Mary Lee Upchurch Waller

Mrs. Mary Lee Upchurch Waller, 89, died at her home on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. The funeral service will be Sunday, June 7, 2026, at 2:00 P.M. at Anchor Baptist Church with Reverend Charles Lipe officiating. Visitation will be prior to the service beginning at 12:30 P.M. at the church with burial following the service in Anchor Cemetery.

Mary Lee was born on July 29, 1936, in Lafayette County, MS to the late Ralph Ernest and Myrtle Inez Briscoe Waller. Mary Lee’s career began in Memphis where she worked as a financial teller for both Hull Dobbs and Dial Finance Company. She later dedicated many years to the University of Mississippi, where she worked as head of the payroll department until her retirement. A faithful Christian woman, Mary Lee also devoted 25 years to serving as assistant secretary of Anchor Baptist Church where she was a longtime member. During this time, she faithfully supported the church’s leadership and ministries through seasons of growth and change while continuously nurturing her faith and the faith of those who knew her. She was a wonderful cook who delighted in time spent in the kitchen preparing meals for those she loved. Mary Lee was preceded in death by her first husband, Gene Upchurch; her beloved son, Mike Upchurch and by her late husband, Don Waller. In their years of retirement, Mary Lee and Don found great joy, love and support in one another. Together, they traveled, enjoyed going out to eat and even experienced seeing a movie in color for the first time at the theatre. Most importantly, they enjoyed being a family as Mary Lee was lovingly embraced as “Nannie”. She was also preceded in death by three brothers, Nolan Waller, Ralph Waller and Charles “Buzz” Waller.

She is survived by her stepchildren, Andy Waller and his wife, Linda, Susan Vaughan and her husband, Greg and Beth Rosson and her husband, Bob all of Oxford; her grandchildren, Mary Beth Smith, Brett Rosson (Kate), Joanna Morgan (Joe), Sally Kate Walker (Jonathan), Chase Waller (Sabrina) and Matt Waller (Alli) all of Oxford; 12 great-grandchildren, Murphy Smith, Waller Smith, Houston Morgan, Emma Hardin Morgan, Barron Rosson, Southerlin Rosson, Tom Walker, Rosson Walker, Johnny Walker, Tristan Onweller, Elsa Waller and Baker Waller; one great-great granddaughter, Dottie Bishop; one great grandson on the way, Hardin Lee Waller as well as a multitude of loving nieces and nephews.

Expressions of sympathy or memorial contributions in Mary Lee’s memory may be made to Anchor Baptist Church Building Fund, 1009 Hwy 7 South, Water Valley, MS 38965.