whiren of Warrenton, Missouri and Kenneth Whiren of Hashett, Michigan; three nieces, Gloria Whiren of Carlisle, Arkansas, Nell Young of Pontotoc and Ruby McNeil of Memphis, Tennessee; three nephews, Dan Palmer of Memphis, Tennessee, Paul Whiren, Jr. of Houston, and Phillip Norton of Las Vegas, Nevada; and many others. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John G. Whiren in 1975. Visitation will be 9:30 a.m. Friday, September 23, 2011 at the church. Memorials may be made to St. James Catholic Church, 845 Lakeshire, Tupelo, MS 38801. Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com