Mrs. Moody was born March 20, 1928, in Noxapater, MS, to Hattie and Clark Johnson. She was a graduate of Noxapater High School, from East Central Junior College, and after attending Mississippi State University, she taught Business Education in Winston County Schools. In 1964, she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education at Mississippi state University, as well as a Master of Education Degree in Reading (K-12) and in 1976 completed at Education Specialist Degree in Elementary Education, In graduate school, she was a member of Phi Kappa Honor Society. Mrs. Moody taught all grades 1-8, and Remedial Reading Grades 7-12 in Winston County Schools, Noxubee County schools, and on the Choctaw Indian Reservation, Pearl River School, near Philadelphia. In addition to teaching children, she did Reading and Language Arts in-service programs for Mississippi Public Schools while working as a Field Staff Specialist for MESC, a federally funded program at MSU. When federal monies were cut off for MESC, she did Per Diem Reading and Language Arts Consultant work for Ginn Publishing Company in the southeastern states and taught off campus reading courses at MSU. Mrs. Moody taught second grade at Macon Elementary from 1964-1970. Returning to Noxubee County on November 1, 1986, she taught the last seven years at Reed Elementary to complete her retirement. She received the Excellence in Teaching award at Reed for the 1987-88. She and her husband were owners of Blon Harris Hardware. She was a faithful member of South Louisville Baptist Church, where she also taught Sunday school. She loved all the students she taught over the years and encouraged them to always strive to be their best. They, in turn, loved her and many stayed in contact with her for years after they were out of school. Along with her teaching career, she loved her flowers and gardening, and especially spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James K. Moody; her parents; and her siblings, Herbert Johnson, Otis Lee Snow, Pauline Gregory, Sarah Clark, Irene Hood, and Hazel McCullough.
She is survived by her son, Jimmy (Darlene) Moody; her daughter, Sherri (Gene) Reed, both of Louisville; five grandchildren, Kim Moody, David Moody, Heather (Ryan) Gilmer, Corie (Thomas) Bounds, and Cody (Taylor) Reed; and five great grandchildren, Wyatt Moody, Sam Gilmer, Sydney Gilmer, Taylor Bounds, and Georgia Kate Reed.
Pallbearers will be Cody Reed, David Moody, Thomas Bounds, Sam Gilmer, Ryan Gilmer, and Wyatt Moody.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
