Celeste Rhymes

Mary Celeste Cummins Rhymes, 90, of Hazlehurst, MS, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, surrounded by her daughters and sons-in-law at Pine Crest Guest Home.

Celeste was born on May 28, 1935, in Drew, MS, to Willis Richard "Pete" and Mary Lee Clark Cummins.

She attended Drew High School and Delta State University. At age 20 she moved "down south" to Hazlehurst though she was a Delta girl through and through. She worked for the MS Employment Office. Later she worked for the Copiah County Welfare Office and then Royal Maid Association for the Blind for 25 years.

Celeste met J.C. Rhymes and after one month of dating they were engaged and then married two months later. They were the best of friends and were inseparable until his passing in November of 2015. They were married one week shy of 60 years.

Celeste was involved with DAR, Copiah County Associational Choir, and a dulcimer group. She played the organ at FBC Hazlehurst and piano at Antioch Baptist. Celeste loved a great meal with friends but enjoyed the conversation even more. She loved her friends and family fiercely and always saw her cup as overflowing.

She is preceded in death by her loving husband J.C., her parents W.R. and Mary Lee Cummins, brothers Richard Cummins, Billy Cummins, George "Chuck" Cummins, Bobby Cummins, Gladwin Cummins, Henry Cummins, and sister Lydia Pruitt.

She is survived by brothers Jonathan Cummins (Margaret), Ancle "Ankie" Cummins (Stella), and David Cummins (Dorothy), sisters-in-law Helen Cummins and Becky Cummins, daughters Retha Rhymes Fedele (Jimmy), and Lisa Rhymes Brown (Donnie), grandchildren Courtney Boutwell (Kevin), Drew Smith (Kerri), Cara Smith (Josh), Leighton Brown, and great-grandchildren Kailyn Smith, Randale McGuire, Miles Boutwell, Beau McGuire, Molly Boutwell, Freya Owen, Sophia Smith, and Wesson Smith, and many special nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Friday December 19 at the FBC Hazlehurst Chapel at 10:00 AM followed by her celebration of life at 11:00 AM.

Memorials may be made to FBC Hazlehurst.

We would like to thank all of the precious caregivers from Pine Crest Guest Home, Arden Hospice and Dr. Randy Hankins for their love and unwavering care of our sweet mother.