STARKVILLE — Winnie Ruth Purnell-Morris, 76, died Nov. 1, 2022. 

Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, at Second Baptist Church, with the Rev. Dr. Michael Taylor officiating. Burial will follow at Ebenezer M.B. Church Cemetery. Visitation is from 1-6 p.m. today, at Hairston and Hairston Funeral Home. Hairston and Hairston Funeral Home of Starkville is in charge of arrangements. 

Mrs. Purnell-Morris was born Jan. 7, 1946, in Starkville, to the late Edna Mae Page Purnell and Turner Purnell Sr. She was a graduate of Henderson High School and was formerly employed as an assistant director of MSU Dining Services at Mississippi State University.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Nathaniel Morris Sr.; son, Elbert Garcia Vaughn; daughter, Shelia Faye Vaughn-Morgan; sisters, Cloteria P. Johnson Robinson, Minnie Dell Purnell-Ashford, Patricia Ann Purnell, Gaile Purnell-Smith; step-sister, Beverly C. Poole; brother, James E. Purnell; and step-brother, Leroy Calmes. 

She is survived by her children, James Kennard Purnell, Nathaniel “Bobby” Morris Jr. and Barron D. Morris; step-mother, Mary Calmes-Purnell; sisters, Brenda Collins and Cynthia Garner; brother, Turner Purnell Jr.; step-sisters, Linda Bonner and Rebecca Foster; step-brothers, John Calmes, Calvin Calmes, Arthur Calmes, Randolph Calmes, Melvin Calmes and Ricky Calmes; 18 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. 

Pallbearers will be David Tucker, Michael Purnell, Michael Johnson, Steve Robinson, Troy Robinson and Kory Hill.