Gena Searcy Kitchen

TN - Gena Searcy Kitchen, 54, died Thursday, December 17, 2009, at Methodist Hospital in Germantown after a sudden illness. A Greenville native, she was born October 29, 1955 to David and Jean Searcy. She was a 1973 graduate of Tupelo High School. She graduated from University of Mississippi with a Bachelors of Art degree. She then attended MSCW with a degree in fine arts. She held the ASID designation. She was a member of First United Methodist Church. She was a very active volunteer in the Tupelo area volunteering with the Celebration Village, Sanctuary Hospice House, former board member of the Tupelo Artist Guild, volunteered with the Gardner-Simmons House. She was a member of the Qwatney 2005 Memphis in May World Barbeque Champions. She traveled extensively and loved animals especially her puppies, Roz, Ziggy, Tanner and Sneaky Pete.

Services will be 2 p.m. Monday, December 21, 2009 at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with Rev. Raigan Miskelly officiating. Burial will be in Tupelo Memorial Park.

Survivors include her husband, John Kitchen, of Counce, Tennessee; one sister, Georgiann Searcy Leonard (Steve) of McKinney, Texas; one step-daughter, Melissa Mayfield (Jay) of Cordova, Tennessee; two step-sons, Monty Kitchen (Caprice) of Brentwood, Tennessee and Jeremy Kitchen of Memphis, Tennessee; two nephews, Davis and Drew Leonard of McKinney.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Pallbearers will be Monty Kitchen, James Weir, Jeff Little, Don Sparks, Dick Ballard, Steve Leonard and Jack Cooper.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jeremy Kitchen, Dr. Peeler Lacy, Kirk Caldwell, Dale Gibson and Kelly Holcomb.

Visitation will be 10 a.m. until service time Monday, December 21, 2009 at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to ASPCA, 424 E. 92nd Street, New York, NY 10128-6804 and The Tupelo Artist Guild, PO Box 786, Tupelo, MS 38802.

Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com