Funeral services for Maxine Criscoe Ryals, of Brookhaven, are10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 27, at Brookhaven Funeral Home Chapel onNorth Jackson Street. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. onThursday at Lakewood Memorial Park Cemetery at 6000 ClintonBoulevard in Jackson.

Visitation will be held on Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until the timeof the services at the funeral home.

Mrs. Ryals, 93, died May 23, 2010, at Brook Manor Nursing Center inBrookhaven. She was born in Sontag on March 11, 1917, to JoeHerrington and Laura White Herrington.

She was the youngest daughter of 11 children. She was an activemember at the First United Methodist Church until her healthfailed. She and her husband, Elton Ryals, were honored by thechurch for their outstanding years of service in 2006 as Seniors ofthe Year.

She always incorporated serving others into her active life. One ofthe highlights of each week was attending the Friday PrayerLuncheons at the church. She entertained at nursing homes with theSociability Singers. Other activities in and around the communityincluded the L.L.L. Baptist senior group, and the Area 50+ Club,which meets at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. A particularfavorite activity was helping with the Meals on Wheels program. Shetruly embodied the spirit of “Love thy neighbor as thyself.”

Preceding her in death were her parents; her first husband, KellyCriscoe; and 10 siblings.

Survivors are her husband, Elton Ryals, of Brookhaven; herdaughter, Glenice Revielle and husband Norman Bertron, of Greeley,Colo.; her stepsons, Bob Ryals and wife Denise, of Slidell, La.,and Buddy Ryals and wife Barbara, of Metairie, La.; and her threegrandchildren and six stepgrandchildren.

Her grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United MethodistChurch, 215 W. Cherokee St., Brookhaven, MS 39601.