Virginia "Jackson" French Pierce, age 93, died Friday, March 4, 2016 at the Yalobusha General Nursing Home in Water Valley, MS. She was born October 10, 1922 in Water Valley to the late John Edward and Amber Estelle Ramsey French.
Jackson was an accomplished athlete at Water Valley High School playing basketball and tennis. She married the love of her life, James Pierce, on December 29, 1942. Jackson worked as a telephone operator when phones were manually connected, and then worked in the local clothing factory, Rice-Stix from March 16, 1954 until her retirement on April 8, 1988. She enjoyed working in her flower garden and kept active well into her 90’s. Jackson was a lifetime member of the Church of Christ on Main Street in Water Valley.
Visitation will be held Monday, March 7, 2016 from 11:00 am until 12:00 pm at Seven Oaks Funeral Home in Water Valley, MS. Funeral services will follow the visitation at 12:00 pm in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks with Bro. David Floyd and Bro. Allan Pierce officiating. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Water Valley, MS with Ronnie Leggitt, Ronald Hughes, Harry Womble, Bobby Schmitz, Michael Pierce, and A. J. Pierce serving as pallbearers.
Jackson is survived by two sons, Charles Michael Pierce (Betty) of Raleigh, NC and James Duane Pierce (Tena) of Madison, MS; two sisters, Mary Katherine Leggitt of Yocona, MS and Naida Lee Fenner of Kansas City, KS; her grandchildren, Michael Jonathan Pierce of Raleigh, NC, David Allan Pierce (Christy) of Dillard, GA, and Laura Elizabeth Barton (Josh) of Cedar Grove, NC; her great-grandchildren, Allan James Pierce, Abigail McKenzie Pierce, Julia Summer Pierce, and Hannah Caitlyn Pierce of Dillard, GA and Lily June Barton of Cedar Grove, NC.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, James Charlie Pierce; her sisters, Ruthia Mae Babb, Frances Inez Thomas, Eva Alyce Cox, Ada Marzee French, and Ida Marline Womble; and her brothers, Dewitt Carlton French, James Theodore French, Edward Doke French, Millard Ralph French, and Duman Ray French.