Funeral services for LaVerne Deer Mote, of McComb, are Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017, at 11 a.m. at Navilla Baptist Church with burial at the church cemetery. Catchings Funeral Home in McComb is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation will be today, Oct. 17, 2017, from 5 until 7 p.m. at the church and will continue Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017, from 10 a.m. until time of service at the church.

Mrs. Mote, 81, died Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. She was born Aug. 22, 1936. She was known as “Gom” by family and friends. She was a graduate of Fernwood High School. She and her late husband William A. Mote Sr. co-owned and operated William Mote Agency Inc. in McComb from 1969 until their retirement. Prior to working alongside her husband, she worked for FC&G Railroad, B&HS Railroad, JayBee Company and Stickney Construction Co. She was a member of the Dixie Chapter of Professional Secretaries, the Southwest Mississippi Realtors Association, the Mississippi Association of Realtors, the National Association of Realtors and UCT.

She was a devout Christian and very devoted member of Navilla Baptist Church in McComb, where she served in a number of ministries. Her love for helping children and youth grow in their faith is evident in her many years of service as a youth training union teacher, YWA leader and a Bible drill leader. She and her husband gladly chaperoned many youth trips. Her home was always open to the children and youth from church to come for games, food, or just to have a welcome place to be. She also served Navilla as Sunday school secretary, and sang in the adult choir. She was a prayer coordinator with the Pike County Baptist Association.

Her love of children carried forward to her involvement in McComb High School. She and her husband were actively involved in school activities, particularly during the years their children were students there. Mrs. Mote was a past member and president of McComb High School Band Boosters and Choir Boosters.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 52 Years; parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter J. Deer; brothers, Walter Deer Jr., Fred Deer, Louis Deer, Gilbert Earl Deer, Lee Deer, Carl Deer, Gene Deer, Harold Deer; and sister, Myrtle Bellow.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Ansel and Lynn Mote, of Brookhaven; daughter and son-in-law, Alison and William Pannell, of McComb; granddaughter, Emily Mote, of Tupelo; sister and brother-in-law, Lois and John Barclay; brother and sister-in-law, Jimmy and Lexine Deer; sisters-in-law, Carol Deer, Gill Deer, Virginia Deer, Euna Deer, Susan Deer and Jeanne Mote; brother-in-law, Albert Mote and wife, Glenda, and numerous nieces and nephews, each which held a special place in her heart; and very special friends, Michelle Bruss of McComb and Allyson Brogan Bracken of New Jersey.

Pallbearers are Dwayne Deer, Jeff Deer, Kipp Jenkins, Albert Johnson, Carl Linton, Cliff Mote, Mike Mote and Matthew Wilson.

Honorary pallbearers are her great-nephews.

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