“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…” – Matthew 11:28

Services for Willie Pearl Magee, 70, of Picayune, who passed away on Monday, November 28, 2016, were held on Monday, December 5, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. Pastor Rev. Donald Parker will officiate at the service.

Willie Pearl was born on April 15, 1946, in Derby, Miss. to the late Neely and Millie Lewis. She joined Hart’s Chapel Baptist Church at an early age under the leadership of Reverend E. H. Hart.

Pearl (as she was so lovingly referred to) graduated from Todd Memorial High School in Poplarville, Miss. in May of 1964 and in 2002 she received her Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Pearl River Community College in Poplarville, Miss.

Pearl relocated to Picayune, Miss. and joined Pleasant Valley Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. E. L. Fox where she served faithfully until her death. At Pleasant Valley she was a member of the Sunday School Class #3, the Galeadas, Senior Choir, Mission #1, the Scholarship Committee and the church Food Service Committee.

In 1971, Pearl united in holy matrimony with the love of her life, Alton Magee and they were blessed with four beautiful children. Pearl began her teaching career with Mississippi Action for Progress, Inc. at the Picayune Head Start in August 1970 and served in the capacity of Teacher Aide, Teacher, and later Center administrator until she retired in 2007. Because her love for educating children was so strong, she came out of retirement in August 2009 and served as a substitute teacher with Picayune School District Early Head Start until May 2012. In August of 2012 she rejoined the MAP, Inc. Picayune Head Start Center as a Teacher Aide until her retirement in August of 2016.

Pearl transitioned to her heavenly home on Monday, November 28, 2016. She is preceded in death by her parents, Neely and Millie Lewis; her husband, Alton Magee; one brother, Joe Lewis; one sister, Yorlon Nixon; three sisters-in-law, Georgia Lewis, Filona Peters, and Altee Adams; and two brothers-in-law, Nebraska Magee and Oliver Nixon.

She leaves to cherish her loving memories forever, four beautiful children who adored her, Vincent (Jodi) Magee, of Orlando, FL, Rodney Magee, Tiffany (Ulyssis) Batiste, and Denzel (Melody) Magee, all of Picayune, Miss.; four brothers, Isaiah (Ivory) Lewis, of Poplarville, Miss., Billie (Wanda) Lewis, of Mattapan, Mass., Jerome Lewis, of Carriere, Miss., and Everett (CeCe) Lewis, of Gulfport, Miss.; one sister, Terri Smith, of Picayune, Miss.; two sisters-in-law, Leola (Manuel) Coleman and Telester (Jimmy) Osbin, both of Picayune, Miss.; one Godchild, LaKeshia Price, of Picayune, Miss.; three special nieces, Nadia Bonds, Teronica Nixon, and Dorothy James; dear friends, Barbara Osbin, and Annice Semmes; fourteen grandchildren; five great grandchildren; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the Church. Interment will be in Picayune Cemetery. Entrusted to Brown’s Funeral Home.