Mr. John J. Eley, Jr.

John J. Eley, Jr., age 101, of Terry, MS, died peacefully at home, May 22, 2013. Visitation will be 5-8pm Thursday, May 23 at Chancellor Funeral Home in Byram and 9:30am until the 10:30am funeral service Friday, May 24 at First Baptist Church in Terry, MS, followed by burial at Terry Cemetery. John was born August 28, 1911 in Yazoo County, MS, to the late John J. Eley and Netta Walker Eley. He graduated from Yazoo City High School in 1930 and Holmes Junior College in 1932, later attending Mississippi College. He married Theresa Ellison November 15, 1936 in Holmes County, MS. They started their family in Yazoo County, MS where Michael was born and later moved to Natchez, MS, where Jim was born. In 1946, John moved his family to Terry, MS where he started his grocery business. He owned and operated Eley’s Grocery for 28 years and was very active in his church as well as his community. He was choir director, sang in the choir, taught Sunday school and was a Deacon at First Baptist Church Terry. He was ordained as a deacon at age 18. He was elected Mayor of Terry in 1951, serving one term and also served as Alderman several terms. John was a charter member of the Terry Lions Club. He married Nell S. Taylor December 27, 1992. He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Theresa Ellison Eley, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John J. Eley; his sisters, Florence Eley Ingram, Gertrude Eley Neely, Lena Eley Cline, and Tula Eley and a grandson, Brian Eley. Survivors include his wife, Nell S. Eley, of Terry, MS; sons David Michael Eley, and his wife, Peggy, of Pascagoula, MS, and James Howard Eley, and his wife, Leigh, of Jackson, MS; grandchildren Ashley Eley Cannady, and her husband, Norman, of Madison, MS, Genevieve Eley, of Jackson, MS, John G. Eley, and his wife, Dargan, of Houston, TX, and Caroline Eley of Nashville, TN; and two great-grandchildren, Eley and Emersyn Cannady; and a very large extended family. He is also survived by step-son, Phil Taylor, and step-daughter, Brenda Leshe, and her husband Tommy, step-granddaughter Lori Taylor Shows, and her husband, Russ, and step-grandson, Mike Leshe, and his wife, Maria; and four step-great-grandchildren, Bryce and Braxton Shows and Sean and Christine Leshe. Contributions in memory of Mr. Eley may be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 159, Terry, MS, 39170 or to Gideon’s International. Chancellor Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. John will be remembered for his love of his church, his love and care for his family and friends, and his joy of life. On line guest book available at www.chancellorfuneralhome.com.