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Mrs. Jimmie Lee (Johnson) Duckworth entered the gates of heaven on March 3, 2021. She was born September 12, 1928 to Frank and Margaret (Banks) Johnson in the Scott County community. She graduated as Salutatorian at Good Hope High School and later attended Clarke College and the University of Southern Mississippi. In her 20s, she contracted tuberculosis and was sent to the Mississippi State Sanatorium to be treated and to recuperate. After her healing, she was employed at the Sanatorium. It was there she met and married Billie W. Duckworth. To this union, four children were born. They worked and reared their children at the Sanatorium hospital grounds. These days were fondly remembered by her family as the ‘Mayberry of the 60s and early 70s’, until it later became Boswell Regional Center. Mr. and Mrs. Duckworth retired from Boswell together after 30+ years of service.
Mrs. Duckworth was known in her community as a wonderful Christian lady who loved the Lord with all of her heart. She instilled these Christian values in her children and grandchildren. She always taught them to love the Lord, to serve others and to serve the Church. A member of Weathersby Baptist Church, she raised her children at Goodwater Baptist Church.
After losing most of her eyesight later in life, she was often found reading her aged, weathered Bible with her magnifying glass in hand. It was the most important part of her day.
Mrs. Duckworth was preceded in death by her husband, Billie W. Duckworth, her parents, Frank and Margaret Banks Johnson, and her siblings Frankie Johnson, Ollie Wayne Johnson, Herbie Johnson, Mattie Sue Stamps and Bonnie Smith.
She is survived by her four children who will miss her deeply, Billy M. Duckworth (Betsye) of Hattiesburg, MS, Margaret D. Graham (Johnny) of Magee, MS, Susan D. Warren (Joe) of Mt. Olive, MS and Linda D. Berry (Jeff) of Magee, MS. She was the most wonderful Nannie to her eight grandchildren, Matt Duckworth (Suzanne) , Jon Graham (Kristy), Joni Wilson (James), Jude Graham (Bridget), Ashlee Robinson (Matt), Lott Warren (Lora), Jill Comfort (Casey) , and Anna Rhett (Johnson). She was the great grandmother to 14 precious children and leaves behind a host of nieces and nephews who loved their Aunt Jimmie.
The Duckworth family wishes to thank Faith Kennedy and her wonderful staff at the Strong River Villa for caring for and loving their Mother for the past five years of her life. They gave her extra special care during the past year and the family expresses much thankfulness and love to each caregiver.
Services for Mrs. Duckworth will be held at the Chapel of Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Magee, MS on Saturday, March 6, 2021 at 11 am with visitation from 10 am until 11 am. She will be laid to rest at Goodwater Baptist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Matt Duckworth, Jon Graham, Jude Graham, Lott Warren, James Wilson, Matt Robinson, Casey Comfort, and Johnson Rhett.
