Daphanie Ann Corley, 58
April 20, 1967 – February 26, 2026
Okolona/Philadelphia, MS.-She knew from whence she came and where she was going. A strong-willed, independent loving to a fault lady has now met her Creator and will live eternally in the heavenly kingdom. Daphanie Ann Corley died in her sleep at her residence in Neshoba County, Philadelphia, MS on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.
Born into two pioneer Chickasaw families, the Corley’s and Davis families, Daph was the eldest child of the late Bevlia “Deno” Corley and Barbara Ann Davis Corley. She grew up in Chickasaw County enjoying the friendship of her large family and a wide circle of friends. Daph graduated from Chickasaw Academy in Van Vleet in 1985.
Born with an inquisitive, analytical mind, she attended ICC receiving her AA degree in accounting. Later, she received her BS in Accounting from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). She quickly became a highly sought after accountant serving the firm’s clients and doing private accounting for several businesses including Terry Ausbern Construction, Wilson Park in Okolona and other nonprofits. She spent many years there until about 15 years ago (2011) when the Choctaw Nation in Philadelphia lured her to be their Chief Financial Officer and Comptroller, a position of enormous strength and leadership in the Choctaw Indian Enterprises. She was loved and revered by the Choctaw’s having first become affiliated with them while doing work for them while a student at Ole Miss.
Daph was spunky, full of life and strongly committed to doing things right the first time. She was professionally and personally a crisis manager, with her serious personality, her sharp analytical mind and her genuine love for mankind, Daph was a fighter and lover-equally! She was a “rock” to her family, loving them supremely. Completely devoted to her family, she and her associate, Rick Hogae, were patient, understand and solidly committed to all the enterprises owned and operated by the Choctaw Nation.
She was an excellent cook and owner of thousands of recipes which she made and served to family and friends. While she never had children, she considered her first cousin, John Parker Davis as her child and brother and doted over him until her last breath. Daphanie gave her life to Christ as a teenager while a member of the Carnation Baptist Church in Okolona. A grateful family expresses gratitude for her love, her life, her commitment and her purpose here on earth-well done Daph!!
A service celebrating her life will be held at 1 PM Friday, March 6, 2026, at the Okolona Chapel of Holland Funeral Directors with Rev. Ken Corley officiating with John Parker Davis reading the obituary and Debra Warren Parchman singing. Burial will follow in East Chickasaw Memorial Gardens north of Okolona. The family will receive friends from 5 PM-7PM Thursday, March 5, 2026, and from Noon-service time on Friday, all at Holland Funeral Directors-Okolona Chapel, which is honored to be serving their friends.
Daphanie is survived by her sister, Paula Corley Warren and husband, Sam, whom she considered a brother and dear friend; her “son”, cousin and brother, John Parker Davis (Casey) of Pontotoc and a host of other family members on the Corley and Davis sides. She was preceded in death by her parents, Deno and Barbara Davis Corley; her maternal grandparents, Jack and Mary Davis and her paternal grandparents Bevlia and Jewel Corley and a plethora of Aunts, Uncles and their families.
Pallbearers will be Wayne Clegg, Sam Warren, Rick Hogae, Terry Ausbern, Danny Buskirk, Jr., Jim Davis, Ricky Davis, Stan Paul Davis, Kevin Davis, James Corley, Robert Corley, Shane McKay, Deuce Prewett, Bradley Prewett and Chip Holloway. Honorary pallbearers will be friends and associates of the Choctaw Nation, Philadelphia, MS.
Memorials may be made to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indian Foundation, P.O. Box 6010, Choctaw, MS. 39350. Condolences may be posted Daphanie’s memorial page at hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net
Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.
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