Azalia Rouse Boyce

Azalia Rouse Boyce, 98, of Brandon, Ms., died Wednesday, January 5, 2011, at home surrounded by her family. Visitation is 1:30 pm Friday, January 7, 2011 at Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Brandon. Services are 3 pm Friday at the funeral home with burial in Old Brandon Cemetery.

Mrs. Boyce was born May 30, 1912, north of Brandon, in the Langford community. She was the first of two daughters born to C.C. and Eva Williams Rouse. Mrs. Boyce was home schooled, and then attended Brandon public schools where she graduated as valedictorian of her class. Upon graduating high school, she attended MSCW in Columbus, Ms. Upon completion of her work at the W, she attended Millsaps College.

She and her sister met their future husbands, Ralph Wesley Boyce of Lux, Ms., and Marvin E. Thompson of Jackson, Ms. They were married in a double wedding ceremony in 1936. Mrs. Boyce and her husband had three children, Daniel Rouse Boyce, Sr., Lady Margaret Boyce, and Brenda Ann Boyce.

A longtime employee of the Rankin County Welfare Department, Mrs. Boyce also had a successful real estate career in the community including the development of Boyce Acres. Along with her sister Margaret, she had extensive community involvement including donation of the property for Rouse Elementary School, and First Baptist Church of Brandon of which she was a longtime member. Much of the west Brandon business corridor was originally farmland owned by the Rouse family.

Mrs. Boyce was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Wesley Boyce; parents, C.C. and Eva Williams Rouse of Brandon; her sister, Margaret Rouse Thompson of Brandon; and her son, Daniel Rouse Boyce, Sr. She is survived by daughters Lady Margaret Richter of Brandon, and Brenda Boyce Branch of Brandon; grandchildren, Ralph Davis Boyce (Debbie) of Pelahatchie, Daniel Rouse Boyce, Jr. (Shannon) of Brandon, Todd Christian Richter (Holly) of Brandon, Christiana Branch Schmidt of Brandon, Brennan Branch Burkard (Bill) of Brandon; great-grandchildren, Connor Christian Schmidt, Rouse Davis Boyce, Rydan Markham Richter and William Wesley Burkard. She is also survived by her niece, Eva Lynne Thompson, and grandnieces, Amanda Margaret Thompson and Anna Lynne Thompson.

Mrs. Boyce's life was enriched by her involvement in First Baptist Church, especially her work with the Sunday School and Nursery. As a member of the "Greatest Generation," she lived through and survived the Great Depression, two World Wars, watched the landing on the moon, and saw the turn of the new millennium. In turn, she enriched the lives of all those fortunate enough to know her.

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