Delia Mae (Calhoun) Bumpers

Delia Mae Calhoun Bumpers, a native of Grove Hill and a resident of the Winn community in Jackson, lived a faithful life until the end, Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, when she answered the Master’s call to her heavenly home. She was born Dec. 29, 1929 to the late Willie “Bum” Calhoun and Bessie “Mom B” Calhoun.

Delia Mae, affectionately known to many as “Mama” and “Aunt Dooley,” was educated at the Clarke County Training School in Coffeeville until she met and married the love of her life, R.J. Bumpers. The couple was united in matrimony and remained together for 64 years, until his death.

As a youth, she accepted and confessed Christ and united with the Mount Zion Baptist Church, where she led a progressive life in the work of the church choir as a songster. She later transferred her membership by letter and joined the Berry’s Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church to be with her loving husband and continued as a songster in the choir. She also served as a Life Member of the Deaconess Board Emeritus and was a member of Bertha Mae Chapter No. 314 Order of the Eastern Star.

Delia Mae was appreciated as “The Cook,” where she was employed in many domestic homes, the Grove Hill Memorial Hospital, Clarke County School System at Grove Hill Elementary School, Camp Maubila Boy Scout Camp, Grove Hill Baptist Church and Jean’s Kitchen, where she was famous for her chicken pot pie.

Delia Mae loved life and making others happy in sharing throughout her community and others.

She was preceded in death by her father, Willie Calhoun; mother, Bessie Calhoun; husband, R.J. Bumpers; stepson, Curtis Chapman; four brothers, Willie Calhoun Jr., Leroy Calhoun, James Calhoun and John Lee Calhoun; and one sister, Jimmie King.

Left to cherish her precious memories are four daughters, Patricia (Willie) Slater of Shorter, Rosie Howze of Jackson, Barbara Chapman-Troy of Detroit, Mich., and Doris (Fred) Ross of Warrensville Heights, Ohio; one son, Charles “Randal” (Edith) Bumpers; one sister, Annie Parham of South Carolina; two brothers, Collin (Deloris) Calhoun and Hollious (Claudine) Calhoun; four sisters-in-law, Willodean Calhoun, Elizabeth Bumpers, Lillian Roper Bumpers and Melva Dean; two god-sons, Kenneth Coates of Jackson and Pastor Isaac Acquah of Ocean Springs, Miss.; with a number of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends; and many caregivers, Cynthia (James) Russell, Gwendolyn Kidd, Gladys Kidd, Alice Dickinson, Carrie Phillips, Creola Patterson, Faye Parker, Cora Kidd, La’Shanti McMillan, Rose Chapman Bernard, Legacy Hospice, AseraCare Hospice and Southern Care Hospice.

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