Lura McKnight Greer

Published 10:38 am Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Funeral services for Lura McKnight Greer of Wesson were 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 18 at Decell Memorial Methodist Church in Wesson with burial in the Wesson Cemetery. Brookhaven Funeral Home, 894 Natchez Drive, was in charge of arrangements.

Visitation was held on Sunday, Nov.17, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mrs. Greer, 86, passed away at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland Nov.16, 2013.

Mrs. Greer was born Sept. 17, 1927, in Wesson to the late James E. and Bennie Butler McKnight. She graduated from Co-Lin High School and attended Copiah-Lincoln Community College. During her freshman year at Co-Lin, Lura was selected as one of only two majorettes, known at Co-Lin as “Colettes,” who performed with the renowned Co-Lin Marching Band.

While attending college, she met and later married Robert Larry Greer of McComb. She and Robert were the loving parents of two sons, James Larry Greer (Carolyn) of Ridgeland and Robert Dale Greer (Jane) of Leland, N.C.

Mrs. Greer worked in the payroll office for 17 years at Stahl-Urban Co. in Brookhaven before devoting herself to Wesson’s diverse civic, cultural, charitable and governmental activities. She served 16 years representing Ward 3 on the Wesson Board of Aldermen. Coincident with this responsibility, she functioned 12 years as Wesson’s mayor pro-tempore. She was also tapped to serve 14 years as a trustee and advisory board member of the Copiah County Economic Development Board.

Additionally, she held membership in the Wesson Chamber of Commerce. Her six years service on the board included an unprecedented three consecutive terms as president. In 1999, she was selected Wesson’s Outstanding Citizen by fellow chamber members.

Her other acts of recognition included being chosen Co-Lin Community College’s Alumna of the Year in 2006. A year later, in 2007, she was elected to the Co-Lin Community College Foundation Hall of Fame. The city of Wesson rewarded her numerous civic accomplishments by naming her Grand Marshal of the Wesson Founder’s Day Parade in April 2010.

Despite these pursuits, she graciously and lovingly committed her energy to Decell Memorial Methodist Church through her active membership and by serving in a trustee role.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Robert, who died in 1999. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Melvin McKnight, and a sister, Bennie Alma Blair.

She is survived by her two sons and a brother, James Butler McKnight of Louisville, Ga.; four grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Her personal and professional commitments to Wesson prompted her being dubbed, “Miss Wesson” by many of the townspeople in the early 2000’s. In truth, she leaves a legacy of honesty, transparency and civility to those who succeed her in leadership responsibilities.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials may either be made to Decell Memorial Methodist Church, Wesson, or The Lura M., Larry and Dale Greer Scholarship administered by the Copiah-Lincoln Community College Foundation in Wesson. Her respect and admiration for Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s scholastic programs served as the impetus for her sponsorship of a Major Donor Endowed Scholarship in 2007. One of the highlights for her annually was to meet the Co-Lin student chosen as the recipient of this scholarship.