Gladys "Nell" Davis Tharp

Gladys Nell Davis Tharp went to be with the Lord early Saturday morning on May 23rd, 2015, after battling lung cancer. Her last days were spent surrounded by loving family and friends. Visitation will be held at Lakewood Funeral Home on Monday, May 25, 2015 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM and from 9:00 – 10:00 AM on Tuesday. Funeral services will be held in the funeral home chapel at 10:00 AM on Tuesday with interment to follow at Lakewood Memorial Park.

She is survived by her husband Jack E. Tharp, her son Greg E. Tharp, his wife, Karen Thames Tharp, her daughter Penni Tharp Davis, her husband Chris Davis, and four grandchildren, Tara N. Tharp, Jack G. Tharp, Peyton F. Davis and Jake C. Davis.

Nell was born on July 22nd, 1941 to Harry L. Davis and Alleyne Lanier Davis. She was raised in the Gum Pond Community outside of Poplarville, MS. She was the youngest of three children. Her two siblings were Harold L. Davis, Jr., and Zada Louise Dearman who precede her in death. Her father moved the family to Vicksburg for a while where he worked for the Laterno Corporation managing their poultry operations. They then moved back to the Gum Pond Community where her father supported the family by farming and animal husbandry. At the age of ten, Nell lost her mother Alleyne due to illness. Nell completed her education while living with various aunts and on campus of Pearl River High School and Community College. She graduated in June 1959. After graduation, she moved to Gulfport, MS to live with aunts and find work. While there, she also found Jack Tharp who was working at the Mississippi Power Company at the time. His co-worker suggested he meet this pretty girl who had moved into the house behind hers.

Jack moved to Houston, then Atlanta to work, but soon came back to Jackson, MS where he was employed by the Presto Manufacturing Company. He went back to Gulfport to get his girl, because, as he put it "They needed each other." They needed each other for the next 55 1/2 years. They were married at the First Baptist Church in Lyman, MS on September 25th, 1959 and moved to West Jackson.

Nell worked as a secretary for the Traveller's Insurance Company, W. S. Construction Company, the Pooley Company, and for several years the Jackson Public School System. She served as a secretary at Lake Elementary School, Key Elementary School, Davis Elementary School and for many years at the downtown central office where she retired. Over the years, many children have benefitted from her compassion as they visited the Principal's office or were waiting to see the school nurse. She supplemented income during this time by working part time as a photograph retoucher.

For the last 26 years, Nell lived in Madison, MS where she helped raise her four grandchildren. She was active as an officer in the DAR and was a member of the Colonial Dames. She served on the Madison Library Commission, the Madison Planning and Zoning Board, the Welcome Neighbors Board and was president for many years of the Stonegate Homeowner's Association.

Over the years, Nell worshipped at Highland Baptist Church, Parkway Baptist Church, Van Winkle Baptist Church, Ridgecrest Baptist Church and lately Broadmoor Baptist Church. She loved the Lord and passed this love onto her family. She knew this world was but for a little while.

She was an avid genealogist who took great pride and pleasure in tracing her lineage and leaves invaluable materials for her family to cherish.

Nell was a skilled gardener and landscaper. She turned everywhere she lived into a lush, beautiful, serene setting. She took great pride in her children and grandchildren and raised solid, productive citizens. A self taught cook, she produced many fine meals for her family. If there was a more compassionate, giving, loving soul, we haven't met them.

She will be missed greatly. She leaves a legacy of love and we look forward to the day when we will be reunited.

Lastly, this from Henry Scott Holland, written in the late 1800's,..

"Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by my old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the same little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I'm out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval. Somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well."

All is well. See you soon Mom.