Gloria Jean Waits

Wren - Gloria Jean Waits, 75, passed away on Tuesday, February 16, 2016, at Golden Living Center, Amory. Born on February 3, 1941, in Mauldin, MS, she was the daughter of the late Carlos and Lucille Jenkins Odom.

She attended Becker and Amory Schools. For more than 25 years, Jean worked as a seamstress with Futorian. On March 8, 1974, she married Jim Waits. She was a member of Lakeside Baptist Church. Jean loved her family and friends. She was a courageous, serious, and tenacious lady with a great sense of humor who never met a stranger she didn’t like. As a Master Gardener, she lived and breathed all things gardening. Jean enjoyed picking the guitar and listening to Country and Gospel music. In her later years, she was the Resident Council President at Golden Living Center.

Survivors include her husband, best friend, and soulmate, Jim Waits, Wren; daughters, Donna Chism (David), Hatley, and Linda Palmer (Ronnie), Palmetto; sisters, Etoy Chism, Wren, Tez Tate, Bigbee, and Sybil Caldwell, Valdosta, GA; grandchildren, Aaron Chism (Heather), Aberdeen, Heather Dettmers (Mike), Houston, TX, Bree Martin, Kalamazoo, MI, Sydney Martin, Albuquerque, NM, Rachel Hill (Ken), Palmetto, Rhonda Stewart (Michael), Tupelo; great-grandchildren, Zach Houk Chism; Sydney Kate and Palmer Lockhart; Karli Grace and West Hill; Cole, Jase, Oakes, and Maxe Stewart; several nieces and nephews; and close friends, Dot Knowles and Lounette Duncan.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Rick Martin.

Her Funeral Service will be held at 2 PM, Friday, February 19, 2016, at E. E. Pickle Funeral Home, Amory, with Bro. Robert E. Fowlkes officiating along with Bro. Ray Caroll. Burial will follow in Haughton Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be James Houk; , Jimmy Fowlkes; James, Mike and Bruce Odom; and Benny Hill.

Visitation will be from 5 - 8 PM, Thursday, at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given to St. Jude, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Memories and condolences may be shared with her family by pressing the button on the left.