Mrs. Melba Purnell Ross

May 5, 1926 - December 27, 2016

Mrs. Melba Purnell Ross, 90, passed away on December 27, 2016, at Dugan Memorial Home in West Point. Mrs. Melba was born May 5, 1926, in Reform, Alabama, the daughter of the late Rufus Lyon and Adell Hughes Purnell. She retired from Bryan Foods, where she worked in accounts payable for 34 years. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in West Point, where she was a charter member of the Friendly Fellowship Sunday School Class. Mrs. Melba enjoyed people and one of the many qualities and traits she possessed was that of being a great listener. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and oil painting. She married Charles Thomas Ross on July 27, 1945, in Providence, Rhode Island, and he passed away July 25, 1978. She was also preceded in death by her sister Marilyn Purnell Gwin. Funeral services will be Friday, December 30, 2016, at 3:00 P.M. from Calvert Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Dale Funderburg officiating and assisted by Reverend Darian Duckworth. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery in West Point. Calvert Funeral Home of West Point is in charge of arrangements. Survivors include Her Daughter, Sandra Darnell (Tom) of West Point; Three Grandchildren: Michael L. Martin (Ramona) of St. Robert, MO, Tom Darnell, Jr. (Trixie) of West Point, and Charles Edwin Darnell (Karrie) of Ankeny, Iowa; Seven Great Grandchildren: Steven Martin of Lawton, OK, Melissa Jernigan (Jon) of Lawton, OK, Ashley Darnell of West Point, Ross Darnell of West Point, Nicholas Darnell of West Point, Grant Darnell of Ankeny, Iowa, and Alex Darnell of Ankey, Iowa and Two Great-Great Grandsons: Braysin Martin and Jaxon Jernigan both of Lawton, OK; One Sister: Carolyn Purnell Tindall and One Brother, Virgil Knox Purnell (Carol) both of Carrollton and a number of Nieces and Nephews. Pallbearers will be Richard Lepicier, Mike Mathews, Kenny Hudson, Marion Johnson, Kenny Dill, Eugene Bailey, Bucky Kellogg, and Charles Magers. Honorary Pallbearers will be Friendly Fellowship Sunday School Class at First United Methodist Church, Nurses and Staff of Dugan Memorial Home, and the Nurses and Staff of Sanctuary Home Hospice. Memorials may be made to Dugan Memorial Home, 26894 East Main Street, West Point, MS 39773, Sally Kate Winters Family Services, P. O. Box 1233, West Point, MS 39773, or to Sanctuary Home Hospice, 5159 West Main Street, Tupelo, MS 38801. Visitation will be Friday 1:30-3:00 P.M. at Calvert Funeral Home. Friends may leave an online condolence at www.calvertfuneralhome.com