Laveda Hooker Sewell

1923 - 2026

Mrs. Sewell was born at home in Thaxton, Mississippi on November 22, 1923. She graduated from Thaxton High School and continued on to receive an associate's degree from Wood Junior College in 1944. Mrs. Sewell married Jackson Lamar Sewell on October 19, 1944, in Thaxton, Mississippi; they were married 37 years. After Lamar's passing, she later married James Leonard Sewell on June 4, 1983. They were married 31 years, until his death in 2014. Laveda worked as the Secretary for the Notion's Department for Hancock Fabrics for 30 years. She was known for her loving spirit, her gracious hospitality, her love of family, and her joyful soul. Her rose gardens were her passion, and she was an active member of Harrisburg Baptist Church of Tupelo, Mississippi for over 70 years. For the last 4 years, Mrs. Sewell had been living in Erwin, TN at Governor's Bend Assisted Living Community near her son, Jack, and his wife, Ellen. A celebration of life will be held at 1 PM on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo with Bro. David Smith officiating. Visitation will be Noon-service time Saturday at the funeral home. A graveside ceremony for the family will follow after the service and lunch at Lee Memorial Park in Verona, MS. For those unable to attend the service, it will be livestreamed at hollandfuneraldirectors.com/livestreaming. Holland Funeral Directors are honored to be serving the friends and family. Laveda is survived by daughter Brenda Sewell Shumpert (Tom), son Jackson Lamar Sewell Jr. (Ellen), grandson John David Shumpert (Breanna), grandson James Jackson Shumpert (Stephanie), great-grandson Caleb Thomas Shumpert (Bekah), great-grandson Charles Oakley Shumpert, and the impending arrival of great-great-grandson Barrett John Shumpert (Caleb and Bekah). She is also survived by her brother, Robert Eugene Hooker and a multitude of extended family. Mrs. Sewell is preceded in death by her husbands - Jackson Lamar Sewell and James Leonard Sewell, her sisters Kara Hooker Hale, Darrah Mae Hooker Morrison, her brothers Gladney Hooker, James Oakley Hooker, Wendell Harvey Hooker and her beloved grandson Christopher Ryan Sewell.