Meredieth Flurry Gillespie, 82, of Grenada, MS passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 28, 2023, surrounded by family in Grenada, MS. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, at Moore Memorial Methodist Church in Winona, Mississippi. A celebration of life service will be held at Hillhurst United Church (in-person and online) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on Saturday, February 25, 2023.

Meredieth was born on February 25, 1940, in Oxford, MS, to Lester and Lucille Flurry. She graduated from Winona High School in Winona, Mississippi, College for Women and became a registered nurse at Tuero Infirmary Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana.   She married John E. Gillespie, Jr. on February 4, 1989, at Tabernacle United Church in Poquoson, Virginia.

She was an artist at heart and was always creating. She loved to create with a needle and yarn. She created many crocheted blankets, knitted doilies, needlepoint table runners, macrame plant holders, ribboned ornaments, and cross-stitched wall decor. She was passionate about stained glass and created pieces to give as gifts and sell at her church Christmas bazaar.

Meredieth had a love of nature. She loved flowers, trees, butterflies, birds, sunrises, sunsets, and rainbows. She had a passion for fishing and would go out to fish in the pond at her tree farm as often as she could. She did not care if she caught anything; she liked having a fishing pole in her hand, surrounded by the sounds of nature. Meredieth had a very dry sense of humor and was incredibly sarcastic. One of her last jokes was when asked, “How do you feel?” she said, “with my hands.” Meredieth loved being a mother and grandmother mother. She traveled to Canada to be with her daughter and family as often as possible, attending as many of the grandchildren’s activities as possible. She was a tech wizard and would use FaceTime to call her daughter often. She was unapologetic about interrupting business meetings, often saying hello to whoever was in the room. She was loved by many on Facebook, as she signed “Love Mom” after most comments. Meredieth was a horrible cook and said microwaves were created for a reason. She was passionate about travelling, once driving solo from Mississippi to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She happily stopped at every tourist spot along the way.

Meredieth lived a life of service. As a nurse, she served her patients with care and concern. Often an officer of any club she belonged to, she was active in the Daughters of Amerian Revolution and United Methodist Women’s Circle. She was proud to be elected as the resident council president at Providence Assisted Living in Grenada. Meredieth's last act of service was donating her body to science. She was passionate about helping scientists who research Parkinson's Disease.

Meredieth was a devout humble Christian who believed everyone should be unconditionally loved. She looked for the good in everyone and often recited bible passages when supporting friends and family. She attended First United Methodist Church in Grenada, MS, and when she developed mobility issues, she became an active online congregant at Hillhurst United Church in Calgary.

Meredieth is survived by a daughter, Florence Anne Yates-Laberge (Claire Yates-Laberge); grandsons, Andrew Yates-Laberge and Adam Yates-Laberge; sister, Katharine Pratt; nieces, Laura Pentecost (Mark Mays), Mary Newton (Dave Newton), Susan Brewer (Matt Brewer), Carolyn Denney (Ryan Denney), Maggie Pentecost Gilbert (Lance Gilbert); Nephew, Phillip Pratt.

She is preceded by parents, Lester and Lucille Flurry;  husbands, John E.Gillespie, Jr. and Paul Edward “Judge” Yates; son, Edward Lester Yates; sisters, Frances Lucille Pentecost and Lester Flurry Frerichs; Nephew, Allen Pentecost.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made online to the American Parkinson Disease Association