Mary O’dell Creekmore Stiles Baggett of Sturgis died Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at Grenada Living Center. The last surviving offspring of Thomas B. Coleman and Magarie Watkins Creekmore, Mary was born October 30, 1916, in Drew, Mississippi, where she grew up. A graduate of Greenwood High School,Mary received a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics from Mississippi State College for Women in 1939. She married Raymond F, Siles in 1943 and the young couple made their home in Sturgis where Mary taught history and home economics and assisted her husband in their cattle and dairy business. After Raymond’s death in 1969 Mary married the late Roy Baggett. She and Roy were active in the Sturgis community. After Roy’s death Mary continued to be an outstanding volunteer in the community. As a member of the Sturgis Methodist Church, she served on many committees including the board of trustees and the church and parsonage committees. Mary was closely involved in the building of the Sturgis Methodist Church and the Church parsonage and her home economics education and business expertise were greatly utilized in the planning and construction of these buildings. Mary possessed a strong sense of community and was a guiding light in the Sturgis Federated Women’s Club and held all offices in the local organization, was awarded President of the Year in 1948 and served e as Second District President of the Federated Women’s Club from 1948-1950. She was also active in Sturgis Chapter of the Eastern Star until it disbanded. Mary was recognized as one of McRae’s “beautiful activist women” for her volunteer contributions to the town of Sturgis and the State of Mississippi. On the occasion of her 100th birthday in October of 2016, Mary received resolutions from the State of Mississippi, the Congressional House of Representatives, the Oktibbeha Board of Supervisors and the Town of Sturgis.
As an avid reader and accomplished needlework artist, Mary will be remembered for her love of books and for teaching family members and friends the art of knitting, crochet, crewel, cross stitch and needlepoint. She enjoyed gifting friends and relatives with her artistic needle masterpieces which will be treasured for years to come.
She is survived by Melanie Gousset of Grenada and Ephraim Smith of Yazoo City, her loving niece and nephew who were also her caregivers. In addition she is survived by niece Mrs. O. W Miller of Cleveland and nephews, Marion Creekmore of Atlanta, Georgia; Larry Creekmore of Miramar Beach, Florida; Waldo Creekmore of Ft, Walton Beach, Florida; and Bobby Riebeling of Columbia, Illinois, and her step-son Roy Baggett Jr., step-daughter Beth Baggett, and grandson Jonthan Baggett.
Visitation is scheduled for Saturday, April 15, 2017 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. at Sturgis Methodist Church, with the service immediately following. Rev. Zack Cox & Dr. Prentiss Gordon will conduct the service. Burial will be in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Bradley.