Funeral services for Eleanor Johnson Corban are Saturday, April 9, 2016, at 11:30 a.m. at Fayette United Methodist Church. Laird Funeral Home in Natchez is in charge of arrangements. 

Visitation is Saturday, April 9, 2016, from 10:30 a.m. until time of services.

Mrs. Corban, 89, died Sunday, April 3, 2016, in Jackson. She was born Nov. 10, 1926, to Loulie Maples and Jackson Millsaps Johnson.

Mrs. Corban was born at her family home, Eleven Oaks, near Harriston and her hometown, Fayette.  She graduated from Fayette High School and Millsaps College.  In 1947 Eleanor married Harry Lee Corban, also from Fayette, and they enjoyed a strong and loving partnership until his death in 2006.  Their home on her birthplace land, “Meadowview”, was a warm sanctuary for their friends and family.

“Miss Eleanor,” “Aunt El,” “Mom El” and “The Matriarch” were her special names used by many who were influenced by her genuinely warm Southern hospitality and sustained by her terrific food with skillets of cornbread, cornbread dressing and her mother’s brand of pot roast being only three of her top treats.

Eleanor’s life was guided by her faith in God, her love for Jesus Christ and her instinctive ability to process, translate and communicate this eternal love into love and respect for her family, friends and neighbors.  As a life-long member of the Fayette United Methodist Church, she carried out her vow to serve God with her time, talent, prayers and gifts.  She was truly a “prayer warrior.”  Active in her community, Eleanor served others in an unselfish manner.  Her work life in Fayette included employment at the Jefferson County Health Department and The Jefferson County Bank.  As a loving daughter and daughter-in-law, she and Harry Lee provided love and nurture for their parents.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her brother, Jackson Millsaps Johnson Jr.; her husband of almost 60 years, Harry Lee Corban; and older sister, Mary Todd, who lived in Kosciusko but was a long-time resident of the Jackson area.

Survivors are her children, Robert “Bob” Millsaps Corban (Florence Jo) of Tupelo and

Jackie Lee Owens (Tommy) of Brookhaven; grandchildren, Amy Lee Mullins (Jeff) of Meadville, Jennifer Lynn Bell (Adam) of Brandon, Carla Johnson Kath (Ryan) of Boston, Massachusetts, William Bradford Corban (Kathleen) of Hattiesburg and Robert Liming Corban of New York City, New York; great-grandchildren Eleanor, Taylor and Drew Mullins, Adalyn, Aden and Asher Bell, Belle and Millie Kath; a Corban great-grandchild due in July; and her nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to the Fayette Cemetery Association, P. O. Box 424, Fayette, MS  39069, the Fayette United Methodist Church, or to the charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be sent to lairdfh.com.