Doris Zane Gordon, age 89, passed away Tuesday, May 5, 2020, at her residence in McCool, Mississippi. Private graveside services and interment will be Thursday, May 7 at Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church Cemetery with Rev. Prentiss Gordon, Jr. and Rev. Doug Atkinson officiating. In order for the family to follow the COVID-19 precautions in place under Executive Order 1466 of Governor Tate Reeves, the service will be private.
Doris was born March 14, 1931, to Leland and Gersel Files Kennedy of Choctaw County, Mississippi. She was a member of Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church where she served as a Sunday school teacher. As a child, Doris felt a call to be a missionary. After her marriage, she talked to a minister about her “calling” and he suggested that she be a missionary in her community. She definitely lived up to her calling; she was “Momma” to the entire community. Every one of her children’s friends was her “child” also. As a 15 year old, she was the Youth Leader at Owens Chapel Church for a group of 25 or more children. They traveled to several churches and presented a play to raise money for a piano for the church. At the age of 16 during revival services, she played the piano for the morning service; walked out the back door, around to the front door, down the aisle and got married. When they left the church, the back of the pickup truck was full of church kids. She returned to the church later that day to play for services that night. Doris loved to cook and enjoyed being outside working in her flowers. She built her garden by using Ralph’s “little red wagon” and hauling dirt from the barnyard. She and her late husband enjoyed drinking coffee and watching the water in the pond in front of their house.
Doris is survived by seven children: Brenda Gordon Cagle and husband Glenn, Owen Gordon, Jr. and wife Marie all of McCool, Mississippi, Ruby Gordon Reid and husband Ronnie of Ackerman, Mississippi, James Gordon and wife Jan of Noxapater, Mississippi, Jennifer McKnight Kilgore and husband Steve also of Ackerman, Mississippi, Ralph Gordon and wife Junicha also of McCool, and Robert Gordon and wife Donna of LaGrange, Tennessee. One of her greatest joys was being “Mamaw” to her grandchildren: Amy Cage, Jason (Krysten) Cagle, Tommy (Shelia) Cagle, Erik (Emily) Cagle, Thom (Megan) Gordon, Anna Marie (Jeremy) McCullough, Andrea Eaves, Holli Mitchell, Allison Riley, Jamie (Jeni) Gordon, Joey (Nancy) Gordon, Tiffany (Jesse) Howard, Rusty (Cindy) Garrett, Valerie (Stu) Wright, and Shannon (Graham) Hamlin. She also leaves behind 29 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren, and her sister Mary Nell Furr.
Doris is preceded in death by her husband Owen Gordon, her parents, one great-grandchild, two brothers Hamlet M. Kennedy and Bobby D. Kennedy; and her son-in-law Dennis McKnight.
Serving as pallbearers are Jason Cagle, Jamie Gordon, Joey Gordon, Trea Gordon, Tommy Cagle, Erik Cagle, Matt Moss, and Thom Gordon. Memorials in honor of Doris may be given to Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church or to Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Brenda Cagle, 199 Gordon Road, McCool, MS 39108.
Services are under the direction of Nowell Massey Funeral Home, 724 North Columbus Avenue, Louisville, MS. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by signing the guest register at www.nowellmasseyfuneralhome.com.
Serving as pallbearers are Jason Cagle, Jamie Gordon, Joey Gordon, Trea Gordon, Tommy Cagle, Erik Cagle, Matt Moss, and Thom Gordon. Memorials in honor of Doris may be given to Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church or to Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Brenda Cagle, 199 Gordon Road, McCool, MS 39108.
Services are under the direction of Nowell Massey Funeral Home, 724 North Columbus Avenue, Louisville, MS. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by signing the guest register at www.nowellmasseyfuneralhome.com.
