Elmer Julian “Sonny” Maples

Mr. Elmer Julian “Sonny” Maples, 91, died Monday, June 17, 2024. The funeral will be Thursday, June 20, 2024, at 2:00 P.M. at North Oxford Baptist Church with Rev. Chris Williams and Rev. Fish Robinson officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 12:30 P.M. Burial will follow the service in North Oxford Cemetery.

Sonny was born on March 30, 1933, to the late Ella Quay Lewis Maples and Virgil Elmer Maples, in the College Hill Community of Lafayette County. A veteran of the United States Army, he served as a Corporal during the Korean Conflict. He retired from The University of Mississippi Physical Plant, where he worked as a locksmith. Each year, Sonny spent hours preparing and tending to his vegetable garden, and always generously shared his harvest with friends and family.

Sonny was a devoted Christian and longtime member of North Oxford Baptist Church, where he formerly served as a deacon. He enjoyed his Sunday school class, but what brought him the most joy was greeting people every Sunday as they entered the church. Sonny considered it an honor to serve as an usher and be the first to welcome people into God’s house each week. Outside the church walls, that same faith and willingness to serve stayed with Sonny, as he was always eager to lend a helping hand or talk to people about his Lord. A devoted and loving husband and father, he was a family man at heart, who led by example and cherished his wife and children. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Thelma Maples and Velma Bickers; and his brother, Lamar Maples.

Sonny is survived by his wife of 70 years, Virginia Fuller Maples of Oxford, MS; daughter, Jeannine Walters of Oxford, MS; sons, Joe Maples and his wife, Kim, of Oxford, MS and Mark Maples of Oxford, MS; sisters, Myrtle McLarty of Camden, TN and Betty Hargrove of Huntsville, AL; five grandchildren, Courtney McCoy (Derrick), Hunter Maples (Miranda), Peyton Maples, Ginny Dixon (Tyler), and Danielle Pittman (Jody); as well as 10 great-grandchildren.

Expressions of sympathy or memorial contributions in Sonny’s memory may be made to North Oxford Baptist Church, Post Office Box 1700, Oxford, Mississippi 38655.

In honor of Mr. Maples’ service to his country, the flag of the United States Army will be flown at Waller Funeral Home.