Earline Sunshine “Sunny” Ainsworth, 85, passed away peacefully at The Claiborne in Starkville, Mississippi, on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 19 at Union Ridge Baptist Church in Noxapater, Mississippi with Bro. Greg Thomas officiating. Visitation will be the day of the service from 10 a.m. until service time at the church. Interment will immediately follow the service in Union Ridge Cemetery. Sunny was born June 25, 1937, to Earl “Bug” and Irene Cammack Arnold.
She was a faithful member of Union Ridge Baptist Church where she taught the Ladies Sunday School class as long as her health allowed her to attend. Sunny graduated as valedictorian from Fayette High School. She received an associate degree from Copiah-Lincoln Community College where she maintained a 4.0 GPA and was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Beta Gamma Sigma, and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Societies. At the age of 51, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Mississippi State University.
Sunny is survived by two daughters, Trudy Glusenkamp and husband, Kevin, of Columbus, Mississippi; and Fran Stevenson and husband, Mark, of Louisville. One of her greatest joys was being “MeMe” to her five grandsons: Quinton (Kayla) Stevenson; Ethan (Deah) Stevenson, Sam Glusenkamp, Travis Stevenson, and John Allan Stevenson; as well as her three great-granddaughters: Nora Stevenson, Nikki Stevenson, and Lily Stevenson. She also leaves behind three sisters: Betty Maxwell, Bobbie Detterick, and Anna Atherton. Sunny was preceded in death by her loving husband of 66 years, Frank Ainsworth; her parents; brother, Mack Arnold; and sister, Becky Pritchard.
Serving as pallbearers are Quinton Stevenson, Ethan Stevenson, Sam Glusenkamp, Travis Stevenson, John Allan Stevenson, and Kevin Glusenkamp. Honorary pallbearers are Mark Stevenson and the men of Union Ridge Baptist Church. Memorials in honor of Mrs. Ainsworth may be given to the Winston-Choctaw Gideon Camp, P. O. Box 556, Louisville, MS 39339.
