Extracted from The Madison County Journal (Ridgeland, MS)
Marsha McCarty Wells
RIDGELAND -- Marsha McCarty Wells, 50, died Friday, April 22, 2005, in St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital. Visitation was 5 to 7 p.m. Monday and 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson.
Services followed the visitation Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the church with burial in the Wright & Ferguson Cemetery on Highland Colony Parkway.
Mrs. Wells was born on Nov. 20, 1954 in Magee. She was the daughter of Mary Ann McCarty and the late Hyman F. "Mac" McCarty, Jr. She was the youngest of four siblings, a wonderful wife and a loving mother of two daughters.
Mrs. Wells graduated from Magee High School in 1972. In 1976 she received her bachelor of arts degree from Millsaps College in Jackson as a summa cum laude graduate. She then furthered her education at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. where she received her master's of business administration in 1978. Following her extensive educational achievements, to her father's delight she returned to Jackson to assume various duties as division comptroller, treasury services manager and treasurer of the family owned business, McCarty Farms, prior to the company's sale in 1995.
Mrs. Wells' life was truly one of constant honor, integrity and unwavering service to God, family, friends and her community. As an active member and supporter of Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson she served on the finance committee of the administrative board and as a first grade Sunday school teacher for a number of years.
Mrs. Wells touched the hearts of numerous people and made a significant impact on many different segments of various communities during her lifetime. With her philanthropy, caring and dedication of time, she continued the legacy established and taught to her by her mother and late father.
At the time of her death, Mrs. Wells was treasurer of McCarty Enterprises, LLC and vice president of the H.F. McCarty, Jr. Family Foundation. As a dedicated alumnus of Millsaps College, Mrs. Wells served as a member of the board of directors, the Presidential Search Committee, the Investment Oversight Committee, vice chairman of the advisory committee to the School of Management, the Alumni Council Executive Committee and as the treasurer of the House Corporation Board of Directors of the Kappa Delta Sorority. Mrs. Wells was an avid and dedicated follower of girls varsity sports at St. Andrews Episcopal School where her daughters participated in track, cross-country, soccer and basketball.
Mrs. Wells further evidenced her continued dedication to other aspects of education by her involvement at St. Andrews where she served on the finance committee of the Board of Trustees, the chairman of the Design and Construction Committee, Capital Campaign Steering Committee and as the Designer Showcase Corporate Sponsor Co-Chairman.
Mrs. Wells' overwhelming love for the arts was exemplified through her active membership on the Board of Governors of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra Association where she served as treasurer, member of the Conductor Search Committee and as the chairman of the Instrument Loan Fund of the Jackson Symphony League Board. She was an active member of the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Museum of Art Foundation. In addition, she served on the Community Advisory Council and Capital Campaign Steering Committee for the Jackson Zoological Park.
Mrs. Wells had recently been appointed chairman of the Wilson Research Foundation Board of Governors where she had previously served as vice chairman. She also served on the Board of Trustees for the Mississippi Methodist Rehabilitation Center and Board of Directors of Willowood Developmental Center.
She was involved in the Jackson Chamber of Commerce where she served on the Board of Directors, Committee on Education, Chairman of the Central Mississippi Agribusiness Council, chairman of the Manufacturers and vice president of public affairs of the Executive Committee. Other positions and lifetime accomplishments include the Board of Trustees of Leadership Jackson, Board of Governors of Youth Leadership Jackson, chairman of the Committee on Education of the Mississippi Economic Council, Committee on Legislation of the Mississippi Economic Council, Board of Directors of Momentum Mississippi, Board of Directors of the Jackson Metropolitan YMCA, steering committee of Jackson 2000, Community Advisory Board of the Junior League of Jackson, Board of Directors of Junior Achievement, Alumnae Advisory Board and House Corporation chairman of Mu Chapter of Kappa Delta Sorority, Board of Directors of the Mississippi Poultry Association, director of the Credit Management Association of Delaware Valley Processor Group, recipient of the 2000 Athena Community Service Award from the Jackson Area Alumnae Panhellenic Association, Top 40 Under 40 Award from the Mississippi Business Journal and the 2001 Goodwill Volunteer Salute Honoree from the Goodwill Industries.
Mrs. Wells is survived by her two loving daughters, Ashley Lauren Wells and Leslie Victoria Wells and her dedicated and loving husband Terry B. Wells all of Ridgeland; her mother, Mary Ann McCarty of Magee; brother John R. McCarty and his wife Linda S. McCarty of Terry; two sisters, Patti McCarty Sullivan and her husband Jerry M. Sullivan, Jr. of Ridgeland and Kathy McCarty Flynt and her husband Donald H. Flynt of Flowood; sister-in-law Shellye S. McCarty of Magee; mother-in-law Margarette M. Wells of Jackson; brother-in-law Larry Wells of Jackson; two sister-in-laws Cheri Heflin and her husband Mike Heflin of Gulfport and Cassi Grier and her husband Jim Grier of Spartanburg, S.C.; nieces Mary Helen McCarty Griffis and her husband Judge T. Kenneth Griffis of Ridgeland, Elizabeth Ann Stevens of Tallahassee, Fla., Angela Little and her husband Scott Little, Kelly S. Hirn and her husband Chad Hirn of Ridgeland; nephews Michael McCarty of Jackson, Alex Stevens of Nashville, Tenn., Allen Flynt of Flowood, Mack Sullivan and his wife Candice Sullivan of Jackson, Ryan Sullivan of Charleston, S.C., Jason Brombach of Terry, John Heflin of Gulfport and Mathew and Harper Grier of Spartanburg, S.C. along with numerous cousins, other extended family members, long-time assistant Brenda Dearman and a host of friends.
Memorials may be made to the Wilson Research Foundation, St. Andrews Episcopal School, Millsaps College, Willowood Developmental Center, Jackson Symphony League (Instrument Loan Fund) or the H.F. McCarty, Jr. Family Foundation. Wells
April 2005