Mrs. Eleanor G. Campbell passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at Brandon Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Dec. 27, 2017. She was born November 18th, 1923 near Brooklyn, MS in Forest County and was adopted from Mississippi Baptist Children’s Home by Mrs. Mattie German. She was raised in Carter, MS where she attended Main Street Elementary in Yazoo City and then Silver City Public School.
In high school, she loved to play basketball and was a first string forward. She continued her education at Draughn’s Business School in Jackson where Lawyer Bob Everett and U.S. Senator James O. Eastland hired her to work for them in Ruleville, MS
While in Ruleville she met and fell in love with James E. Campbell. They were married on February 16th, 1952. When her mother’s health began to fail, they moved back to Carter to care for her and begin a family. When their two children, Bonnie Sue and James Posey, were old enough to attend school, Eleanor began to work with James at Yazoo Butane as a bookkeeper until her retirement.
Eleanor was the last surviving charter member of Silver City Baptist Church. She was the ladies’ Sunday school teacher for a period and also served as church secretary and treasurer until her memory started failing her from dementia.
She loved cooking—her pecan pie and banana pudding were legendary and canning food from the garden. She also loved to make all kinds of jellies from fruits that James would bring home from friends. Always up for a challenge, she loved to work the Commercial Appeal crossword puzzle and was even a semi-finalist in one of its contests.
Mrs. Eleanor Campbell was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, and friend. She was loved by many and will be missed greatly. She is survived by her two children, Bonnie Sue Atkinson (Lee) and James Posey Campbell; four grandchildren, Benjamin James Campbell (Debra), Thomas Allen Campbell, Christopher Raymond Atkinson (Anna), and Susan Elizabeth Farris (Pete); and three great-granddaughters, Bricklyn Campbell, Oakley Campbell, and Atleigh Atkinson. She is also survived by a sister-in-law: Ruth Campbell of Cleveland, MS; half sisters-in-law Bobbie Joe Moffett of Wiggins, MS; and Fayola Moffett of North Carolina, half-brother Warren Moffett (Doris) of Sumrall, MS, as well as a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Visitation will be Saturday December 30 12:30 p.m.until the funeral services at 2 p.m. at Stricklin-King Funeral Home followed by a short graveside ceremony at Fletchers Chapel Methodist Cemetery. Rev. Tony Blanchard will officiate.
Serving as pall bearers are Benji Campbell, Allen Campbell, Chris Atkinson, Pete Farris, Tim Saxton and Buster Carithers.
Honorary pallbearers are Tommy Lancaster, Wallace Outlaw, Bradley Hales and former Yazoo Butane employees Willie Maples, Willie Hugh Ward, Sam Manning and Josephine Ledbetter.
Memorials may be made to Silver City Baptist Church.
