Funeral services for Mary Joe Kelso Tabb, 93, of Greenville will be at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 22 at Boone-Smith Funeral Home, 1580 S. Colorado St. She died Saturday, March 17 at Washington Care Center. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Greenville.
She was born in Calhoun City, MS on August 26, 1924 to Joseph and Mae Betty Bounds Kelso. She graduated from Calhoun City High School. She married Billie Rush Tabb, later moving to Greenville where she worked for Hirsch, Beck and Farr for several years. Mrs. Tabb was a charter member of Southside Baptist Church when it was located at Tabb’s Barber Shop and Jones Meat Market. She served as a Sunday school teacher and also a church hostess. One of her greatest joys was helping young brides to be by making their bouquets, etc. and directing their weddings. She was a very talented seamstress and also was well known for her pecan tarts that were so famous at Tabb’s BBQ.
She was preceded in death by her late of husband of 50 years, Billie Rush Tabb; son, Scotty A. Tabb; brothers, Maurice Kelso, Bill Kelso and sisters, Ann Wigley and Eunice Howard.
She is survived by her daughter, Ramona T. Mallard (Kim); son, Ronnie Tabb (Debbie); daughter-in-law, Peggy Tabb; brother, Hugh Kelso; sister, Betty Kate Bonning; five grandchildren, Kim Giachelli (Jay), Kate Blaylock (Keith), Annie Hughes (Andy), Tiffany Morris (Rusty) and Bryan Tabb (Megan); eleven great gandchildren, Mary Anniston, Emma, and Ava Blaylock, Ann Elise, Jayce, and Molly Giachelli, Hartley Hughes, Fallyn Tabb, Christopher (Sarah), Hannah, and Avery Morris and one great great grandchild, Henry Morris.
The family would like to thank the staff and nurses of Washington Care and Grace Hospice.
There will be a visitation from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 21 at Boone-Smith Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to New Beginnings Church, formerly Southside Baptist Church or to a charity of your choice.