October 5, 1937 – August 5, 2025
Martha Virginia White McCown, 87, passed away on August 5, 2025 at home surrounded by her family in Madison, Mississippi.
Born October 5, 1937, in Batesville, Mississippi, she was raised in Panola County on the Williamson family farm and attended Love Joy Methodist Church as a child. The family moved to Batesville from the farm in 1952 and she graduated from Batesville High School in 1955. Martha played basketball, was nicknamed “Lefty”, and was a cheerleader. She then attended Northwest Junior College. Martha went to work for the Department of Agriculture in Sardis, Mississippi and later transferred to the Jackson office where she worked until her retirement in 1994.
Martha married James Gilbert McCown on June 15, 1957 and lived in Batesville until they moved to Brandon, Mississippi in 1982. In 2019, she moved to Madison, Mississippi where she lived until her death. She was a member of Parkway Hills United Methodist Church. Martha loved playing tennis, gardening, reading, going to the beach, and traveling all over the world with her friend Sandra Brown. She spent many years working on the genealogy for the McCown, Williamson, and White families. After moving to Madison, she spent time on her back porch enjoying nature and her flowers.
Martha is survived by her children, Debbie McDonald (Matt), Beth Hipps, and Jim McCown, her siblings, Earl White (Gigi) and Vickie White, her grandchildren, Ashley Griffin (Ben), Paul McDonald (Jenn) and Conner Hipps, and her great grandchildren, James Griffin, Braden McDonald, Nathan McDonald, Wyatt Griffin and Ryan McDonald. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Bill McCown, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gilbert and her parents, Bernie and Virginia White.
A visitation will be held on August 29, 2025 at Parkway Hills United Methodist Church, 1468 Highland Colony Parkway, Madison, MS from 10:00 – 12:00 with the memorial service to follow at 12:00. Graveside service will be held on August 30, 2025, at 11:00 at Batesville Magnolia Cemetery in Batesville, Mississippi.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials go to Batesville Magnolia Cemetery, Parkway Hills United Methodist Church or a charity of your choice.
