Melissa Louise (Burch) Garner

Melissa Louise Burch Garner, resident of Southaven, Mississippi and former resident of the Oakland Community died Sunday afternoon, November 4, 2012 at the Tri-Lakes Medical Center in Batesville, Mississippi. She was 54 years of age and died following an illness of six months.

Services of Remembrance for Mrs. Garner were conducted at 10 A.M. Thursday, November 8th at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland. Officiating Ministers were Bro. David Reeves of the Midway Baptist Church in Whiteville and her uncle, Bro. Carl Doyle of Oakland. Interment followed in the Fayette County Memorial Park Cemetery on Highway 64. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center — West Chapel at Oakland.

Mrs. Garner was born November 1, 1958 in Somerville. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles E. (Red) Burch, Jr. and Imogene Doyle Burch. She received her education in the Fayette County Public School System and was a graduate of the Rossville Academy. Mrs. Garner was a homemaker throughout her life and also served as a residential house painter in recent years.

She was of the Baptist faith and was a member of the Desoto Woods Baptist Church at the time of her death. Mrs. Garner was a former resident of Fayette County before moving to Desoto County 12 years ago. She will be remembered as avid lover of pets. Special times included preparing food for her family and playing cards with family members and friends.

Mrs. Garner is survived by her longtime companion, Eddie Hunsucker of Southaven, MS; her daughter, Charity Ragsdale (Michael) of Horn Lake, MS; her son, Johnathan E. Hunsucker, who is currently stationed with the U.S. Navy in San Diego, CA; her brother, Barry G. Burch, Sr. (Diane) of Bartlett; and two grandchildren, Trey Ragsdale and Emma Ragsdale.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers were Mike Ragsdale, Mickey Ragsdale, Johnathan Hunsucker, Gene Burch, Brad Burch, Charles Doyle and James Brown.

The family requests that memorials be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.