March 16, 1928  –  June 5, 2024

TUPELO – Mrs. Karl “Gerri” Cornwell died Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at the North MS Medical Center in Pontotoc. She was 96. Born Geraldine Florence Ewald on March 16, 1928 in Goshen, New York to Edward William Ewald and Mae Theresa Sundstrom Ewald, Gerri grew up there and graduated from Goshen High School. She was a graduate of the State University of New York-Cobbleskill, where she met the dashing West Point Military Gunnery Instructor, Karl Cornwell at a military dance. Karl and Gerri were wed on November 18, 1951 in Goshen, a beautiful marriage of 65 years until Karl’s death on January 19, 2017. The Cornwells moved many times, living in at least 20 different cities and even more houses while Karl served as an Auditor and Financial Officer for several large companies. In l966, the Cornwells located to Northeast MS where Karl was affiliated with Futorian Furniture. Later he was one of the founders of Barclay Furniture, at which time they made their home in Tupelo. Gerri spent her entire married life dedicated to being a supportive wife, consummate homemaker, and loving mother and grandmother. Family was a high priority in her life. After Karl’s retirement they traveled extensively, especially enjoying their trips out West and to Alaska. A beautiful woman with a fantastic smile, Gerri was always poised and dignified and lived a long life of faith. Their early years in Tupelo were spent at First United Methodist, until they left and were some of the founding members of The Orchard. In their later years, they were members of St. Luke United Methodist Church.

A Celebration of Life Service for Gerri will be held at 4 PM on Sunday, June 9, 2024 in the Sadie M. Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors in Tupelo with Pastor Brian Collier and Minister Chad Ramsey officiating. Visitation will be from 2 PM to service time Sunday only at the funeral home. Private burial will take place at Tupelo Memorial Park. For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed at 4 PM at hollandfuneraldirectors.com/live-streaming where it will be archived afterward. Holland Funeral Directors is honored to serve their friends.

Gerri is survived by her children, Ann Cornwell Steelman (Steve) and Kathy Cornwell Walden (Steve); grandchildren, Joseph Cornwell (Brandy), Rebecca Cornwell Chism (Jason), Norah Willow Cornwell, Melissa Steelman Baker (Brian), Sara Steelman Dement (Brandon), Taylor Walden, and Dr. Rachel Walden Barrantes (Christopher); nephew, William Kowalski, Sr. (Jacque’), niece, Terri Cornwell Rhoden (Tom); and her daughter-in-law, Sara Cornwell. She is preceded in death by her parents, Edward William Ewald and Mae Theresa Sunstrom Ewald; her husband, Karl. B. Cornwell, who died January 19, 2017; and her son, Edward Howard Cornwell.

The family would like to extend a special note of thanks to the caregivers and helpers who assisted us with Mother’s care in her final years: Vickie James, Susan Unger, Tannis Crabb, the staff of Pontotoc Health and Rehab and the staff of NMMC at Pontotoc. The kindness and respect with which you treated her and our family are greatly appreciated.

Memorials in her honor may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Way, Memphis, TN 38105, or Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. 2177, Tupelo, MS 38803.

Condolences for the family may be left on Gerri’s memorial page at hollandfuneraldirectors.com.

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