of Elaine, AR

March 13, 1943 - July 15, 2024

Weida used to say that her name kept changing over her life. First she was ''One of the Laird kids'' then she became ''Mike's wife'' followed by ''Captain McGee's wife'' or she was ''Michael and Carson's mom'' before becoming known as ''Dylan and Bryce's granny'', plus she spent years being ''Mrs. Weida at the church''.

Weida seems to have been born for exactly the life she lived, a wife and a mother, a grandmother, the secretary at her much loved church. Long before the internet and Pinterest she spent time making crafts for her boys to give as Christmas gifts at school - reindeer made of clothes pins and baby bottle nipples, snowmen and ornaments made out of light bulbs. She would spot a craft and buy one to recreate it asking us, ''How many do you need for your class?''

In addition to being the loving head of our family, she enjoyed making cheese balls and corn casseroles for church dinners, watching NASCAR and game shows and playing solitaire on her tablet. She loved the evolution of wi-fi with a tablet with the ability to stay in touch with friends and family, while she insisted on keeping a flip phone to just call people. She was a very good seamstress and sewer and gifted many cross stitch items.

Her professional life started over when she first started working as a waitress in the dining room at the Holiday Inn, eventually becoming the restaurant manager. When asked by the retiring secretary at St Mary's if she would like to work there, Weida said she had not been a secretary before. Weida began a 28 year career at St Mary's helping the priests adjust to life in Helena, helping the church organizations with their missions and helping guide so many parishioners through their lives in Sunday School, Confirmation and First Communion, weddings and funerals.

Weida and Mike spent the 70's and 80's making their church home and raising their family at First Baptist Church on Franklin Street, where their children were baptized and were regularly involved in activities. In the 90's, Weida and Mike were drawn to the Catholic life she supported and made their Profession of Faith in October of 1998 with Father Ed Graves. Family story says that Weida told Father that Mike would not take part in communion because he would never drink after people from the goblet. Father promised them they could go first that day and it was the last time Mike ever drank from the wine. Weida took many opportunities to bring her
grandsons to St. Mary's. Much of it might have started with, ''Do you want to spend the night at Granny's and go to church?'' What kid doesn't want to spend the night with the grandparents.

Although Weida and Mike supported raising their sons in the Helena public schools, later they were always in the crowd at DeSoto sports events - if Dylan or Bryce played the sport then Weida and Mike could be found in the stands. Mom's friend, Ruby Ross, told
her when Dylan was born, ''Spoil the grandkids. They will not always want to come to Granny's so spoil them.''. She always had a little pocket money for them, she always had a trip to McDonald's for them and she spent over 18 years joyfully taking them to school in the morning and taking a 3pm break at work to pick them up.

Weida and Mike moved to Helena in the early years of their marriage when Mike's uncle, known to many as Mac or Bub, called him and said he could help Mike get a job as the midnight dispatcher with the Helena Police Department. They settled on Spruce Street
where Weida found a supporting family of ladies. These families and these ladies came together to make a safe and loving neighborhood for all the kids of Spruce Street.

Preceded in death by husband, Lonnie Michael McGee; parents, Luther & Nevis Laird; nephew, Wynne James Beeson; brother in law, James Ray Beeson and sister in law, Linda Laird.

She is survived by Michael McGee & Eddie Plunk, Carson & Rhonda McGee, Bryce McGee, Dylan & Breanna McGee, Brandy McGee and siblings, Betty & Jack Terrell, Barbara Beeson and Luther Laird Jr.

Weida was born in rural Mississippi and part of her heart stayed in Brookhaven and Boque Chitto, but her home was Helena. It is appropriate that after 28 years at her beloved St Mary's that we return to St Mary's for her memorial service.

We are appreciative to Crestpark Marianna Nursing Home for their unwavering commitment to Mom's comfort and care. Every single employee has shown Mom kindness and maintained her comfort and dignity. We are appreciative to Annie Troup and Sandra Tye, who helped Mom stay at home a little longer during the beginning of illness.

Pallbearers will be Dylan McGee, Bryce McGee, Neal Byrd, Brian Stoner, Frank Clancey and Hershell Schwantz.

Honorary Pallbearer will be Price Broughton.

Services will be directed by the staff of Roller-Citizens Funeral Home, West Helena, (870)-572-2571. Relatives and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/westhelena.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Building Fund at St. Mary's.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Citizens Funeral Home
508 East Plaza Street
West Helena, AR  72390
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com