Bobbye Beth McGaughy Nunnally

"Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." Proverbs 31:31 Bobbye Beth McGaughy Nunnally, 82, died Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the Tippah County Hospital in Ripley, Mississippi after a brief illness. Funeral Services honoring the well lived life of Mrs. Bobbye will be at 11 AM Thursday April 10, 2025, in the Heritage Chapel of the Ripley Funeral Home with Bro. Winston Smith sharing personal reflections, and Bro. King McCarver bringing the message. Visitation will be Wednesday evening April 9, 2025, at the Ripley Funeral Home from 5 PM until 9 PM, and will continue from 9 AM until service time on Thursday. Graveside service will be held in the Liberty Cemetery in Benton County. For those unable to attend services of Mrs. Bobbye, a link is provided below to watch via livestream. She was born on November 24, 1942, to the late Ira Clovis McGaughy and Mary Earlene Cox McGaughy and was raised in the Abel's Store community in Benton County. Bobbye graduated from Ashland High School and attended Memphis State University, Oklahoma University, the University of Southern Mississippi, and graduated as a registered nurse from the Baptist Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. Bobbye's nursing career included Tennessee Psychiatric Hospital and Institute, Tippah County Hospital, Benton County Schools, and Briarcrest Extended Care Facility. Bobbye was one of the first three school nurses in Mississippi and also a member of the first group of school finance employees to become certified as school business officers. She was an American Red Cross nurse and helped open the inpatient facility for alcoholics at Tennessee Psychiatric Hospital. Bobbye authored the first nursing procedural manual for Tippah County Hospital and served on the committee to author the first Health Curriculum Guide for Mississippi public schools. Bobbye married Francis Guyton Nunnally on September 8, 1963, and they, ultimately, made their home in the Gravestown community where she was a member of the Beech Hill Church of Christ. Bobbye spent much of her time researching, documenting, and preserving family history. She was a longtime member of the Benton County Historical Society and worked, for many years, in the Courthouse Museum. Those left to cherish her memory include three daughters, Robin Chapman (Terry) of Ripley, Holly Madugula of Arlington, TX, and Marnie Stevens (Brad) of Collierville, TN; one sister, Mary McGaughy Howell of Columbus, GA; nine grandchildren, Molly Maribeth Chapman Moore (Chris), Charles Guyton (Chase) Chapman (Olivia), Mallory Rue-Anne Chapman Smith (Winston), Michael Anderson Kubenthiran, Abby-Grace Francis Brotherton, Tyler Walker Stevens, Carli Grace Stevens, Maggie Shreya Madugula, and Annie Georgia Madugula; eight great-grandchildren, Chapman David (Chap) Moore, Penelope Liv Chapman, Lottie Rue-Rosalie Moore, Genevieve Claire Chapman, Lorelei Chase Chapman, Mary Eloise Moore, Graham Guyton Smith, Heidi Charles Chapman, and a host of dear cousins and special friends. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 44 years, her parents, and one great grandson, Theo Starrett Smith. Pallbearers are Bruce Alt, Michael Farese, Tony Farese, Mike Graves, Scott Graves, Mike Hurst, Eddie Joe McMillin, Billy Powers, and Greg Ward. Our deepest gratitude to Dr. Kurt Tauer and Mrs. Cindy Inman at West Clinic for their heartfelt love, care, and compassion. A special thanks to Gentiva Hospice for their attentive care. Finally, words could never express our genuine love and appreciation for the faculty/staff of the Tippah County Hospital. Their love and care for mother knew no bounds. The Ripley Funeral Home invites you to share memories with Mrs. Bobbye's family. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bobbye Beth McGaughy Nunnally, please visit our floral store.