Ruth Vandevender Haggard

Mrs. Ruth VanDevender Haggard 83, of Preston, MS passed away at her home on Thursday, May 23, 2019. A funeral service is planned for Saturday, May 25, 2019 at 2 p.m. at Vernon Baptist Church near Preston, MS. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be made to Baptist Children's Village, 114 Marketridge Drive, Ridgeland, MS 39157. Cockrell Funeral Home of Macon MS is honored to be entrusted with the service arrangements.

Mrs. Haggard was born on April 10, 1936 to the late Thomas Ralph and Mattie Grace Weaver Weaver VanDevender Higginbotham in Kemper County, MS. and grew up in Noxubee County, where she lived for 26 years. She attended Shuqualak High School. She married Royce Haggard on February 14, 1968 and moved to Kemper County where she made her home for the rest of her life. Mrs. Haggard was a lifetime member of Vernon Baptist Church near Preston. She worked as a child caregiver and had an uncanny love for all children, but especially babies. If there was a baby in the room she wanted to hold it and love on it. She later worked as an inspector for the Macon Pants Factory as well as working as clerk at E.F. Nunn and Company and at Lynville General Store until her retirement. Since her love for children never lessened, over these last years she packed shoe-boxes for children with the Christian children’s mission program Operation Christmas Child. Her proudest moments were spending time with her family and holding her new daughter, son, and all the grand-and great-grandchildren.  Mrs. Haggard loved to travel with her daughter, going to places like the Ark Encounter, the Creation Museum, New Orleans, and also flying to Indianapolis where she rode around the famous racetrack at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. She also enjoyed sewing, quilting, cross-word puzzles and as of late, looking at Facebook. Mrs. Haggard was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and three step-sisters.

Mrs. Haggard is survived by her daughter: Janie R. Gregg of Shuqualak, MS and by her son: Thomas E. Haggard of Preston. She also leaves three grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren as well as two step-sisters: Doris Goodin of Macon and Dean VanDevender of Preston, MS.