Individual Details

Death

Graveside services for Gail Johnson Furr, 84, of Jackson, MS will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, at the Montgomery Cemetery in Madison, Miss. The service will be limited to family and close friends. She was born in Miami, FL. Gail died peacefully after a long illness on Sunday, Sept. 29, at her home. Born Feb. 27, 1940, Gail was a 1958 graduate of Central High School. After attending Blue Mountain College, she earned her undergraduate degree from Mississippi College in 1969. She met her future husband, Carl Ray Furr, Sr., at Kennington's Department Store on Capitol Street where she worked after school with his mother. Carl Ray and Gail were married on April 22, 1961, at First Baptist Church in Madison. Working to help Carl Ray complete his engineering degree at Mississippi State University, Gail was a longtime employee of the MSU Division of Student Affairs. She was mentored by the late Dean of Students Malcolm G. Gray, who had a profound influence in her life. Gail quoted many of Gray's sayings for the rest of her life. Gail was a woman of strong faith and a student of God's word. She loved listening to sound doctrine and Christian music. She loved people and was known by family and friends for her generous heart and charming eloquence. Gail was a devoted wife and mother and loved attending Bulldog sporting events and other functions that supported the academic mission of MSU. She was a member of Colonial Heights Baptist Church in Ridgeland. Survivors include her loving husband of 63 years, Carl Ray Furr, Sr., of Jackson, and sisters Gloria Marble, Mary Cowen (Gerald), Billie Sheppard (Ken), and brother Bob Johnson, Jr. (Marci). She also leaves behind treasured nieces and nephews. Gail was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Lee Johnson, Sr., and Dora Jones Johnson of Madison; son, Carl Ray Furr, Jr., of Jackson; brothers, Dan Johnson and Watts Johnson (Jane); sister Peggy Dean (Tony); and nephews Johnny Dean, Nicholas Marble, and Tony Johnson; and brother-in-law Charles Marble. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Gail Furr Memorial Scholarship at Mississippi State University, Attn.: Lynn Durr, P.O. Box 6149, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 3976