Mrs. Reba L. McWilliams

Reba Lochridge McWilliams, 77, of Byram, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, October 9, 2016. Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 13, at 11 a.m. at Chancellor Funeral Home in Byram with burial at 3:30 p.m. at Bethlehem Methodist Church outside of Winona, MS. Visitation will be held at the funeral home Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and immediately preceding the service on Thursday at 10 a.m. Reba was born March 31, 1939, in Greenwood Springs, MS, to the late Allen J. Lochridge and Alice Tooke Lochridge. She was a 1956 graduate of Sulligent High School (AL) and a 1960 graduate of Mississippi State College for Women, where she majored in English. Reba taught high school English for a short period of time. She met her husband of 56 years, Hugh Meldon McWilliams, on a blind date while she was at MSCW and he was attending Mississippi State University. During their marriage, they moved several times due to Hugh’s employment with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, living in Arkansas, Virginia, and finally, back to their home state of Mississippi. During this time they were blessed with two children and many, special friends whom she loved to remain in contact with through the years. Reba loved to travel and enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She was always active in church, singing in the choir, and taught Sunday School. She was a long-time member of Woodville Heights Baptist Church in Jackson and, at the time of her death, was a member of Wynndale Baptist Church in Byram. There, she was active in her Sunday School and the “Wynndale Winners” senior adult group. Reba is survived by her husband, Hugh, of Byram; two children, Tim (Beth) McWilliams and Holly McWilliams; two grandchildren, Hannah (Justin) Lewis and Zachary McWilliams; and one great granddaughter, Katherine Lewis, all of Madison. She is also survived by one brother, John (Nawana) Lochridge of Brownfield, TX; two sisters, Gail (Ed) Cope of Fairfax, VA; and Becki (Bob) Altman of Columbus, MS; and several nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Dr. James Polk, Dr. Michael Byers, and Dr. Grace Shumaker for their years of care and service. Also, a special thank you to her caregivers Mrs. Mary Dampier and Miss Shekerra Dampier. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wynndale Baptist Church, 11287 Springridge Road, Terry, MS 39170.