Joyce Mclemore Rush

Funeral services for Joyce Rush will be held Tuesday, July 12, 2016, at 12:00 p.m. at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home, with Reverend Tom Sikes officiating.  Burial will follow at Magnolia Cemetery.

Mrs. Rush, 90, of Meridian, passed away July 8, 2016, at Golden Living Center.

Joyce just celebrated her ninetieth birthday on June 26, 2016, surrounded by her family. She was always amused by the fact that she was born 6-26-26 at 6:00 on the 6th day of the week.

Joyce was the daughter of Annie Williams and T.J. McLemore, Sr., and was a member of Lauderdale County’s founding family. She graduated from Meridian High School, where she was a cheerleader and a member of DBS (now known as Dusty Social Club). After graduation, she attended two years at Mississippi State College for Women before marrying her soulmate and the love of her life, Dr. Lowry Rush, Jr., on July 11, 1946. They would have celebrated their seventieth wedding anniversary this year.  She and her husband continued their studies at Millsaps College, where she was a cheerleader, homecoming queen and member of the Chi Omega Sorority.

Joyce was very active in the Meridian community and served on various boards and committees for many years, including the Meridian Medical Auxiliary, Girl Scouts of America, Meridian Junior Auxiliary, among others. She was also Queen of the Junior Auxiliary Mardi Gras Ball. She was an avid bridge player and enjoyed playing with her many friends.

Joyce was a longtime member of Central United Methodist Church and in her later years, was a member of First Christian Church. She loved and cherished her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and considered herself blessed. She always said she had lived a wonderful life and when she died, she asked loved ones “not to mourn her death, but to celebrate her life”.

She is survived by her three children, Cathy Rush Slaton (Bob), Lowry Rush III, and Neva Rush; seven grandchildren, Tiffany Dean (John), Rush Slaton (Christa), Ramey Hardin (Brent), Lowry Rush IV (Kayla), Jill Williams (Leslie), Neil Johnson (Helene) and Kristin Molony (Thomas); and fifteen great-grandchildren, with another to be born in December.

She was preceded in death by her loving and devoted husband, Dr. H. Lowry Rush, Jr.; parents, Mr. and Mrs. T.J. McLemore, Sr.; brother, Jackie McLemore and sister-in-law, Bobbie McLemore.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Dr. H. Lowry Rush, Jr. Scholarship Fund at Central Methodist Church or to First Christian Church.

Pallbearers will be Rush Slaton, Lowry Rush IV, Neil Johnson, John Dean, Brent Hardin, Leslie Williams, Thomas Molony, and Ray Myatt.

Visitation will be held Tuesday July 12 from 10:00a.m.-12:00p.m. prior to service at the funeral home.