Source: http://www.robertbarhamffh.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=1189023&fh_id=11885

ETHEL SMITH CHESTER GWALTNEY

Retired Optical Shop Owner

Services for Ethel Smith Gwaltney will be held Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home Chapel, with Dr. Raymon Leake officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery with Robert Barham Family Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.

Mrs. Gwaltney, 93, of Meridian passed away on June 18, 2011 at Poplar Springs Nursing Center

Ethel was born on February 4, 1918 to Robert and Alice McCarty Smith in the Smithtown Community of Jasper County MS. She graduated from Penantly High School then attended Jones Junior College in Ellisville, Mississippi on a basketball scholarship. She graduated from Jackson Commercial College in Jackson, MS in 1937.

Ethel owned and operated Chester's Meridian Optical in Meridian for many years. She was an active member of First Baptist Church for fifty three years, she always loved her church and the people in it. She was a member of the Lambda Literary Club, enjoyed playing bridge, and was an avid golfer for twenty-five years. She loved music and playing the piano.

Ethel's main joy in her life was her family. She always enjoyed cooking and entertaining her children and her grandchildren.

She is survived by two daughters, Lynda Anders and husband Wayne of Meridian and Donna Puckett of Krum, Texas. Stepchildren, Robert Gwaltney and wife Linda of Peachtree City, GA, Gene Gwaltney and wife Judy of Opelika AL, Tommy Gwaltney and wife Marty of St Petersburg, FL, Marilyn Gwaltney of Amhurst, NY, and Joyce Sharb of Lake George, CO. She also leaves numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren who loved their ``Nana''.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Fred Gwaltney and Charles Chester, her son Andy Chester, her stepdaughter Elizabeth Berry, and her son-in-law Tom Sharb, her parents Robert and Alice Smith, her twin brother Clyde Earl Smith, her seven sisters and two brothers, many nieces and nephews and many much loved friends.

The family would like to thank the staff of Poplar Nursing Center for their loving help and support. Memorials in Ethel's memory may be made to First Baptist Church, 701 26th Avenue, Meridian, MS 39305 or Aldersgate Personal Care, 6600 Poplar Springs Drive, Meridian, MS 39305.

Pallbearers will be Kevin Anders, Justin Anders, Tim Puckett, Daniel Gwaltney and Blake Gwaltney.

Visitation will be Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home.

Family and friends may sign online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.