Rita "Gerry" Turner Jemison

 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart, Psalms 31:4.

On March 14, 2024, our beloved wife, mother and grandmother, Rita "Gerry" Jemison, 92, of Ashland, went to be with her Lord and Savior, following an extended illness, at Baptist Hospital in Collierville.

Funeral Services honoring the life of Mrs. Jemison will be at 11AM, Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at Canaan Baptist Church officiated by Rev. Archer.  Visitation will be from 9:30 AM until time of service, all at Canaan Baptist Church.  Burial will follow in the Canaan Cemetery.

Born in Houlka on May 16, 1931, she was the daughter of the late John Rex and Arness Surprise Aycock Turner.  Mrs. Jemison received her education from the Houlka Public School system.  She was a Homemaker until she and her husband Raymond, that survives, owned and operated "Cypress Creek Game Bird Farm" once they moved from Ponchatoula, LA in 1970. They were very faithful to their business until retirement in 1994.  Mrs. Jemison raised many types of birds including Quail, Pheasant, Chucker's, Tennessee Reds, and Bob Whites, just to name a few.  She and her husband would have as many as 25,000 birds at one time.  Students from all over would come to learn about the birds, as well as Mississippi Wildlife Association would regularly reach out to the Jemison's when they needed information on the birds they raised.

A devout Christian and one of the oldest members of Canaan Baptist Church, Mrs. Jemison studied her bible daily and just loved life.  She loved to sit on her porch with her husband daily, enjoyed quilting, tending to her flower beds, that she had a natural green thumb for, and was the best "Mamaw" to her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She will be missed by all that knew and loved her.

Those left to cherish her memories include her husband of 75 years, Raymond A. Jemison, who was her high school sweetheart, three daughters, Rita Ann Jemison Davis (Joe) of Jackson, TN, Joyce Marie Jemison St. John of Ashland, and Patti Sue Jemison Hall (Perry) of Falkner, two sons, Robert Ray Jemison (Linda) and Jimmy Rex Jemison (Dorothy) both of Ashland, four sisters, Jackie, Jeanne, Sandy and Linda, one brother, Pat, thirteen grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.  Mrs. Jemison was preceded in death by one sister, Wanda Houston, her granddaughter, Tara Amanda Davis and a great granddaughter, Zoe Swindell.

Ripley Funeral Home invites you to share memories with the Jemison family.

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