Jonnie Jo McMurphy

Jonnie Jo Upton McMurphy, 97, of Forest, MS passed away on October 11, 2025, in Olive Branch, MS.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30pm , Saturday, October 18, 2025, at Ott & Lee Funeral Home, with Visitation from 1pm till the service time. No graveside services will be held, the family will remain to visit with friends. She will be laid to rest in the Eastern Cemetery, Forest, MS.

Jonnie was born in Sebastopol, MS to Joseph and Beatrice Upton on June 9,1928. They soon moved to Bay Springs, MS where she grew up and graduated from Bay Springs High School. After attending East Central Junior College, Jonnie graduated from Fondren Sisters Beauty School and moved to Forest. Here she pursued a career as a hair stylist. During this time she met and married James Hugh McMurphy in 1951.

Over the years, Jonnie was the owner of Jonnie’s Fabric Shop. Later she served as a librarian at the Forest Public Library and drove the bookmobile throughout rural Scott County. Jonnie also spent several years as a salesperson at two dress shops, Milady’s and Tadlock’s.

Jonnie was a member of Forest Baptist Church since 1951 where she served in the nursery for ten years, was active in the Lois Henderson Circle, Joymakers Sunday School class and Good News Singers. In the community, she was a member of the Fortnightly Ladies Club and was one of the first women to serve as a jurist in a Grand Jury in Scott County.

Jonnie Jo is preceded in death by her husband James Hugh McMurphy, her parents Joseph and Beatrice Upton, and her brother Jackie Mitchell Upton.

She is survived by her brother Howard Earl Upton(Shelley)of Gulfport, MS, daughter Lea Ann Burns(Robert) of Houston, TX and son Patrick Hugh McMurphy(Jan) of Olive Branch, MS; five grandchildren, Justin Coley McMurphy of Olive Branch, MS, Anna Lora Whitley(Matt) of Franklin, TN, Allen McMurphy Burns of Forest, MS, Jenna Lynn Swartout(Joe) of New Orleans, LA, Graham Bucklin Burns of Houston, TX; five great-grandchildren, Jordan Coley McMurphy of Olive Branch, MS, Gage William McMurphy of Olive Branch, MS, Mae Elizabeth Whitley of Franklin, TN, Kaylynn Claire McMurphy of Olive Branch, MS and Lillie Upton Whitley of Franklin, TN.