Atha Lea Penton

Atha Lea Penton of Poplarville, Mississippi, passed away quietly and peacefully into the arms of Jesus at her home on May 8, 2023, at the age of 86. She was born in Poplarville on December 8, 1936, to James Wilburn Hodge and Tena Caroline Pierce Hodge. Her children describe her as the closest thing to perfect this side of heaven. She loved her children and grandchildren with all her heart and her sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews more than her own life. Her greatest desire was for her loved ones to all know Jesus and join her in Heaven. To know her was to love her. “We are happy her pain is gone, and she is with our dad and her precious Nicholas that she has grieved for thirteen long years. If you don’t know Jesus and trust him as Lord in your life, please reach out to any of us at any time.”

She is preceded in death by her husband, John Aubrey Penton; her beloved grandson, Nicholas Aaron Short; parents, James and Tena Hodge; brothers, Wilburn Hodge Jr., Billy Hodge, and Dale Hodge; sisters, Doretha Pike, Lita Rea Hamilton, and Earnestine Stapleton (George).

Left to forever cherish her memory are her children, John Andrew “Andy” Penton (Nancy) of Columbia, MS, Kathi Penton Davis (Bruce) of Picayune, MS, and Cindy Penton of Poplarville; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Misty Mitchell, John Penton Jr. (Alison), Kristy Penton, Josh Short, Meghan Penton, Layne Penton, Gabriel Penton, Jade Penton Mitchell (Donovan), Kyler Mitchell, Ethan Mitchell, Aubrey Penton, Isabelle Penton, Lucas Penton, Morgan Short, Madeline Short and Madison Short; great-great grandchildren, Braxtyn Speights, Lakyn Speights, Ila Kate Mitchell, Reese Heck and Emma Heck; sister, Judy Parker of Poplarville; brother, Everette Hodge (Audrey), of Poplarville, and J.B Hodge (Donna) of Poplarville.

Mrs. Atha Lea requested a simple graveside service at Union Baptist Church Cemetery on May 20, 2023, at 10:00 am for family and close friends with Bro. Ken Rhodes officiating.

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