Elner Palmer

Elner Elizabeth Stanford Palmer, 100, died Friday, September 17, 2010, at Aberdeen Care Center in Aberdeen. She was born August 30, 1910, in Sheffield, Alabama, to Robert James Stanford and Mattie Megaline Mitchell Stanford. She moved with her family in 1915 to Monroe County, Mississippi, near Bigbee. On March 6, 1927, Elner married Robert Demore Palmer. They moved to Itawamba County in 1934 and made their home in the Carolina Community where Rob farmed and ran a sawmill until his death March 1, 1967. Elner worked as a seamstress for most of her life, and retired at 80 years of age from Amory Garment Factory. She was a member of St. Union Primitive Baptist Church in Amory since 1930. She enjoyed quilting, gardening, listening to gospel music, and cooking for her family.
Survivors include sons James Albert Palmer and wife Margie, of Pocola, OK, and Larry Stephen Palmer of Nettleton, and daughters, Grace Raymond of Amory, Mary Lou Oliver White and husband Buddy, Lois Loraine Holley, and Betty Joyce Walton, all of Carolina Community. She is also survived by two sisters, Ophia Mae Stanford Sokolowski and husband Chester of Southfield, Michigan, and Offie Faye Clark of Debary, Florida. She also leaves 14 grandchildren and a host of great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Rob; two sons, Robert E. Lee and Buddy George Palmer; brothers Robert Jefferson “Jack,” Walter Lee, Jessie Floyd, and King Solomon Stanford; half-brothers James Allen Stanford; and half-sisters Rose Ella “Rosie” Parish, Lucy Isabell Crittenden, Roxie Caroline Rinehart, Fannie Mae Harrison, Erma Cleo Adams, and Mary Lena Jeffreys. She was also preceded in death by grandchildren Tabitha Palmer and Craig Palmer, and great-grandson Derek Carroll.
Services will be Sunday, at 1:30 p.m. at the chapel of Pickle Funeral Home in Amory with Elder Bobby Howell officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Itawamba County. Pallbearers will be Glenn Wilson, Greg Oliver, Keith Oliver, Joseph Wilson, Bobby Jo Blake, and Buddy White. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, September 18, and until service time Sunday. Memorials may be made to St. Union Primitive Baptist Church, c/o Church Clerk, 40106 Malone Road, Hamilton, MS 39746, or to a favorite charity.
Memories may be shared with the family at picklefh@att.net . Arrangements for the Palmer family are in the care of E. E. Pickle Funeral Home, Amory; 256-2644.