Eugenia McWilliams Bounds

Eugenia McWilliams Bounds was born April 20, 1917, the fifth of eleven children of Emma Long and Walter Ross McWilliams in DeKalb, Mississippi. She passed away at her home as she had requested on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. She chose a life of simple quietude, grounded by her faith in God and guided by her commitment to follow the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. She was a loving wife to her husband of fifty-two years, Waldo Bounds, prior to his passing in 1992; a devoted mother to her one daughter, Carol Bounds Tillery; a doting grandmother to her two granddaughters, Alicia Tillery (Mrs. Richard) Dunlap and Ellen Tillery (Mrs. Richard) Morrow; and a proud great grandmother to her two great grandsons, Martin and Douglas Dunlap and to her three great granddaughters, Elsie, Sophie, and Mary Morrow. She was also devoted to her many siblings: to her sisters, who preceded her in death, the late Beatrice and Mae McWilliams, Nona McWilliams (Mrs. Mims) Quarles, Lela McWilliams (Mrs. Glen) Brown, Edith McWilliams (Mrs. Earl) Lundy, Helen McWilliams (Mrs. George) Crain, and Eleanor McWilliams (Mrs. John) Ethridge; to her living sister, Miss Jane McWilliams; and to her living twin brothers, Arnold and Donald McWilliams. She was blessed to marry into a family who accepted her as one of their own and one that she loved very deeply. Brothers-in-law, Dr. George Bounds and Dean Bounds preceded her in death as well as sisters-in-law Bonnie Bounds Craig, Nina Bounds Ethridge, and Eleanor Bounds Morris. She is survived by faithful brother-in-law, Lowery Bounds and sister-in-law, Dori Bounds Golding; and a host of nieces and nephews and devoted care-givers and friends, Eileen Axton and Kathy Welborn. Jeanie Bounds, as she was known by family and friends, was a faithful member of First Baptist Church, who loved “Brother Randy” as well as her fellow Sunday School Class members, and especially her teachers, Janet Keveryn, Cheryl Jefcoat, and Charlotte Myrick. She enjoyed immensely serving as Sunshine Chairman of the group and being a member of the First Baptist Senior Choir, the First Edition. Second only to her enjoyment of homemaking was her love of gardening. It was this interest that led her to become an active member of the Bay Flower Garden Club for over forty years, service for which she was recognized as a Life Member. During an eight-year period in which her husband was assigned to the Gulfport Office of the Mississippi Power Company, this avid gardener not only became a member of the Long Beach Garden Club, but also initiated the organization of the Grow Beautiful Garden Club, a smaller organization just for her neighborhood. Being a very low-key person, Jeanie Bounds preferred interacting with people one on one – no matter their station in life. She could always be depended upon to be thoughtful, kind, and genuinely sweet. This gentle woman will be greatly missed by her family and all who were blessed to know her. Services will be in the Chapel of First Baptist Church at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 15th with interment at Hickory Grove Cemetery immediately following. Dr. Randy Turner will officiate. In accordance with Mrs. Bounds’ wishes, pallbearers will be grandsons-in-law Richard Dunlap and Richard Morrow, great grandsons Martin and Douglas Dunlap, and nephews Dr. Bruce Crain, Craig Bounds, Ben Crain, and Jeff McWilliams. Visitation will be in the Chapel from 1:30 until 2:00 p.m. on Friday. To sign the online guest book, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com.

Eugenia McWilliams Bounds

April 20, 1917 - June 12, 2018