Evelyn Moore Kenney.JPG

     Evelyn Moore Kenney, wife of the Rev. Dr. R. Furman Kenney a native of the Tupelo area, died Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010, in Newport News, Va. She was born in Collinsville to the late Rev. and Mrs. R. Earle Moore.

    She was a graduate of Martin High School, Clarke Memorial College, Blue Mountain College and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. She taught English in the Enterprise and Quitman High Schools; she was Minister of Education in churches in Mississippi, South Carolina, Illinois and Virginia. She was librarian for the School of Professional Nursing of Riverside Hospital in Newport News for 20 years. Occasionally, she represented the Library Dept. of the Southern Baptist Convention in its outreach. Her main position was that of pastor’s wife, a task she performed beautifully and lovingly.

    She was a true “Southern Lady”, but more especially she was a Christian lady. She liked to travel as attested by the fact that she had visited seven continents and in many countries within them. She made repeated visits to the “Holy Land”.

    She is survived by her husband of over 65 years, the Rev. Dr. R. Furman Kenney Sr.;  a son, Col. (Ret.) Robert F. Kenney Jr., and his wife, Mary Jane Kenney, of Williamsburg, Va.; a daughter, Martha Lynn Kenney, and an “adopted daughter”, Ann Deibert, both of Louisville, Ky.; a sister, Mrs. Dot Bridges, of Pensacola, Fla.; and a sister-in-law, Mrs. Ann Moore, of Marietta, Ga.;  two grandsons, Patrick Jason Kenney and Robert Alexander Kenney, both of Williamsburg, Va.; three nephews: Steve Moore (Deborah), Greg Moore and Dr. David Moore (Julia), all of Hattiesburg, Miss.; two nieces, Mrs. Rhonda Osborne (David), of Birmingham, Ala. and Mrs. Allison Price (Lt. Col. Will) of Yuma, Ariz.; seven grand-nieces and five grand-nephews.    

    She was preceded in death by her parents, the Rev. and Mrs. R. Earl Moore; a sister, Alice Caldwell; and, a brother, Ethan E. Moore; as well as two brothers-in-law, Delma Caldwell and Glover Bridges.

    The funeral service was held in North Riverside Baptist Church, Newport News, Va. on Sept. 7, 2010, with interment in Peninsula Memorial Park, also in Newport News. Peninsula Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.