Lois Oswalt Haley, 99, went to her heavenly home Saturday, August 12, 2023, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Eupora.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 am, Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at First Baptist Church in Maben, MS, with visitation at 9 am at the church. A graveside service will follow at Lakewood Memorial Gardens in Jackson.
Mrs. Haley was born December 26, 1923, to Justin Cully Oswalt and Mabel Rebecca Oswalt in Hinds County, MS. After graduating from Central High School in Jackson, MS, she worked at Kress Department store before becoming a secretary at Mississippi Products, Inc. There she met Les Haley, whom she married in 1948 and always referred to as “Haley”. In 1957, the family moved to Corinth, where as a homemaker, she raised her 2 daughters, Sarah and Susie, and volunteered in their many activities in church and community. She taught Sunday School, GA’s, and was WMU president during this time and also cared for her mother in her home. When her girls were in high school, she became the secretary at her church, First Baptist in Corinth. She worked there until Haley retired. They relocated to Maben in 1981. There she employed her secretarial expertise at Wood College as the president’s secretary for 3 presidents. She continued her love of God through her church, First Baptist, Maben, teaching Sunday School for adults and Bible drill to children and youth. In 2006 she moved to Mathiston where she resided until her death.
She was an active member of First Baptist Church in both Corinth and Maben, where she was loved and considered a mentor to many. She was an amazing cook and known for her “Meema Bread”. Her husband, and then sons-in-law and grandsons, avid gardeners, provided lots of vegetables for her to freeze and can. The lights of her life were her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was happiest when surrounded by family and the joys that children bring. All her grandchildren called on her for advice, prayer and fun. She will be missed greatly by all who were blessed by knowing her.
She is survived by her children, Sue Haley Simmons and Cecil of Mathiston and Sarah Haley Johnson and Karl of Fayetteville, NC; seven grandchildren, David (Caroline) Johnson, Justin Johnson, Kathryn (Wes) Salisbury, Rebecca (Luke) Adkins, Lamar (Miranda) Simmons, Haley (Anna) Simmons, and Kevin (Jenna) Simmons; 12 great grandchildren, Ross, Kaiden, Wade, Hayes, Anna, Reed, Mayes, Walt, Halle Jo, Stetson, Lilyana, Archer, and Witt, and 2 nieces, Phillis Bayley and Mary Alice (Hully) Williams.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 249, Maben, MS 39750.
