Eunice Loden Witt, 92, passed away at 6:53 p.m. on Tuesday, June 20, 2017, at the Greenhouses at Methodist Senior Services in Tupelo, Mississippi. She was born in Itawamba County in 1925 and lived most of her life in Itawamba and Lee County, though residing in Houston, Texas for a number of years. She was a member of Bethel Baptist Church, where she accepted Christ and was baptized as a young girl.

Ms. Witt, was a wonderful homemaker, an avid gardener, and voracious reader and listener of audio books, listening to hundreds per year. She was the glue that held her family tight and a constant source of wisdom and guidance. She always provided wise counsel and solid Christian advice for her friends, family and particularly her four grandchildren. She was a shoulder to lean on and a steadfast source of inspiration for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren through all of the successes and challenges of life.

A lifelong student of politics, she was inspired by seeing Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman speak in Tupelo during her younger years. She thoroughly enjoyed political conversations with family and friends, and rarely missed watching or listening to a presidential inauguration, state of the union address, or other major event. She never missed an opportunity to cast her ballot in local, state or federal elections and was able to cast her final ballot on May 2, 2017 for her youngest grandson, Jason.

She believed in daily exercise and even after losing her vision, she regularly participated in 5k and 10k races throughout the region. She consistently won or placed in the top three in her category.

Along with her late husband, Rev. Farris Lee Shackelford and their two daughters, Patsy Carnathan and Judy Woods, she was a charter member of both Carolina M.B. Church in Itawamba County and Bauman Road M.B. Church in Houston, Texas, with her husband serving as founding pastor of both churches.

Ms. Witt worked in public education as a bookkeeper in the offices of the Superintendent of Education in both Lee and Itawamba Counties. As a widow at a young age, she raised her two daughters, Patsy and Judy, alone before marrying Lee County Constable Melvin Witt, who remained by her side until he passed away in 1996.

She was a member of the Itawamba Agricultural High School Class of 1944 and attended Jacksonville Baptist Seminary in Jacksonville, Texas and the Addie McBride Center for the Blind in Jackson, Mississippi.

She is survived by her two daughters Patsy Carnathan (Berny) of Mooreville, Judy Woods (Buck) of Tupelo; her four grandchildren Mitch Harrison (Annette) of Dorsey, Judith Naden (Brad) of Fulton, Jon Shelton of Tupelo, and Jason Shelton of Tupelo; her two great-grandchildren, Keely McMillen (Dalton) of Mooreville and Alex Harrison of Starkville; four siblings, Janet Jones of Houston, Texas, Jettie Norris (David) of Tupelo, Sue Murrell (Ed) of Itawamba County, and Kenneth Loden (Linda) of Tupelo; and her two step-children, Rick Witt of Saltillo and Sandy Witt of Southaven and their families; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins all of whom she dearly cherished.

She was preceded in death by her late husband, Rev. Farris Lee Shackleford, her late husband, Constable Melvin E. Witt; three siblings, Albert Loden, Edward Loden and Douglas Loden, who were all Veterans of World War II; her two step-children Jim Witt and Bob Witt; and her two beloved guide dogs, Curtis and Jenkins, who were devoted companions to her and who allowed her to maintain independence and mobility years after she had lost her sight and after losing Melvin.

Pallbearers will be: Jerry Loden, Barry Loden, Bert Loden, Brad Morris, Joe Gauvin, Brendan Norris, Robbie Shackelford and James Taylor.

Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Friday, June 23, 2017 at the Tupelo Chapel of Holland Funeral Directors with Dr. Kevin Clayton and Rev. Rick Murrell officiating. Burial will be in Lee Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 4 PM-7PM Thursday and from 10 AM-service time on Friday, all at Holland-Tupelo Chapel which is honored to be serving the family. Family and friends may view the service via livestreaming at www.hollandfuneraldirectors.com Condolences may be e mailed at [email protected].

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethel Baptist Church, Garden Ministry, 445 Bethel Church Road, Fulton, MS 38843 in memory of Eunice Witt. Donations may also be made to reduce medical expenses of service animals treated at MSU Veterinary Hospital. Make checks payable to the MSU Foundation (PO Box 6100, Mississippi State, MS 39762) and please write "Eunice Witt Service Animals Fund" in the memo section of the check. Additionally, donations may be made to the Tupelo-Lee County Library (for educational and entertainment materials for the visually impaired) at 219 North Madison Street, Tupelo, MS 38804. Write Eunice Witt in the memo section of the check.