Mrs. Iris Burrage Massey, 85, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 15, 2012, at AndersonRegional Medical Center in Meridian, Mississippi, surrounded by her loving family. Visitation will be at Nowell-Massey Funeral Home in Louisville, Mississippi, on Monday, January 16, 2012, from 5:00 p.m.until 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 17, 2012, at NoxapaterBaptist Church in Noxapater, Mississippi, with Rev. Trent Bilbo and her grandson, Rev. Chris Vowell officiating. Interment will be in Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
Mrs. Massey was born November 5, 1926, and lived in the Noxapater community with her husband, Alvin Massey, a farmer and former supervisor for Winston County. She was a member of Noxapater Baptist Church as well as a devoted mother and grandmother who faithfully exhibited the Fruits of the Spirit to everyone who knew her. Mrs. Massey was one of the first females to serve as a Postmaster for the United States Postal Service from which she retired.
Mrs. Massey is survived by three daughters: Wanda McBrayer and husband, Harold, of Meridian, Mississippi; Brenda Vowell and husband, David, of Philadelphia, Mississippi; and Carla Hensley and husband, Quintin, of Columbus, Mississippi. She is also survived by two sons, Al Massey and wife, Janet, and Sid Massey and wife, Sonja, all of Noxapater, Mississippi. In addition, Mrs. Massey has three brothers, Wyatt Burrage and wife, Millie, of Meridian, Mississippi; Tom Edd Burrage and wife, Mae Dell, of Moss Point, Mississippi; and Conner Hanna of Louisville, Mississippi. Mrs. Massey also has 14 grandchildren: Kevin and Lynette McBrayer, Dana and Jim Farmer, Brent and Kasey McBrayer, Chris and Stacey Vowell, Craig and Melody Vowell, Ginger and Jordan Flake, Leah and Chris Cheatham, Will and Emily Massey, Jason and Erin Fulcher, Lauren Hensley, Dylan Hensley, Drew Massey, Aubrey and Bruce Manning, and Brooke Massey. She has 14 great-grandchildren: Tyler, Anna Grace and Mary Katelyn McBrayer; Anna Christian, Sarah Katherine and Myles Farmer; Parker Dixon, Davis and Wyatt McBrayer; Mary Laurence Vowell; Jack Flake; Bryce and Hayden Cheatham; and Drake Fulcher. She is preceded in death by her husband, Alvin Massey; her parents, William Irvin and Lucia Alice Price Burrage; and nine siblings.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons: Kevin McBrayer, Brent McBrayer, Chris Vowell, Craig Vowell, Will Massey, Jason Fulcher, Dylan Hensley, and Drew Massey.
Memorials may be given to the Mt. Carmel Cemetery Fence Fund, P. O. Box 251, Noxapater, MS 39346. Nowell-Massey Funeral Home, 724 North Columbus Avenue, Louisville, MS is handling the arrangements. You may sign the guestbook at www.nowellmasseyfuneralhome.