Funeral services for Merle Boyd Reid will be on Friday, March 13, 2020, at Providence Baptist Church in Jayess, MS at 11 AM with burial to follow in the Providence Baptist Church Cemetery in Jayess, MS. Bro. Dale Authement, Bro. Luke Laird, and Bro. Scott Johnson will be officiating the services with Wilson Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be at Providence Baptist Church on Thursdy, March 12, 2020, from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM and continuing Friday, March 13, 2020 from 9:00 AM until Service Time at 11:00 AM.

Mrs. Reid, 84, of Jayess, MS, passed from this life on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, at her residence.  She was born on September 26, 1935 in Enon, MS, to Narvoo Caston and Mary Armecy Alexander Boyd.

Merle was a devoted wife to her sweetheart, John Markette Reid, for nearly sixty-five years. They married on July 2, 1955, and Merle still loved him as much now as she did on the first day. She was proud of her marriage, taking time to reminisce on each anniversary by showing her beloved granddaughters her "very fancy" wedding dress and retelling the story of their wedding again and again.

Merle worked as timekeeper at Kellwood for many years before owning Reid's Clothing. She was diligent in all she did. She was most diligent in raising her six precious children, giving them love, patience, and guidance every day until the very end. Merle was "Momma" to many friends, loving each child she met as her own. She was the best Granny to her 16 grandchildren (Honey to her youngest), 24 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren, and she cherished every moment she spent with them. She loved taking her babies on picnics under the big pine trees in her yard. Her granddaughters looked forward to picking violets with her each spring, and during the summer, each member of her family looked forward to her annual Blueberry Festival, where laughs and fun were shared by all. During the many sleepovers had at her house, she read book after book to her grandchildren, delighting in their wonder at each page.

On Sunday afternoons, her family looked forward to a lunch of chicken-and-dumplins' and fried chicken with all the fixings. The entire community knew Merle best for her egg custard pies; whether grieving or celebrating, Merle was sure to bring two egg custard pies to every event, and each bite was devoured.

She loved music, displaying her great talent at the piano with pride. One of Merle's greatest joys was dancing and singing with her babies, especially to the music by Elvis Presley. During her later years, Merle owned the Catfish Plus, and her spunky attitude left each customer with a smile. She was sure to be found in her chair in front of the heater, phone in hand, talking to one of the many, many people that loved her. She loved doing crossword puzzles and especially looked forward to the second Saturday in December, when she and her girls enjoyed the annual "Reid Girl Cookie Party", dressing up and cutting up with one another all day long.

Merle was one of the most precious and loving souls God has ever placed on the earth, and she will be missed terribly by all who knew her.

Preceding her in death were her parents; son, Jimmy Reid; granddaughter, Kristina Reid; sister, Patsy Boyd; and brother, Learno Boyd.

Survivors are husband John Reid; sons, Johnny Reid and wife Sonia, Jeff Reid and wife Tina, Jody Reid and wife Jan; daughters, Cindy Sykes and husband Russell, Ginger Renfroe and husband Ken; sister, Ezora Reid; sister-in-law, Elaine Boyd; brother-in-law, Jerry Reid;  grandchildren, 15; great grandchildren, 24, with one expectant; great great grandchildren, 4, with two expectant, and a host of family and friends.