Geraldine Champion

Geraldine Gilley Champion, 85, passed away Monday, December 5, 2016, at Landmark Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Booneville. She was born July 15, 1931, to Baxter McKinley and Myrtle Richey Gilley. She was a member of Thrasher United Methodist Church. She began teaching grammar school in 1952 at Geeville in Baldwyn. She then taught at Tuscumbia in Prentiss County. After getting married, she worked at Brown Shoe Company. She later returned to teaching at Pisgah and Booneville Head Start. She then worked at Prentiss County Child Development until her retirement. She lived her entire life in Prentiss County. She enjoyed reading, cooking for her family and caring for her grandchildren. She also enjoyed attending many softball, basketball, and football games in which her grandchildren participated.

A Celebration of Life will be at 1:00 P.M. Friday, December 9, 2016, at McMillan Funeral Home with Rev. Russell Clouse and Dr. Matt Brown officiating. Burial will be in Little Brown Cemetery.

She is survived by two daughters, Rhonda (Mackie Don) Smith and Martha Hickman; one son, Ronnie (Dee Dee) Champion; and eight grandchildren, Wesley Champion, Jason Champion, Marla Marshall, Stacey Champion, Marc Smith, Steven Champion, Madeline Hickman and Kirk Hickman; and 10 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James E. “Gene” Champion; her parents; two sisters, Ophelia Gilley and Lorraine Brown; two brothers, Oscar Gilley and Charlie Gilley.

Pallbearers are Jerry Kendrick, Nickey Marshall, Ronnie Hickman, Michael Hall, Wayne Hall and Felix Shumpert.

Condolences may be left at www.mcmillanfuneralhome.com.