Coy Smith Jefcoat

A graveside service for Mrs. Coy Smith Jefcoat will begin at 12:00 PM Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, with the Reverend Bob Peden officiating. Interment will follow graveside rites. The Jefcoat family will receive guests from 10:00 AM until 11:30 AM, at the funeral home, prior to dismissal to the cemetery. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements.

Mrs. Jefcoat passed away Saturday, October 25, 2025, at the age of 95. She was a lifelong resident of the Meridian area until 2016, when she moved to Tennessee to be closer to her daughter and granddaughters.

Mrs. Jefcoat was devoted to the field of education. She earned degrees from East Central Junior College, Mississippi University for Women, and Auburn University. During her long and distinguished career as an educator and administrator, she served as both teacher and principal in the school systems of Columbus, Mississippi; Butler, Alabama; and Meridian, Mississippi. Her commitment to education reached far beyond the classroom through her active involvement in numerous educational, civic, and cultural organizations. A faithful member of Central United Methodist Church, Mrs. Jefcoat sang in the church choir for more than 40 years.

Survivors include her son, Joe Mark Jefcoat and Peter Michael Boles of York, Pennsylvania; her daughter, Ann Jefcoat Ferree and husband Richard of Brentwood, Tennessee; four granddaughters, Dana Ferree Campbell (Jason) of Spring Hill, Tennessee; Kellum Ferree Wiedenhoeft (Brett) of Brentwood, Tennessee; Catherine Ann Ferree of Brentwood, Tennessee; and Frances Ferree Podhurst (Jordan) of Lake Stevens, Washington; as well as five great-grandchildren: Zoey Campbell, Locke Campbell, Elijah Wiedenhoeft, Elizabeth Ann Wiedenhoeft, and Baby Podhurst.

She is preceded in death by her husband, James Roy Jefcoat; and her parents, William Dozier and Nola Nelson Smith.

Mrs. Jefcoat was an avid supporter of Brightstone, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing work and lifelong learning opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Brightstone, P.O. Box 682966, Franklin, TN 37068 (brightstone.org), or to Central United Methodist Church, Meridian, Mississippi.

Online condolences may be expressed at robertbarhamffh.com.