Violet "Shirley" Strahan Bliss

Violet “Shirley” Strahan Bliss went to be with the lord on Monday, May 8, 2023 in Madison, Mississippi. She was born on March 21, 1932 in Natchez, Mississippi to Lonzo Lawrence Strahan and Maudie Lee Sanders. She was raised most of her childhood by her grandmother, Nancy Lorena Sanders, in Natchez. She attended Carr Central High School in Vicksburg and Hinds Junior College.

Violet married William Edward “Bill” Bliss, Jr., and they had two daughters. She worked in accounting and finance with Vicksburg Frozen Food Center (her family’s business), the Waterways Experiment Station, and the Mississippi River Commission, Vicksburg District, where she received many awards and commendations. Violet was the first president of the Business and Professional Women’s Club formed for federal employees in Vicksburg.

She had a very active life, enjoying golf, team bowling, square dancing and participating in the Vicksburg Little Theater.

After her retirement, she enjoyed working several fun jobs. She worked as a poker room attendant at Isle of Capri Casino and participated in the Residential Investment Group in Jackson, enjoying many cruises with the other members. Violet was a member of Colonial Heights Baptist Church.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Lonzo Lawrence Strahan and Maudie Lee Sanders Still; sisters, Freda Still Bryant of Polatka, FL, and Bobbie Whittle of Bradford, IL; and brothers, O. F. “Junior” Still, Jr. of Vicksburg, MS, Donald E. Still of Rose Hill, MS and Lawrence “Sonny” Edwin Strahan of Baton Rouge, LA.

She is survived by her daughters, Diane Bliss Kavanaugh of Madison, MS and Valerie Bliss Hiddle (Scott) of Edgewater, CO; grandchildren, Kris Kavanaugh Davis (Michael) of Columbus, MS, Tracey Kavanaugh Beeson of Brandon, MS, Katherine Flavin (Brian) of Riverview, FL, Jennifer Harper of La Vista, NE, James V. Hiddle (Anna) of Kennedale, TX, and Matthew G. Hiddle (Brittany) of Erie, CO; sisters, Vicky Strahan Laird of McCall Creek, MS, Regina Strahan Tucker (Jay) of Byram, MS and Patricia Still Wyatt (Lee) of Melbourne, FL; brothers, George Edward Strahan (Virginia) of McCall Creek, MS and Lonzo (Lonnie) L. Strahan, Jr. of Natchez, MS; 16 great grandchildren; 4 great- great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service for Violet will be held Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 1:00 PM at Parkway Funeral Home & Parkway Memorial Cemetery, 1161 Highland Colony Pkwy, Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.parkwayfuneralhomeridgeland.com for the Bliss family.