Nell M. Werkheiser

Nell M. Werkheiser

Madison

Funeral Services for Nell McNeil Werkheiser will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8th at Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Jackson, MS. Reverend Charles N. Bowdler will officiate. Visitation will be in the church fellowship hall from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. before the funeral service. Internment will be in Jessamine Cemetery, Ridgeland, MS. Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home Highland Colony is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Werkheiser, 89, passed away Sunday, March 6th at her home at St. Catherine's Village. She was a homemaker as well as a retired nurse. Pallbearers will be William Thompson, Brooks Werkheiser, Jr., Michael Thompson, Jeremy Garner, Bill Lea, Charles Planch, Richard Batte and J. T. Simmons.

Mrs. Werkheiser was born October 18th, 1921 in Philadelphia, MS. Her parents were Marvin Green McNeil and Josie Barnett McNeil. Her father was in the automobile business and her mother was a homemaker. Nell grew up in Philadelphia, MS and was one of four children.

Mrs. Werkheiser graduated from Philadelphia High School and subsequently received her diploma from the University of Tennessee School of Nursing. She married Dr. Edwin Brooks ("Ed") Werkheiser October 1st, 1942. Soon after they were married, the couple moved to Shreveport, LA where she worked in Charity Hospital while Ed completed his medical residency.

After World War II, Nell and Ed moved to Jackson, MS where Ed opened his medical practice. During the early 1960's, Mrs. Werkheiser attended Millsaps College and obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from the University Medical Center in 1965. In the 1970's, she was Director of Student Nursing, Mississippi State Hospital at Whitfield.

Nell was a very active church member. She taught adult Sunday school classes, led Bible studies and workshops in the Presbyterian Women's Organization and was active in Women's Missions. One of her missions included the sewing of silent layettes for the University Hospital. She was an elder in the Presbyterian Church, USA, President of the Women of the Church of Central Mississippi and awarded an Honorary Life Membership in the Presbyterian Women of the Church.

Nell enjoyed camping and hiking in the Smokey Mountains and retreats at Montreat, North Carolina. Some of the places her family enjoyed were Deep Creek, Elkmont, Cade's Cove, Mt. LeConte, Little River Camping Resort, Roosevelt State Park, and Dauphin Island.

Mrs. Werkheiser enjoyed a number of hobbies including sewing, cooking, reading, journaling, bird watching, and ceramics. She was an active member of the Hinds County Homemaker's Club where she created many quilts and other fine needlework.

She moved to St. Catherine's in July 2000. During her time there, many of the residents recognized her from the daily walks she and her husband made on the grounds.

Mrs. Werkheiser is survived by her sons, Edwin Karl ("Eddy") Werkheiser II of Port Gibson, MS; M. Brooks Werkheiser Sr. (Celeste) of Jackson, MS; daughter, Susan Werkheiser Thompson (William) of Madison, MS; sister, Marvine ("Puggy") Brand of Jasper, TX and Madison, MS; granddaughter, Britain Werkheiser Garner (Jeremy) of Houston, TX; grandson, Major Edwin B. Werkheiser (Amanda), Camp Stone, Afghanistan; grandson, M. Brooks Werkheiser Jr. (Shay) of Madison, MS; grandson, Michael Thompson (Whitney) of Inverness, MS; and granddaughter, Candace McLeran of Jackson, MS. Great-grandchildren include: Avery Werkheiser, Turner Garner, March McLeran, and Mick McLeran.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Werkheiser was preceded in death by her loving husband of 67 years, Dr. Edwin Brooks Werkheiser; sister, Elizabeth "Lib" Tullos; and brother, Kenneth Durwood "Jack" McNeil.

The family would like to acknowledge and thank the staff of St. Catherine's Village Marian Hall, Campbell Cove and Siena Hall in addition to the caregivers of Southern Homecare and Odyssey Hospice for their exceptional and loving care of Nell.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Campbell Cove at St. Catherine's Village ? Campbell Cove, 200 Dominican Drive, Madison, MS 39110 and Briarwood Presbyterian Church, 620 Briarwood Drive, Jackson, MS 39211.