Juanita C. Husbands, 94, of Bay Springs, Mississippi, passed away Sunday, March 28, 2021, at Jasper County Nursing Home in Bay Springs, Mississippi. She was born Wednesday, March 9, 1927, in Jones County, Mississippi.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 1, 2021, from 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM at First Baptist Church of Bay Springs. Funeral Services will be held Thursday, April 1, 2021, at 2:00 PM at First Baptist Church of Bay Springs with burial to follow in Bay Springs City Cemetery.

Bro. Luke Johnson, Bro. James Sprayberry, Bro. Benny Presnell, and Bro. Devin DiGuilio will officiate. Officiating at the graveside will be Bro. Ed King and Bro. Randy Sims. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Bay Springs is in charge of arrangements. (601) 764-2181.

Juanita grew up in the Springhill community of Jones County, the youngest of seven children.  She attended Springhill Baptist Church professing Jesus as her Lord and Savior at an early age.  Her entire family enjoyed beautiful gospel music, singing schools, revivals and reunions, and passed that love down through generations.  She graduated from Soso High School and Jackson Business College.  She worked as a bookkeeper in the credit department of Sears, and as a dental hygienist in Laurel.  She later helped as a bookkeeper at Magnolia Motors and M. L. Husbands Ford in Bay Springs. Since 1965, she was a faithful member of Bay Springs Baptist Church.  She was a teacher, choir member and served on various committees until her health declined.

In her quiet way, she lived a life of devotion and love for her family...her husband (Honey), her children and generations of grandchildren. She cherished her time with family, big Sunday dinners, cooking for church events, family reunions and holidays.  Oh how we loved her tea cookies, chicken & dumplings, fried okra and all those homegrown vegetables!  She didn't know how to be idle even at the age of 94.  She wanted to stay busy, loved to help others, and of course, make sure they were fed!

Known as Aunt Boots, she loved her nieces and nephews and their families. She always looked forward to spending time with them, singing, sharing memories of life, words of encouragement, comfort, guidance, and of course, her wonderful food.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Melvin Liston "M.L." Husbands; parents, B.C. and Marzie W. Clark; granddaughter, Melanie Odom; brothers, Cecil (Geneva) Clark, J. Kimble (Margaret) Clark, and J. Thurman (Olean) Clark;  sisters, Bonnie (Ernest) Ishee, Hazel (Alton) Presnell, and Bertice (Jim) McHenry.

Survivors include her children, Donald "Don" Melvin Husbands (Donna), Janet Knotts (Jimmy), Joyce Stringer (Wayne), Teresa Odom, grandchildren, Mellissa Hendry, Chad Odom (Erica), Stephanie Harris, Amanda Merchant, Anthony Stringer, Sarah Stringer, Lauren Johnson (Luke), and Leslie Moore (J.R.); 15-great grandchildren, 6-great great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Chad Odom, Anthony Stringer, Ethan Butler, Devin DiGuilio, Tommy Stringer, and Logan Stringer.

Honorary pallbearers will be her nephews.

Online guestbook may be signed at www.colonialchapelbaysprings.com