Marie Chapman Pickens

Mooreville - Marie Chapman Pickens, 65, died Sunday, February 5, 2012, at The Sanctuary Hospice House after an extended illness. A native of Van Vleet, she was born August 27, 1946, to Lonnie DeWitt and Margaret Eunice Chenault Chapman. She graduated from Houston High School before earning degrees at Mississippi State University. She worked for Mississippi Department of Human Services and then began her teaching career at Okolona High School and Mooreville High School where she taught business education and sponsored the Future Business Leaders of America, taking them on many trips in the United States and Europe. She enjoyed volunteering at the Women First Cancer Support Group. She was a member of Mooreville United Methodist Church where she served in the United Methodist Women. Services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with Rev. Sammy Washburn and Rev. Ever Jean Burt officiating. Burial will be in Mooreville United Methodist Church Cemetery. Survivors include her husband of 31 years, William S. Pickens, Jr. of Mooreville; her children, Richard L. Bryant II (Miki) of Starkville, Anthony C. Bryant (Alisha) of Mooreville, Katherine P. McMillan (Jon) of Mooreville, William S. Pickens III of Nettleton and Candy L. Pickens of Nettleton; eight grandchildren, Chapman and Anna Brooke Bryant of Mooreville, Chandler and Lee Bryant of Starkville, Ann Marie McMillan of Mooreville, Kaylee Pickens of Nettleton, and Hunter and Alex Smith of Starkville; a special cousin, David Henry of Houston; special friends, Carol Horton, Gerald Horton, Ronnie and Sally Brown, Gola and David Lundy, Faye and Harold Hood, Wanda, Natalie and Rachel Pierce. She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Catherine Chapman; her mother-in-law, Cynthia Pickens; and father-in-law, William Skidmore Pickens. Pallbearers will be Barry Walker, Lee Bryant, Chapman Bryant, Robert Smith, Keith Henry, David Horton, and Chandler Bryant. Honorary pallbearers will be the Mooreville United Methodist Women. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to United Methodist Women at Mooreville United Methodist Church, ; Women First Cancer Support Group, 215 N. Gloster, Tupelo MS 38804