Vadine McRee

Tupelo - Mary Vadine McRee, 97, died Monday, August 27, 2012, at North Mississippi Medical Center after a short illness. Vadine was a native of Memphis and Millington, Tennessee. She was an educator by heart and profession, attaining a Master of Education degree from Memphis State University, teaching elementary school children in Shelby County, TN, Brookhaven, Ms and Tupelo, MS for 42 years. She, with her family, moved to Tupelo in 1953 where she became an active member of the community receiving recognition in both education and civic affairs. She was born June 21, 1915, to the late Stephen and Fannie Russell of Millington. She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Franklin Williams McRee. Vadine was a member of Calvary Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School in the Senior Adult Department for many years. She was very active in Women's Missionary Union and Senior Adult Fellowship. She held leadership positions in Delta Kappa Gamma and Retired Teachers (NRTA), and loved and supported Shepherd Center and Sanctuary House. Vadine lived at Traceway for the last three years and the family deeply appreciates the love and care so generously given by all the staff. Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 29, with services to follow at 11 a.m. at the Jefferson Street Chapel of W.E. Pegues with Dr. David Eldridge officiating. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Big Creek Cemetery in Millington, TN. She is survived by two daughters, Billie Jean Marion and her husband, Michael, of Bozeman MT, and Mary Frances Wadsworth of Hernando, MS, and one son, Stephen Franklin McRee and his wife, Penny, of Jackson, Tennessee; seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren: Michele Walker and son, Marshall, of Pony, MT, John Marion of Bozeman, MT, Paul Allen Wadsworth and wife, Debbie, and children, Chandler, Ben and Mollie, Russell Wadsworth and wife, Jeanna, and children, Whitney and Weslyn, William Wadsworth and his wife, Amy and children, Mary Addison, Mac and Elizabeth, all of Hernando, and Stephanie McRee Swims and her husband, Dewey, and children Dewey Nelson and Houston of Jackson, TN and Elizabeth McRee Gilstrap and husband, Alan, and children Carson, Ross and Miller, of Brandon, MS. Survivors also include Brother-in-law, John L. McRee, and his daughters, Linda and Celia McRee of Memphis, TN. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Velma Fisher and her brother, Stephen O. Russell. Pallbearers will be her grandsons. Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1008, Tupelo, MS 38802-1008 or Shepherd's Center, 412 E. Main Street, Tupelo, MS 38804.