Jean Laney, 83

August 2,1941 – April 24, 2025

TUPELO –Jean Burgess Laney passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at North MS Medical Center in Tupelo. Jean was born on August 2, 1941, to Annie Byrd Coggin Burgess and George Rankin Burgess who preceded her in death. She was a 1959 graduate of Nettleton High School where she was a cheerleader and played basketball. She was a 1962 graduate of Mississippi State College for Women, now Mississippi University for Women. She attended Mississippi State University to work on her Master’s Degree. Also in 1962, she married her high school sweetheart, Bobby Wayne Laney, and they shared 62 wonderful years together. Bobby preceded her in death on March 17, 2025.

She and Bobby lived for 45 years in Pascagoula where she belonged to Pascagoula First United Methodist Church and was active in all areas. She served on the Board of Trustees for many years, and was the second of two women to ever serve, at that time, on the Administrative Board. She also served as president of the United Methodist Women, and was a youth counselor with her husband for over 20 years.

She served as president of the MSCW (now MUW) Jackson County Alumnae Association, held many offices in various PTAs, belonged to the Pascagoula/Moss Point Jr. Auxiliary and the Pascagoula Civic Guild. Jean served as president of the Patio Planter’s Garden Club and was an officer of the Magnolia Garden Guild for many years. She also served as a board member and as chair of the Susan Belcher Memorial Scholarship Committee, which awarded countless college scholarships throughout the years in Pascagoula.

For over 35 years, Jean was an avid tennis player, having played in many tournaments throughout Mississippi and the South.

After moving to Tupelo in 2005, when Katrina mostly destroyed their Pascagoula home, she became an active member of Tupelo First United Methodist Church, serving on the Altar Guild, was a Greeter, and was also a member of the UMW. She enjoyed attending the Holloman/Covenant Sunday School Class.

Always willing to help her fellowman, she loved visiting seniors even when she was a senior citizen herself! Jean loved baking pound cakes for her many dear friends using her mother’s recipe!

Having traveled throughout the U.S. and abroad, she and Bobby often took their grandsons on adventurous trips.

A lover of art in all its forms, she was a major supporter of the arts in Pascagoula, Tupelo, and throughout Mississippi. She served for three years as president of the Mississippi State Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts. She was a long time patron of the arts and a board member of the Gum Tree Art Museum.

Jean once said, “The art community gave me many, many creative friends throughout my life, and it provided me with a beautiful world of paintings, ceramics, and blown glass!”

She was a long time member and Regent of the Tupelo Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

A service celebrating her life will be held at 3 PM Sunday, April 27, 2025, at the Tupelo First United Methodist Church with the Reverends Fawn and Rusty Keen officiating. Visitation will be from 1 PM to service time in the Gathering Room. Burial will follow at Tupelo Memorial Park.

She is survived by her only daughter, Lori Laney Clayton; three grandsons, Drew West Clayton, Jr. (Kayla), Reed Burgess Clayton (Morgan), and Tate Williams Clayton (Anna Claire); three great-grandchildren, Drew West Clayton,III, Ainsley Anne Clayton, and Laney Caroline Clayton all of Tupelo; a very special cousin “second daughter”, Vickie Lindsey McAnally (Merle) of Nettleton; brother-in law, Jack Laney (Betty), of Gautier; a step sister-in-law, Jerry Harlow of Aberdeen; four nephews; several great-nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by her sister, Georgie Ann Burgess Davis.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons, nephews, and cousin.

Memorial gifts may be made to Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38802, or Tupelo First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 854, Tupelo, Ms 38804.

Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo is honored to be serving their friends.

Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.