Funeral services for Mary Elizabeth Weaver McKnight, 57, of Greenville will be held Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at 10:00 am at St. James Episcopal Church in Greenville. She passed away Sunday, July 31, 2011. Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. in Memorial Gardens, Clarksdale under the direction of Boone-Wells Funeral Home. Beth retired from The King’s Daughters Hospital in May 2002. During her twenty-two year tenure there, Beth served multiple roles including: Director of Business Operations, Director of Human Resources, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Assistant Administrator, Associate Administrator and Assistant Chief Executive Officer. During her retirement, she established McKnight and Company, a professional consulting firm. Beth held leadership roles in many community organizations. She served as a board member for: Junior Auxiliary of Greenville, Inc., National Association of Junior Auxiliaries, Junior Woman’s Club of Greenville, Little Greenville Garden Club, Junior Greenville Garden Club, St. Joseph School System, The King’s Daughters & Sons Circle #2, Washington County Republican Women, United Way, Salvation Army, Delta Center Stage, Good Samaritan Health Clinic, Greenville Arts Council and Greenville Chamber of Commerce. Beth’s greatest community accomplishment was founding Delta Cotton Belles. In 2007, Beth was diagnosed with breast cancer. Instead of letting the disease control her, she decided to fight it with all she had. In 2008, she went to work to raise money to help women of the Mississippi Delta become more aware of and prevent breast cancer. The initial fund raising tennis tournament collected over $16,000. Since then, the organization has raised over $100,000, and provides free mammograms and education to working uninsured women of the Delta. Beth’s strength was an example to so many women who are fighting the fight of their lives. Survivors include her husband, Jack Allen McKnight, Jr.; daughter, Mimmie McKnight Fisher (Brian); and sister, Linda Weaver Stewart (Ken). She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph C. Weaver of Jackson, Mississippi. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Delta Cotton Belles, P.O. Box 1292, Greenville, Mississippi 38702 or Dr. Ana Gonzalez-Angulo Research c/o MD Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 301439, Houston, Texas 77230-1439.
