Gertrude Giles

Tupelo--Gertrude Hailey Giles, 93, died Tuesday, June 3, 2008, at The Sanctuary Hospice House after an extended illness. She was born September 2, 1914, in Meridian to Gertrude Hailey Chisholm and Ernest Robert Chisholm. A graduate of Tupelo High School in 1932, she worked and lived in Tupelo for most of her life, except for several years in Pontotoc. She married Jestian Rex Giles, Sr. from Auburn, Georgia, in 1939. They were married for 57 years and had three children. Gertrude was a loving wife and mother, who devoted her entire life to helping her husband and raising their children. She was active in the Girl Scouts of America as a troop leader and was an active homeroom mother and band parent.

Mrs. Giles was a longtime member of Calvary Baptist Church. During her years of service at Calvary, she was a G.A. leader, an active Youth Choir parent, and provided food, flowers, and comfort to the sick and the elderly.

Gertrude had multiple talents and abilities. She was a member of the sewing club and bridge club in Pontotoc. She also loved to create things with her hands, which included arts and crafts and ceramics. One of the most popular items that she made was an Easter tree full of hand-made Easter eggs. For several years, she had a Christmas Bazaar in her home, where she would display all the things that she had made during the year. Using designs and pictures from greeting cards, she made scrapbooks years before they became popular. Growing a variety of flowers in her yard, she would make beautiful, fresh floral arrangements. Her friends would often ask her to assist them when decorating for engagement parties, bridesmaids luncheons, and different social functions.

Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at the Jefferson Street Chapel of W.E. Pegues with the Rev. David Eldridge officiating. Burial will be in Tupelo Memorial Park.

Survivors include two sons, Rex Giles, Jr. and his wife, Donna, of Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. Bob Giles and his wife, Jansen, of Dallas, Texas and one daughter, Betty Gayle Dunn, and her husband, Walt, of Tupelo. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Melissa Sullivan and husband, Heath, of Saltillo, Justin Giles and his wife, Fransje, of Memphis, Hailey Giles of New York City, Clay Giles, Jake Giles and his wife, Beth, and Kevin Giles, all of Dallas; two great-grandsons, Ty Sullivan of Saltillo, and Joseph Holland Giles of Memphis; two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Wilma Chisholm of Tupelo, and Mrs. Helen Chisholm of Charleston, South Carolina; six nephews, Hunter and Ernie Quimby, Jim, Vic, Bob and Lyman Chisholm; and four nieces, Nancy Helen Snow, Rosemary Bryant, Jane Beaudrot, and Beth Graham.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two brothers, Robert and Jimmy Chisholm, and one sister, Mary Elizabeth Quimby.

Pallbearers will be Bob Chisholm, Lyman Chisholm, Vic Chisholm, Jim Chisholm, Jake Giles, Justin Giles, Kevin Giles, Ernie Quimby and Heath Sullivan.

Honorary pallbearers will be Clay Giles, Hunter Quimby, Danny Daniel, Carl Vail, and Senator Roger Wicker.

Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the Calvary Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1008, Tupelo MS 38802; or The Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. Box 2177, Tupelo MS 38803.