Jean Brumfield Coward, age 90, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, at her residence in the Oak Grove Community in Noxapater, Mississippi. Graveside services and interment will be 11 a.m. Friday, July 31 in the Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Charles Rook and Dusty Coward officiating. The family encourages everyone to follow COVID-19 precautions.
Jean was born December 11, 1929, to Cullen and Grace Fortenberry Brumfield in Tylertown, Mississippi. She was a member of Liberty Baptist Church of Noxapater. For many years, she taught Sunday school, training union classes, and Vacation Bible School at Oak Grove Baptist Church. She was a homemaker and was very involved in 4-H activities when her children were young. MawMaw Jean was an avid outdoors person; she loved beautiful flowers and enjoyed working in her flower beds; and she loved to fish. She loved spending time with her family especially on Christmas Eve when each family member was expected to be at her house. As long as her health allowed her to travel, she enjoyed watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren play any sport in which they participated.
Jean is survived by her loving husband of 69 years Troy Coward of Noxapater; and four children: Beverly Wilkes also of Noxapater, Janice Stephens and husband Doug of Eupora, Mississippi, James Coward and wife Judy, and Troy Coward, Jr. and wife Marsha all of Noxapater. Also, she leaves behind one sister Jennie (Gene) Norman of Summit, Mississippi, and one brother Jewel (Evelyn) Brumfield of Bogalusa, Louisiana. One of her greatest joys was being “MawMaw Jean” to her 10 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers: Bill, Frank, Bob, and Roland Brumfield; one sister Lula Meadows; her granddaughter Amanda Coward; and her son-in-law Tuck Wilkes.
Serving as pallbearers are Chet Wilkes, Justin Wilkes, Dusty Coward, Hays Stephens, Corey Coward, Ty Duran, and Connor Stephens.
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.
