Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Lela Estell Hammons Scroggins
(24 Jun 1922 - 12 Oct 2009) [37240]

Lela Scroggins[37240]

Lela Estell Hammons Scroggins, age 87, died October 12, 2009 at MS Baptist Health Center in Jackson, Mississippi.

She was born June 24, 1922 in Wesson, MS to Hattie Delilah Harrison and Eugene Newton Hammons. Lela was a descendant of the Daniel Beasley family, listed in the first families of Mississippi, who came to Mississippi in 1830 from Darlington County, South Carolina and settled in Simpson County. She grew up in Wesson, MS until her family moved to Yazoo County, MS, where she met her husband, married, and later moved to Hinds County. Lela was married for 59 years to Bob Scroggins [37239], a Jackson homebuilder, who predeceased her in 1996. She lived in Jackson for over 50 years, before moving to The Hills of Crossgates in Rankin County. Lela and Bob maintained a large vegetable garden for the benefit of family, friends, neighbors, and the needy. Lela and Bob were members of the Jackson Rose Society and the Mississippi Rose Society. Their rose garden contained hundreds of roses, having raised them for competition, winning hundreds of blue ribbons. Lela and Bob donated their roses to civic organizations and churches, and always had fresh bouquets for their many friends. After Bob died, Lela moved to The Waterford Retirement Home for several years and lived at Highland Home Nursing Home for the past two years. Lela's hobbies included crossword puzzles, crochet, stitchery (embroidery and crewel), and spending time with her large family.

Lela is survived by her four children: Bobbie Bryan (Bob) of Stillwater, OK; Midge Samsel (Howard) of Brandon, MS; Roland Scroggins (Annette) of Brandon, MS; and Billie Thompson (Tommy) of Brandon, MS. She is also survived by her 13 grandchildren: Steve Bryant (Carol) of Madison, MS; Michelle Gilliland (Jud) of Dallas, TX; Gina Nichols (John) of Plano, TX; Lisa Garza of San Antonio, TX; Stacy Ramsey of Madison, MS; Kimberly Gordon (Charlie) of Tyler, TX; Dawn McAuley (Mac) of Pontotoc, MS; Paige Sessums (Craig) of Jackson, MS; Leanne Pettit (Matt) of Irving, TX; Tiffiney Henderson (Evan) of Brandon, MS; Kristin Kerley (Kevin) of Meridian, MS; Cory Thompson (Shauna) of Brandon, MS; and Josh Thompson (Loni) of Austin, TX. Lela is survived by 31 great-grandchildren and her brother and sister-in-law, Luther and Delores Hammons of Madison, MS; sister-in-law, Edna Scroggins of Jackson, MS; sister-in-law, Rebecca Hammons of Yazoo City, MS; and brother-in-law, John Herrington, of Pineville, LA; numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

Lela was predeceased by her brothers, John Earl Hammons, Clarence Hammons, W.D. Hammons, and her sisters, Lula Mae Ashley Cook, Flora Belle Harrison, Mary Emma Wiggins, Beatrice Whittington, and Burnice Hammons. Lela was a member of Crossgates Baptist Church.

Services will be at 2pm Wednesday, October 14, 2009, at Lakewood Funeral Home chapel, with visitation from after 12 noon Wednesday, interment will follow services in Lakewood Memorial Park.

Memorials can be made to Crossgates Baptist Church in Brandon, MS. The family wishes to thank all of the nurses and aides on Unit B at Highland Home, Susan and Allison (her social workers), Carolyn (her beautician), Stephanie (her manicurist), and sends love to Lela's best friend, Bernice Thornton, at Highland Home. Many thanks to Dr. Paul Van Landingham for caring for Lela for many, many years.

Published in the Clarion Ledger on 10/13/2009

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