Elizabeth Clay Basden, 88
September 2, 1937 – March 19, 2026
Elizabeth “Beth” Clay Basden, 88, passed away on March 19, 2026, at NMMC Tupelo.
Beth was born to Nathan Thomas Clay and Margaret LaCook Clay on September2, 1937 at Bryant, Yalobusha County, MS. At age 6, the family relocated to Itta Bena, MS, and Beth was educated in the local public schools.
Beth married Bobby Vaughn of Itta Bena and two sons, Russell and Ronald, were born to this union. In March, 1980, she married James Murray Basden in Jackson, MS and became the auxiliary mother to two daughters, Elizabeth and Julia Basden.
Beth and Murray moved to New Albany in 1997, and she remained there until 2022 when she moved to Horseshoe Bend, AR to be with her son. She returned to New Albany in September, 2025.
Beth made a profession of faith at age 12 at First Baptist Church in Itta Bena and remained active in local Southern Baptist churches until her death. Her most rewarding time was spent teaching ladies Sunday School classes for 45+ years. At the time of her death she was a member of First Baptist Church in New Albany.
Beth retired in September, 1999, from the North MS Medical Center in Tupelo, MS, where she was office manager for Home Health and Hospice and later administrative assistant to a vice president. Following her retirement, Beth spent 10+ years in various leadership roles in the hospital auxiliary at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County and as a volunteer in the local Meals on Wheels program.
Beth is survived by her sons, Russell “Rusty” Vaughn of Argyle, TX and Ronald Gene “Ron” Vaughn of Horseshoe Bend, AR; 2 daughters, Elizabeth (Greg) Duggar of Acworth, GA and Julia Basden of Pearl, MS; 5 grandchildren, Carli Odle, Lauren Gamett, and Ryan Vaughn, all of Dallas, TX area and Reed Myers and Molly Tenoschok of Atlanta, GA; and 8 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Murray, her parents and her brother, Tommy Clay of Yazoo City, MS.
A visitation will be held on Monday, March 23, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. until funeral service time at 11:00 a.m. at United Funeral Service. Bro. Andrew Chesteen and Bro. Stanley Huddleston will officiate. Burial will be at Vista Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Investing Today, Impacting Eternity Building Fund of First Baptist Church of New Albany.
United Funeral Service is honored to be entrusted with these arrangements. For online condolences, please visit www.unitedfuneralservice.com
Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.
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