Ella Worrell, a long-time resident of Durant, MS, died Sunday evening, February 24, 2008, at her daughter's home in Starkville after a lengthy illness. Mrs. Worrell was born on August 5, 1918, to Luella Monk Koonce and Michael David Koonce of McCool, MS where she grew up and attended school. She and her husband raised their family in Durant, Mississippi, where together they owned and operated a building supply business. Mrs. Worrell was a faithful member of First Baptist Church, Durant, and was involved in many community organizations. One of her favorite hobbies was working in her beauitful flower gardens.

Mrs. Worrell was preceded in death by her husband, Leon Worrell, and daughter, Sara Worrell Smith. She is also preceded in death by her brother, John Robert Koonce, and her sisters, Velma Koonce Worrell, and Elizabeth Koonce Eakin.

Mrs. Worrell will be greatly missed by her family. She is survived by daughters, Nancy Worrell Fulce (Mancel) of Ackerman, Bettye Sue Worrell Sills (Barry) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Judy Worrell Truitt (Hayes) of Starkville, and son, Jimmy Leon Worrell (Barbara Jones) of Kosciusko.

She was blessed with eleven grandchildren: Lynn Fulce Scribner of Ackerman; Gayle Fulce Hart of Canton; Ginger Fulce Brown of Ackerman; Mike Truitt of Round Rock, Texas; Suzy Truitt Houston of Starkville; Lori Sills Biscaglia of Atlanta, Georgia; Lesli Sills Bolner of Hammond, Louisiana, Jeff Sills of Prairieville, Louisiana; Karen Worrell Burrell of Zachary, Louisiana; Jennifer Smith Pace of Bentonia; and Sam Smith of Jackson. Mrs. Worrell had fourteen great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Other survivors are: son-in-law, I.V. Smith of Jackson; sister-in-law, Lurlene Rainey Koonce of Jena, LA, and Melba Worrell White of Hazlehurst, MS; brother-in-law, Phillip Worrell of Inverness, FL; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Worrell's family extends their appreciation to the staff of the Heart-to-Heart Hospice, especially Nurse Monica Houston, Dr. Everett McKibben of Starkville, and Dr. Fletcher Shrock and his staff of Durant for their conscientious and attentive care. Special thanks are given also to caregivers Faye Robinson, Becky Hill, and Lillian Hodnett.

Visitation was at Southern Funeral Home in Durant on Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The funeral service was held on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Durant. Interment followed at Old Lebanon Presbyterian Church cemetery near Ackerman. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 132 W. Mulberry St., Durant, MS 39063 or to Old Lebanon Cemetery Fund, c/o Peggy Oswalt, P.O. Box 634, Ackerman, MS 39735.