Warrenne Cutcliff

Melissa Warrenne Brownlee Cutcliff, passed away Thursday, July 28th, at River Place Nursing Center in Amory, MS, at the age of 102. She was born March 21, 1909, in Cornersville, MS, to Melvin Franklin and Carle Potter Brownlee. She lived in Potts Camp, MS, as a child and moved with her family to Dell, AR, as a young girl.
She was a graduate of Blytheville, AR, High School, attended Mississippi Synodical College in Holly Springs and graduated from Blue Mountain College in 1931. She returned to Arkansas and taught school in Dell until she was appointed the town’s first Postmaster in 1937. She served in this capacity until her marriage to Leo Alexander Cutcliff of Amory, MS, in 1940.
She returned to teaching in 1963 and taught for twelve years, first in the Wren community and then in the Amory school system. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, an honorary teachers’ sorority, and served as president of the local and state chapters of Kappa Kappa Iota, a national teachers’ organization.
A lifelong Methodist, Mrs. Cutcliff was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Amory for 71 years, an honorary Life Member of the Administrative Council, a Sunday School teacher, a member of the Gleaner’s Sunday School Class, and a Life Member of the United Methodist Women. As Chairman of the Matinee Arts Recreation Committee, she spearheaded Amory’s first recreational program for children and youth, initiated planning of the Municipal Swimming Pool, the planning and building of Teen Tavern, Amory’s first Fishing Rodeo and Amory’s Hospitality Booth.
Mrs. Cutcliff was a Charter Life member of the Amory Junior Auxiliary, a president of the Matinee Arts Club and a member of the Prairie Girl Scout Council. She was also a member of the Amory Arts Council, which founded the Amory Regional Museum, where she continued to serve into her 90’s. Active in local scout work and Meals on Wheels, she was a volunteer in many other organizations.
Her service to her community was recognized when she was named Amory’s Outstanding Citizen in 1976 “for her dedication to the needs of the community and her talent for working with people to accomplish so much for the good of Amory.”
Mrs. Cutcliff was preceded in death by her husband in 1959; three brothers, M. F., Earl and Dallas Brownlee; and two sisters, Louise Armstrong and Christine Brownlee.
She is survived by three daughters: Melissa Durrett (Frank) of Amory, Martha Asbury (Terry) of Crystal Lake, IL, and Jean Lee Davis (Pat) of New Albany; one son, L. A. Cutcliff, Jr., of Albuquerque, NM; seven grandchildren: Frank Durrett (Barb) of Minneapolis, Paige Durrett Tidwell of Amory, Meg Davis Gibens (Brad) of Tupelo, Lee Durrett (Sandra) of New Albany, Patton Davis (Betsy) of Tupelo, Xan Cutcliff (Amber) of Jackson and Cara Cutcliff Sowers (Marc) of Albuquerque; and 21 great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11 AM, Monday, August 1 at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Warren R. Coile officiating. Burial will follow in Masonic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons Lee Durrett, Patton Davis, and Xan Cutcliff; great-grandson Charlie Davis, Brad Gibens and Marc Sowers. Memorials may be made to the Building Fund of First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 147, Amory, MS 38821 or to a church of choice.
Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at eepicklefuneralhome.com.