Funeral Services for Wilma Jean Wiggers Webb Hayes, 94, of Greenville will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, in her hometown of Indianola at the First Methodist Church. She joined her Heavenly Father on December 29, 2023. Interment will be in the Indianola City Cemetery under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Indianola.
Born on May 26, 1929, in Miami, Florida, she was the beloved only child of Maybelle Foster Wiggers and Wilbur Marvin Wiggers. Due to her father’s health, they moved to Indianola, Mississippi where Jean started third grade. She had a wonderful childhood where she learned to play the piano and excelled in the arts. She had a huge family of cousins from the Wiggers, Martin, Britt, and Boyer families.
She was one of the last members of the class of 1947, Indianola High School at 94 years young. After attending college briefly, the love of her life, McLynn “Mac” Webb came back from the war and after a short courtship, they married and their marriage lasted 47 years until his death in 1993.
She enjoyed working for Mr. Herman Moore at the Indianola Bank. During her time in Indianola, she was a member of the Civic Study Club, Indianola Garden Club, and several bridge groups. She attended First Methodist Church growing up and later First Baptist. In Greenville, she was a member of First United Methodist.
In 1962, her family moved to Greenville, Mississippi. Her smiling face and warmth welcomed those who were patients of Dr. Fred Hauser until he retired. While there, she started a business women’s group, …Mainstream Chapter of American Association of Medical Assistants which is still going strong today. Not retired very long, she began working in Stoneville in the USDA ARS Agricultural section of the Federal Government until retiring in 1996. While there, she met and married Durwood Eugene Hayes. They had three wonderful years together which she cherished.
Outwardly, she was a stunning and elegant Delta beauty. She enjoyed being on stage with the little theatre, playing the piano for her Sunday School class, being a member of the Alice Bell Garden Club and the Newcomers Club. She was a Descendant of the Jersey Settlers of Adams County, Mississippi (Natchez). The Swayze side of the family.
Her love of family and friends was well known…she worried over everyone’s welfare even when her memory was failing. She never failed to dress and look her best every day. She was a fierce protector of her family and generous to a fault. She always championed the underdog. Good grammar was an absolute must and penmanship. She was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, and confidant to her family and longtime friends.
Often, she was heard saying, her biggest accomplishment in life was her girls. Her daughter, Judy Webb Leesburg, and children, Amanda Leesburg and Will (Jessica) Leesburg, and her two great-grandsons, Charlie (Charles David) and Matt (Matthew Crawford) Leesburg, all from Birmingham, Alabama and her daughter, Wendy Webb Mize and sons, Benjamin McLyn (Maria) Mize and new great grandson, Sean Lincoln Mize, Stephen Andrew Mize of Greenville and Leland, Mississippi. Her niece, Linda Stephens Henning of Baton Rouge. Her nephews Richard and Christopher Henning and families of Baton Rouge and Monroe, Louisiana.
The love, care, and concern of her caregivers have been a joy in her life. Our personal and deeply felt gratitude goes to Willie B. Brown, Evelyn Johnson, Arrie Davis, Damika Smith, Lavinia McKinney, Sherrie Eichelberger, and the Prime Care nurses.
A visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday prior to the services at the church. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. And always keep a chocolate in your pocket, her favorite with a kind greeting in Jean’s memory.