Mattie Lee Whittington

Funeral services for Mrs. Mattie Lee Whittington will be held Monday, July 17, 2023, at 10:00 AM at the chapel of Robert Barham Family Funeral Home, with Rev. Aubry Martin officiating. Interment will follow at Magnolia Cemetery. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements.

Mrs. Mattie Lee Whittington, age 90, of Meridian, MS passed away Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at Bedford Care Center of Marion, MS.

Mattie Lee was the youngest of thirteen children to Doss and Pearl Gillis of Kemper County. She attended Lynville High School where she played varsity basketball. After graduation, she moved to Meridian, MS where she was first employed as a carhop for Freeman's Barbeque. She then went on to be one of the original waitresses at The Red-Hot Truck Stop, and eventually became the Proprietor of the business. She was a member of Poplar Springs Drive Baptist Church.

She is survived by her daughters Judy Sanders Ford (Richard Jr.) and Regina Sanders, grandchildren, Richard "Richie" Lee Ford (Paige), Derrick Ford/Elkins (Adam), Charles Helms (Tammy), James Helms (Kristi), Missy Covington (Donald), and Anitra Wilson, and many great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, sister-in-law Jessie Gillis, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph D. Whittington, the father of her children, Bill Sanders, her parents, her siblings, and her stepdaughter Debra Briggs.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Poplar Springs Drive Baptist Church or a charity of your choice.

Pallbearers will be Derrick Ford, Richie Ford, Cole Ford, Mason Ford, Scott Vaughn, and Michael Gibson.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.