Sara E. Criss

Sara Evans Criss, 88, died Friday, September 11, 2009, at Indywood Glen Personal Care home in Greenwood, MS.
A Greenwood native, she attended Delta State University and began her career serving eight years with the Greenwood Leflore Chamber of Commerce. As a Delta tri-county bureau chief for the Memphis Commercial Appeal and a correspondent for the Jackson Daily News Mrs. Criss was a legend in Mississippi journalism and one of the first women elected to membership in the Society of Professional Journalists. Over thirty years as a writer and photographer, she covered breaking news stories from Civil Rights to tornadoes and is remembered for her beautifully crafted human interest stories and pictures of children. Her work reflected a strong commitment to ethics and integrity in reporting.
Mrs. Criss was a member of the Four Seasons Garden Club and Early Settlers. She and her husband of 47 years, the late William Russell Criss, were among the first members of St. John's United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and Judge Gray Evans of Greenwood; her daughters, Cathy Adams (Tom) of Birmingham, and Dr. Mary Carol Miller (Dr. Jimmy) of Greenwood; grandchildren Jeff Adams (Linsley) of Denver, Jenny Adams of New York, Emily Miller (Philip Graves) of Brandon, Jim Miller (fiancee, Allison Lott) of Oxford; and great granddaughters, Ashlyn and Skylar Adams of Denver.
The family wishes to thank devoted caregivers Vanessa Gray, Bobbie Jasper, Beauty Meek, Mildred Warren, Essie McClung, and Eddie and Hazel Ivory, along with Dr. Kenny Hines and the staff of Indywood Glen Assisted Living.
Visitation Sunday, September 13, 2009, from 3-5 pm at Wilson and Knight Funeral Home, with the service on Monday, September 14, 2009, at 10 am at Wilson and Knight followed by interment in Odd Fellows Cemetery. Memorials to the Leflore County Humane Society, 601 Lone Street, Greenwood, MS 38930, in lieu of flowers.
30, the journalist's sign off to a story well written.