Fay Jolly Wiley

Fay Jolly Wiley passed peacefully into heaven on Friday, May 17, 2019.  She was 96. And the Lord said to her, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Daughter of the late Edd Lacey and Mary Marchbanks Jolly, Fay was born in Chickasaw County on October 4, 1922.   She attended Egypt High School and graduated Valedictorian in 1940.  Upon graduation, she began her studies in nursing at Emory University in Atlanta, GA.  She then returned to Amory, MS to do her residency at Gilmore Sanitarium, receiving her degree as a Registered Nurse.  It was while working in Amory in 1944 that she met and married Forrest Walter Wiley, Jr from Starkville, MS.  After moving to Starkville, she worked as a surgical nurse for the local doctor until their first child was born.  At that time, she became a stay at home Mom. 

After they moved to Pascagoula in 1951, she volunteered as a Gray Lady in the public-school system and with the American Red Cross.  She was a lifetime member of Beta Sigma Phi and volunteered many years at the voting polls.

Fay was an active member of First United Methodist Church since moving to Pascagoula and was currently serving as Communion Steward, where she had served over 35 years.    At the church, she was a member of the Gilmore Shields Ladies Circle, the JOYS, Walk and Talk group, Prayer Quilt Ministry, Silver Sneakers, and volunteered in the office one day a week.  She also attended Mississippi Methodist Cursillo #31. 

Fay was an avid walker, exerciser, and she believed in eating right, except for her sweet tooth, which she kept satisfied.  She loved ice cream. You could go by for a visit and there was always a little something sweet that she had fixed. She loved to dance in earlier years and could be seen doing a little hip movement, while standing, with the jazzy songs being sung at church.

She lived life to the fullest, never complaining, and never letting her illness of CLL for over 20 years stop her.  At times, it would simply slow her down, but never stop her. 

She is the epitome of true Servanthood to the Lord and others.  She loved her family, and just being together made her the happiest.  That is her legacy to us, her children, Family is Everything. Proverbs 31:28, Her children arise and call her blessed.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Forrest W. Wiley; daughter-in-law, Melinda Wiley; two sisters, Ruth Pruitt and Minnie Barnett; three brothers, George Jolly, Edd Jolly, and Bob Jolly.

Fay is survived by her children, Dean Wiley (Debbie), Vancleave; Jerry Wiley (Harriet), Vancleave; Debbie Tew (Allen), Vancleave; Susie Womack (Richard), Gautier; and  Alan Wiley (Susan), Perdido Key; Sister-in-Law, Carolyn Jolly,  Nashville; 12 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, with 2 more arriving in June and July.

Visitation will be Tuesday, May 28, 2019, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at O’Bryant-O’Keefe Funeral Home in Pascagoula. Funeral service will be Wednesday, May 29, 2019, at 11:00 a.m., with visitation at 10:00-11:00 a.m., First United Methodist Church in Pascagoula with the Rev. Eddie Kirby officiating. Interment will be at Jackson County Memorial Park in Pascagoula.

Active Pallbearers will be nine of her grandsons: Chris Wiley, Russell Wiley, Joey Wiley, Randy Tew, Donnie Wiley, Eric Womack, David Tew, Mitchell Womack, and Andrew Wiley. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 371, Pascagoula, MS, 39568, or the Gideon Bible Ministry. You may send condolences or share a memory on the Tribute Wall.

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