Clyda Mae Haley, 94 years old, died March 18, 2017. She was born on December 2, 1922 in Memphis, Tennessee to the late Clyde and Meda Spurgeon Abernethy. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Water Valley, Mississippi for 63 years and a former Children’s Sunday School teacher.
She worked in Memphis, Tennessee at Watkins Company after completing school and later worked at Big Yank for 17 years. She was a skilled seamstress, making everything from doll clothes to beautiful wedding gowns. She will be remembered as a student of the Bible having read it in its entirety over thirty times. She was also a wonderful cook, especially known for her delicious apple pie, biscuits, chocolate chip cookies and cornbread.
Mae is predeceased by her husband, Samuel Dorsey “Sam” Haley, Sr. and her brother, John Murray Abernethy.
She is survived by three children, Carol Gafford (Bill) of Cypress, Texas, Maybelle Rutherford (Earl), and Sammy Haley, Jr. (Becky) both of Water Valley, Mississippi.
Grandchildren are Tim Rutherford (Andrea) of Water Valley, MS, Angela Gafford Asmus (Joel) of Fishers, IN, Amy Barron-Gafford (Greg) of Tucson, AZ, and Mandy Hobson (Sam) of Batesville, MS. She is survived by 13 great grandchildren.
Services will be held at 3:00 PM Tuesday, March 21, 2017, at Seven Oaks Funeral Home with Rev. Amy Barron-Gafford and Rev. Angela Gafford Asmus officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to service time. Graveside services and burial will take place at Oak Hill cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Joel Asmus, Sam Hobson, Tim Mills, Sam Rutherford, Dylan King, and Tim Rutherford. Lindsay King will serve as honorary pallbearer.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in her memory may be directed to the church of your choice, and organizations that support the care of children and animals.