Funeral services for Mertice Jo “Bit” Showah will be at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, October 1 at Hollandale Baptist Church. She died Friday, September 23 in Orlando, FL. Burial will be in Hollandale City Cemetery under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Greenville.
She was born on October 11, 1954 in Hollandale, MS to Mitchell Joseph Showah and Mertice Elizabeth Howell Showah.
Bit attended Hollandale Consolidated School and was Valedictorian of the Class of 1972 of Deer Creek School. Her lifelong passion was thoroughbred horse training and she became one of the nation’s most renowned trainers having stables in the Warren, Michigan area. The purple and green colors of Mertice Showah racing stables flew high from 1972 to 1992 on tracks across the United States. Bit was truly a pioneer of ladies in the thoroughbred racing profession, known for her professionalism and high ethics. On December 31, 1992 Bit was involved in a tragic automobile collision in Ocala, Flordia, ending her racing career.
She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents, Joe and Mary Showah of Greenville and H H and Annie Moore Howell of Hollandale, a sister, Mary Elizabeth Showah, a niece, Julia Showah Finn, and a great niece, Austin Finn.
She leaves to cherish her memory her sister, Joice Ann Showah Baldwin of Greenville, brother, John Howard (Barbara “B.J.”) Showah of Leland, nieces, Dr. Elizabeth “Ann” (Bryan) Sammons, DVM of Aubrey, Texas; Mertice “Mary” Summers of Amory; Lt. Col. Josephine Thompson, US Army, and her husband Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jared Thompson, US Army of Huntsville, AL; nephew, Mitchel J. Creel of Greenville; John (Teresa) Showah, Jr. of Bella Vista, AR; and Christopher Douglas (Joni) Showah, Sr. of Indianola; great nephews, Jadon Sammons, Howard and Joseph Summers, Jacoby Thompson, Jackson, Oliver and Brody Creel, Christian Finn, and Christopher, Taylor and Logan Showah; great nieces, Gracie and Faith Sammons, Genee Summers, Jocilen and Jorja Thompson and Leslie, Jennifer and Tonya Showah; and a host of great, great nieces and nephews, cousins, and extended family.
There will be a visitation from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Friday, September 30 at Boone Chapel, Hollandale followed by a fellowship at the Hollandale Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Rev. Dennis Salley and Pastor Shawn Moss will officiate with special remarks by Howard Summers.
Pallbearers will be Howard Summers, Joseph Summers, Mitchel Creel, Bryan Sammons, Jared Thompson, and her life long friend and classmate, Charles “Chuck” Cage.
Next to her love of horses, Bit was passionate about rescuing and caring for cats. A foundation is being established in Bit’s honor to continue her work.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to Operation Kindness, 3201 Earheart Drive, Carrollton, TX 75006 or to any no kill animal rescue of your choice.
Condolences may be posted on Boone Funeral Home Facebook page: Boone Funeral Home, Inc.