Lerah Ponder Busby of Mendenhall, Mississippi

Lerah Ponder Busby of Mendenhall, MS, passed away at Strong River Villa Assisted Living on December 12, 2025. As she gently took the Lord’s hand, she was surrounded by the love of her two daughters. Lerah was born to William Henry Ponder and Phoebe Bishop Ponder on January 13, 1933, in Martinville, Mississippi.

At a young tender age, she met a young man, John Busby, who would become her forever love, soulmate, and best friend. They married on June 17, 1950, and began a lifetime together of love, family, and memory-making. They lived in Nevada and Louisiana before moving back to Jackson, MS, in 1958. That same year, they experienced their greatest blessing with the birth of their first daughter, Phyllis Busby Sills. Their second blessing followed three years later with the birth of their daughter, Lisa Busby Wester. In 1967, the Busby family moved to Mendenhall, MS, where they made their home. Lerah became an active member of the First Baptist Church, Mendenhall, MS, where she sang in the choir and served on various committees. She was a lifetime member of the Order of the Eastern Star, which helped her extend the virtues of loyalty, faith, and obedience to others. Lerah was the ultimate “domestic engineer, as she was a very devoted wife and mother focusing on the family, especially “their girls.” Many of her talents were self-taught as she harmoniously played the piano by ear for pleasure and at the request of many others. She was a talented seamstress, able to assemble an outfit in a day. Lerah was known for her talents in the kitchen as she perfected her peanut brittle, chicken and dumplings, and coconut pound cakes. Her beautiful music filled the ears of many, and her tasty delights were enjoyed by many. She was a very special and deeply loved “Nana” to her five grand blessings. After sixty-six years of wedded bliss, she had to bid a farewell, for now, to her husband John, who had remained a forever love, soulmate, and best friend. In 2021, Lerah moved to her next home, Strong River Villa Assisted Living, where she enjoyed many friends, bingo, and staying abreast of all things.

In addition to her husband, she was also preceded in death by her parents, four sisters (Caroline, Catherine, Bobby, and Mae), and a brother (Ray Ponder).

Those left to cherish Lerah’s sweet loving soul forever are her daughter Phyllis Busby Sills (James), New Hebron, MS, grandson Lane Fitzgerald (Toni), Olive Branch, MS and daughter Lisa Busby Wester (Ken), grandsons Jonathan Wester, Bloomington, IL and Reeves Wester (Alyssa Laird), Fort Collins, CO, granddaughters Neely Wester, New Orleans, LA, and Peyton Wester, Bloomington, Il. She is also survived by her brothers, Paul Ponder (Martha), Madison, MS, and Bill Ponder (Glenda), her very special sister-in-law, Kathleen Busby Grubbs, Brandon, MS, who was a “sister-in-love”, a precious, longtime dear friend, Elizabeth Dallas, Madison, MS, with whom every moment shared was a memory made. A host of nieces and nephews also survive her.

Lerah’s daughters would like to give a very special thank you to Faith Kennedy and the Strong River Villa Assisted Living staff for providing outstanding care and love in her “home away from home.” In addition, a special thank you to her hospice nurse, Christina Russell, with Gentiva Hospice, who provided such gentle, loving care during the most critical of moments.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the LULU (Loving Uplifting Loyalty Understanding) activities fund at Strong River Villa, 2994 Simpson Hwy 13, Mendenhall, MS 39114.

The family will receive friends on Friday, December 19, 2025, at First Baptist Church of Mendenhall, MS, from 10:30 AM until 11:30 AM. Funeral services will begin at 11:30 AM at the church, with Dr. Keith Grubbs officiating. Interment will follow in Magee City Cemetery.

Arrangements are entrusted to Tutor Funeral Home of Mendenhall.