A wonderful example of a Proverbs 31 woman, her strong faith in the Lord carried her throughout her life. A faithful member of Concord Baptist, Jewel raised all of her grandchildren sitting on the back pew. Known as Granny and as Mama Jewel to her ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren, she always made sure each grandchild had one night each week to stay with her overnight. She was a strong Godly influence in all of their lives.
She will be remembered by her spirit of hospitality as her home was always the gathering place for family and friends. The family came together there every Saturday morning for her famous breakfast.
Jewel was preceded in death by her husband of almost 64 years, R.O. (Odell) Amason; her birth mother, Verna Jewel Grayson Ware, who passed away just after Jewel’s birth; her father and mother, Howard and Ora Runnels Ware; her first grandchild, Alisha Anne Amason; and a brother, Judean Ware.
She is survived by her children, Gene Ware (Anne) Amason, Magee, Kathy (Mark) Whittington, Mt. Olive and Jeanette (Bo) Ballard, Brandon; grandchildren, Angela Kjellstrom, Dallas, Texas, Terry Whittington, Hattiesburg, Heather Berry, Mize, Scott Wells, Morton, Gene Amason, Flowood, Ashley Dennis, Mohmet, Ill., Brian Wells, Brandon, Amanda-Paige Whittington, Jessica Holmes, Brandon and Jennifer Ballard of Madison; great-grandchildren, Savannah and John Mark Berry, Kiley, Macy-Kate and Finley Joy Kjellstrom, Jon Tyler and Trenton Wells, Vivi Gross, Grayson, Jewel and Henry Dennis; a sister, JoAnn Ware (Bob) Bevans; and a brother, George (Cleda) Ware.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Magee with Rev. AD Nieman, Rev. DJ Benson and Rev. Al Lott officiating. Burial followed in Sharon Presbyterian Cemetery. Visitation was held from5-8 p.m. Monday, February 13, 2012, at the funeral home and the family received visitors from 9 a.m. Tuesday, February 14, 2012 until service time.
Pallbearers serving were grandsons, Terry Whittington, Scott Wells, Gene Amason II, Brian Wells, Dale Berry, Joe Dennis and Russell Holmes. Honorary Pallbearers are close friends, J.P. Dear, Wilson Sistrunk and Mitchell Amason.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers please contribute to the Mississippi Alzheimer’s Association.
