MYRTIS CLEMENTINE MAYBERRY 1918-2014 Graveside service for Miss Myrtis Clementine Mayberry, 96, of Valley, will be Monday, April 21, 2014 at 2:00 pm at the New Harmony Cemetery. Rev. David Bradshaw will officiate. Family and friends will gather at Aunt Myrtis' residence in Waverly at 1:00 pm to accompany her to the cemetery. Miss Mayberry passed away on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 at Lanier Nursing Home. She was born on February 24, 1918 in Waverly, Chambers County, Alabama to the late John Millard Mayberry and Mary McDonald Mayberry. She was only nine months old when her mother and maternal grandmother died on the same day in the influenza pandemic of 1918. She was raised by her father and maternal grand- father, Alex McDonald. The Mayberrys had come to Waverly from Birmingham, England in 1805 when James Washington "Maybery", born in 1790, arrived with his two brothers to seek life in a new country. Myrtis was predeceased by three brothers, Arthur "Pap" Mayberry, Maxie Mayberry, and Walt Mayberry; and three sisters, The Mayberry Girls, Sally Lou Minter, Annie Mae Popwell, and Blanch Calhoun. She was the oldest member of Waverly Baptist Church and long time Sunday School Teacher in the infants and toddlers group. She graduated from Waverly High School in 1936. Myrtis took care of her father when the other siblings were living nearby and enjoyed hooking rugs. She was always terrified of lightning and thunder, hurrying all of her nieces and nephews to the center hall to sit in a corner and play games until the storm had passed. She said this was for their safety but they knew that Aunt Myrtis was the one who jumped every time a clap of thunder sounded. Three nephews survive her; Charles Calhoun of Auburn, John Mayberry of San Francisco, CA, and John Minter (Martha) of Lanett; her niece, Jean Sprague of Thomasville, GA.; Great nephews, Jonathon Minter, Dr. Alex Minter (Jennifer), Luke Sprague, Tony Calhoun (Virginia), and Rev. James Walter Calhoun(Caroline); Great nieces, Betty Robertson(Joe), Amanda Deane(Ken), Dr. Mary Emily Sheffield (Doug), Pat Reed (Richard), and Carol Sprague; numerous other great nephews, great nieces, great -great nieces and nephews.
OA NEWS 4/19/14