Wilma Chittom, known to her family as Nonnie, passed away on May 6, 2025, after suffering a fall on March 29. Wilma was born Nov. 10, 1930, and was the seventh daughter of the well-known MK and Sue Griffin family. She and her six sisters became known as “The Griffin Girls” and gladly welcomed a baby brother when Wilma was ten years old.
Wilma graduated from PHS with the class of 1948 and attended Southern Mississippi for one year. In 1950, she married Jimmy Chittom. At the time of his death, they had been married 43 years. As a young wife and mother, Wilma returned to Blue Mountain College and completed her degree in Education, graduating with honors. She taught 4th grade for 33 years. Wilma was an active member of First Baptist Church. She and Jimmy served for many years in the two-year-old Sunday School class. Later, she was a faithful worker with the bed babies. Wilma was known for her homemade brownies, cookies, and cheese straws. She enjoyed sharing her home-cooked meals and baked goods with her friends and former students.
Nonnie is survived by her daughter, Sharon Long (Jim) and her son, Walter Chittom (Joyce) of Pontotoc. She leaves five grandchildren who love her dearly, Shad Long (Hannah), Jay Long, Matt Long (Jenni), Marlana Huffstatler (Steven) and Rob Chittom (Molly). Nonnie is also survived by “the joys of her life” … her 13 great-grandchildren: Carson, Landon, Caleb, Hayden, Cohen, Maci, Cedars, Silas, Kelon Rymes, Becca, Cora, Titus, and Myka. Several special nieces and nephews also survived.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, six sisters: Elsie Blanke, Estelle Henry, Grace Dandridge, Velma Long, Clarice Duff, Marlene Michael and two brothers: Infant M.K. Griffin, Jr. and Max Griffin.
Funeral services will be Friday, May 9 at 1:00 at First Baptist Church, Pontotoc with Dr. Ken Hester officiating. Visitation will be from 11 o’clock until service time. A family burial will follow in the Pontotoc City Cemetery with Bro. Rob Chittom officiating.
The pallbearers will be Shad Long, Jay Long, Matt Long, Rob Chittom, Steven Huffstatler, and George Duff. Honorary pallbearers are her 13 great-grandchildren. Browning Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
The family would like to acknowledge the nurses and staff of Pontotoc Swing Bed and thank them for their many acts of kindness. The family also thanks her caring sitters: Mable Freeman, Sue Judon, and Jane Sipes. Special thanks go to Brenda Robbins for her dedication to Nonnie for 6 years.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to FBC Pontotoc Building fund, Algoma Baptist Church Family Live Center fund, or Gideons International, PO Box 535, Pontotoc, MS 38863.
