June 17, 1925 – June 21, 2017

NATCHEZ — Services for Phyllis Jean McCranie, 92, of Natchez, who died Wednesday, June 21, 2017, at Natchez Rehabilitation Healthcare Center, will be 1 p.m. today at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Ray Holland officiating.

Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be 11 a.m. until service time today at the funeral home.

Mrs. McCranie was born June 17, 1925, in Munday, Texas, the daughter of Homer Clinton Smith and Olga M. Smith.

She was a homemaker. She was the best mother in the world and was known by many as “Mama Jean.”

Mrs. McCraine was a favorite aunt to the children of all of her siblings on both sides of her and her husband’s family. She had a wonderful sense of humor. All of her life she could work circles around much younger women. She loved working outdoors. She took care of her parents all of their lives. Mrs. McCranie loved the Lord and showed unconditional love for her family. Her son, Roger, called her “Ralf” and she was his right-hand man working like a man on the farm with horses, cows, pigs and building lots of fences for more than 25 years.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Levay McCranie; one son, Vann McCraine; one daughter, Marilyn Masters; two grandsons, Ricky James and Jeff McCranie; and one granddaughter, Maureen McCranie.

Survivors include two sons, Charles McCranie of Natchez and Roger McCranie and wife, Kathi; eight grandchildren, Michele Barlow, Kassidy Adams, Brandon McCranie, Anthony McCranie, Jason McCranie, Shannon McCranie and Mark James, all of Natchez, and Morgan McCranie of Nashville, Tenn.; and six great-grandchildren, Skylar Adams, Parker Peyton, Mabry and Fin Mansfield, Lacy Barlow and Brock Barlow.

Pallbearers will be Brandon McCranie, Anthony McCranie, Jason McCranie, Brock Barlow, Billy Abbott and Frank Bailey.

Mrs. McCranie’s family would like to thank God for giving her to us as a mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt. God gave her a lot of gifts mentioned in the Bible, especially love and charity. She showed it to all of us by the way she lived her life. She never had wealth but what she did have she gave away to all of her loved ones. Phyllis Jean McCranie — “Wow,” what a marvelous creation of God. She loved the Lord Jesus Christ with all of her heart and soul. There is a very good chance that she has cornered the market on jewels in her crown when she got to heaven. When we all get to heaven what a day of rejoicing that will be — until then, we will love and miss you Phyllis Jean McCranie.

Online condolence may be sent to lairdfh.com.