Selby Watkins McRae

Selby Watkins McRae, 81, passed away on Thursday, July 26, 2007, at her home at Green's Crossing Farm near Jackson after a brief illness. A visitation will be held today from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m. at Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church. On Monday, July 30th, visitation will be at Galloway at 1:00 p.m. followed by a memorial service celebrating her life at 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary at Galloway.
Mrs. McRae was born on August 2, 1925, and was a lifelong resident of Jackson. She was the youngest of eight children of Sadie Sale Watkins and Henry Vaughan Watkins. Her mother was active in the cultural life of Jackson and her father, an attorney, was a prominent civic leader of the city for most of the first half of the twentieth century. She inherited the Watkins intellectual spark and was an avid reader who always informed herself on the tide of current events. Mrs. McRae was educated in the public schools of Jackson and attended Mississippi State College for Women (now Mississippi University for Women), The University of Georgia, and graduated magna cum laude in 1945 from Millsaps College. She was a member of Chi Omega.
On June 25, 1946, she married Richard Duncan McRae, who survives her after 61 years of devotion. The McRaes were married at Galloway Memorial Methodist Church, where they are both lifelong members. The Watkins family has long been connected with the history of Galloway. Selby McRae loved her church and its traditions of beautiful music and inspiring preaching. She was active in the Ben Fatheree Sunday School Class and as a Stephen Minister.
Mrs. McRae was active in the cultural and social life of Jackson. Over her lifetime, she held memberships in The Junior League of Jackson, Jackson Symphony League, Pleiades Club, High Noon Club, and Calliope Club. She enjoyed bridge and was a longtime member of three bridge clubs. She was instrumental in support of her husband's work in the development of McRae's Department Stores into one of Mississippi's leading business enterprises. Deeply interested in the improvement of the Jackson community, she served as a Trustee and Vice President of the Selby and Richard McRae Foundation. She was a knowledgeable collector of Early American antiques and loved her summer home in the mountains of North Carolina.
Selby McRae was much beloved by her family to whom she devoted her entire life. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, Richard Duncan McRae, Jr. and his wife, Carolyn, of Jackson; Susan Selby McRae Shanor and her husband, Charles, of Atlanta, Georgia; and Vaughan Watkins McRae and his wife, Nora Frances, of Jackson. She is survived by her beloved grandchildren, Richard Duncan McRae III, and his wife, Adrienne, of Nashville, Tennessee; David McInnis McRae and his wife, Katie, of Jackson; Amanda Ward Shanor, Richard McRae (Rick) Shanor and Leigh Watkins Shanor of Atlanta; Douglas Vaughan McRae, Selby Ruth McRae, Alexander Watkins McRae and Cameron Stone McRae of Jackson. A sister, Amelia Watkins Mockbee of Jackson, also survives her as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She will be remembered fondly by her family and the many friends and acquaintances whose lives she touched as a person of grace, humor and modesty with a love for life.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church, PO Box 1092, Jackson, MS 39215 or the donor's favorite charity.