Mrs. Nellie Grace Morgan's Obituary
On September 3, 1928, in Clark County, MS, the late Reverend Richard and Nellie Mae (Jordan) Pruitt welcomed their. sixth child and first-born daughter, Nellie Grace Pruitt. God called Nellie Grace to eternal rest on Thursday morning,February 8, 2024.
Academia
Nellie received her primary education through the Mount Jordan Methodist School in Clark County. She received her high school diploma and an associate degree from T.J. Harris High School and Junior College, respectively, in 1948, and a Bachelor of Religious Education degree from the Mississippi Baptist Seminary. In addition to her formal education, she completed the Certificate of Progress Program (COPP) through the Sunday School Publishing Board of the National Baptist Convention, USA Inc. (NBCUSA) and received her deanship certificate.
Professional and Business
Nellie pioneered early childhood education in Meridian having become one of the first teachers for Mississippi Action for Progress (MAP)'s HeadStart program. She would have nearly thirty-four years as a pre-kindergarten teacher through Mount Olive Kindergarten, Meridian HeadStart Center, and East End HeadStart. For nearly fifty years, she served as church musician for countless churches, namely: Ebenezer- Meridian (forty-seven years), Jerusalem- Dekalb (thirty-six years), Union Kemper Springs, Unity Springs- Dekalb, Mt. Calvary-Meridian, and Mount Olive -Meridian. Nellie was known for her grace and beauty, and she empowered countless customers as a Cosmetic consultant with Avon (twenty-three years) and MaryKay (over twenty-five years). She earned national recognition for her sales volume.
Christian Stewardship
Nellie was christened at infancy at the Mount Jordan United Methodist Church. After moving to Meridian and meeting her first husband Wade, she united with the Mount Olive Baptist Church of Meridian in the late 1940s under the late Rev. E. L. Thames. Once remarried to Henry James, she joined Sunlight Baptist Church of Meridian during her husband's pastorate and remained a member until reuniting with Mount Olive in 2002 under the pastorate of Bishop Zachary Operton. Nellie dedicated more than half of her life to mission, education, and evangelism. Her commitment to her faith includes the following: Pianist for Second New Hope District Association, Congress, and Women's Convention; and East Mississippi Baptist State Convention (EMBSC), Woman's Auxiliary, and Congress. Chair of Ministers' Wives and Widows for Second New Hope District, EMBSC, and NBCUSA Inc. In 1971, she was crowned National Queen of Ministers' Wives in Cleveland, Ohio, and she helped crown countless other women from the local area. Her work with the ministers' wives across the country helped build hospitals in Malawi, fund scholarships at the American Baptist College, and eliminate the mortgage for the Baptist World Center in Nashville, TN. She was also Dean of Christian Education for Sunlight Baptist Church.
Family Life
In the late 40s, Nellie met and married the late Wade Haralson of Meridian, MS. Unfortunately, Wade succumbed to
• a fatal car accident leaving Nellie a widow at age twenty-one. God ordained that a year following Wade's untimely death Nellie would meet her lifelong partner and husband Henry James, and they shared married life for nearly forty-two years until Henry's death in 1993. During her lifetime, Nellie shared her maternal love with the late Beverly Pruitt Bumpers and Beverly's children: Tammie Pruitt Jennings (Alvin), William Bumpers II (Eva), and Shari Bumpers. She also leaves memories with those who affectionately call her "Gran Gran": Morgan Jennings, DeVon Pruitt, Jailen Bumpers, Brittany Johnson, Leighyanna Johnson, William Bumpers III, Sonyanika McWilliams, and Alvin McWilliams; surviving brother and sister in-loves George Pierce II and Naomi Pruitt, respectively; and a host of nieces and cousins in the Jordan, Pruitt, Robinson, and Morgan families. Those who remember her closely will recall memories of Nellie fishing, taking trips to New Orleans, cracking jokes, playing bingo, socializing with friends at senior socials, and fundraising for her church and favorite charities.
What’s your fondest memory of Nellie?
What’s a lesson you learned from Nellie?
Share a story where Nellie's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Nellie you’ll never forget.
How did Nellie make you smile?
