Reba Gail Grice Hess

Reba Gail Grice Hess, 83, of Flowood, MS, formerly of Laurel, was born on August 16, 1942, and passed away peacefully on July 5, 2026 at The Blake at Flowood. Reba was preceded in death by her parents, William Purvis and Amy Smith Grice; husband, Larry Jean Hess; and sister, Ina Faye Grice Gordon. Reba is survived by her daughter, Mary Ann Hess of Brandon; son, Michael Richard (Martha) Hess of Memphis, TN; grandson, William Wesley Hess of Winston-Salem, NC; sister, Anita Grice Wood; sisters-in-law Betty Hess, Janice Kay Hess, and Janice Strawbridge; brother-in-law Glenn Hess; and a host of nieces and nephews. Reba grew up in the Powers Community and graduated from Ellisville High School, Jones County Junior College, and Mississippi College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in secretarial science. She worked as the secretary to the Registrar at Jones County Junior College. Working beside her husband, she particularly loved the years that she worked at Jones. Upon her retirement from Jones, she then worked as the secretary to the pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church for many years. Reba loved the Lord and her church, evidenced through her years of service at Bethlehem Baptist Church. She also had a passion for flower arranging and gardening. Her friends admired her flowers, especially her beautiful arrangements for the church. Twenty years ago, Reba was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. During her chemo and radiation treatments she remained an inspiration to everyone around her and used this experience as a testimony to our Lord’s goodness and mercy. Reba was a member of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a member of the Order of First Families of Mississippi. She especially loved traveling with her daughter to attend DAR meetings and City Clerk conferences. All during her life, people used the word “sweet” to describe her, and it was this sweet spirit that drew people to her. Some of her happiest memories involved traveling with her husband, her sisters and their husbands; their travels took her to forty-five states, Canada and Mexico. Visitation will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel, followed by a service at 2:00 p.m. Dr. Cary Kimbrell will officiate the service. A private family service will follow at the Bethlehem Baptist Church cemetery. Pallbearers will be Will Hess, George Heid, Bro. Greg Brown, Mike Parker, Norman Hill, and George Jaynes. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the nurses and staff at The Blake of Flowood and Vital Caring Hospice for the incredible care they gave our family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Christian Food Mission in Laurel (P. O. Box 2422, Laurel, MS 39442) or Rosalie Mansion (100 Orleans Street, Natchez, MS 39120-3452). To sign the online guest book, visit: www.memorychapellaurel.com

Reba Gail Grice Hess

August 16, 1942 - July 5, 2026