Elizabeth Ann Perry
Elizabeth Ann Perry (Liz) was born in Columbia,
Mississippi to the parents of James Edward Warren, Sr. and
Edna Lee Warren. She graduated from Marion Central High
School in 1966. After high school, she attended Prentiss
Institute in Prentiss, MS. After completing her degree, she
moved to Hattiesburg to attend the University of Southern
Mississippi. She married the love her life who she affectionately
called “Jasper Earl”. They had two beautiful daughters, Torsha
and Jacqueline. Later, she decided to transfer to William Carey
College (now William Cary University) where she earned her
Bachelor’s degree.
She began her career in banking at Citizens Bank, but
realized her passion was leading her to a career of teaching and
giving back to the community. Her first teaching career began
at Marion Central High School, where she was actively involved
and taught Home Economics. The former Miss Marion Central
and majorette enjoyed teaching at her former high school. She
spent most of her career at Earl Travillion Attendance Center
where she taught Living Skills and played a strong role in
leading the majorettes. She lived for her students, and always
went above and beyond to meet the needs of her students.
By 1991, she landed her final teaching opportunity at
Hattiesburg High School, where her love for everything “tiger,
and purple and gold” grew! She taught occupational courses,
helping students prepare for careers in the restaurant field. She
absolutely loved her job, teaching in a classroom which included
a small commercial kitchen and dining area known as the
“Tiger’s Den.”
After dealing with health-related issues, Liz decided to
retire early after nearly 20 years of teaching. Before she entered
retirement, she also had a long career as a businesswoman. She
opened up an alteration shop, worked as a seamstress, spent lots
of time baking her amazing cakes, biscuits, and more! She also
played a role in altering gowns for the Miss Mississippi
pageants.
Everyone who knows her can definitely say that she had
an obsession for fashion. Nothing was considered over-the-top
for her. She absolutely loved hats, leopard prints, 5-inch heels,
and anything with feathers and bling! She was a kind soul, who
always laughed. She spent the last decade of her life dedicated to
caring for her husband. She always put herself last, no matter
what; and that’s just how selfless and kind she was.
After spending most of her life in Mississippi, she moved
to Texas in 2021 to begin a new life after losing her husband. By
November, her health declined. God called her home on Monday,
March 20, 2023, just weeks before her “Easter Birthday.”
She is leaves to cherish in loving memory: Daughters,
Torsha and Jacqueline Perry; Timothy James (stepson);
grandchildren, BJ and Taylor Smith; siblings, Edna McFarland,
Carolyn Pittman, Claudette Williams, Billy Warren, and Elnorah
Ramsey; godson, Dedrick Brooks; Previously Departed: Father,
James Edward Warren, Sr. & mother, Edna Lee Warren;
brother, James Edward Warren, Jr.; husband, Jasper Earl Perry;
and a host of close friends and family.