Nell P. Founds

Nell P. Founds, 80, of Covington, TN came to the end of her beautiful life on January 26, 2023. Nell was born on June 14, 1942 in Chester, Pennsylvania. She graduated in 1960 from Chichester High School in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, with a Business Diploma. Not only did she excel in school but she was voted "Most Talkative" in her graduating class, a trait that followed her through her years, as she never met a stranger and immediately lit up any room she entered. Nell met William S. (Bill) Founds, Jr in early 1961 at the local drive-in restaurant when they struck up a conversation because they drove the same car. They married later that year on September 23rd at the Blue Church in Media, PA. They lived in Boothwyn, PA until 1978 when they moved to Sandusky, OH until 1981 when they finally settled in Petal, MS. Nell was a homemaker during her early years of motherhood but worked part-time at several jobs over the years once her children entered school. In 1986 she entered the full-time work-force as a receptionist for Wilmot Gas and Oil Co. in Hattiesburg, MS. She later worked as a loan originator at Magnolia Federal Bank. In 1994 she moved to Tipton County, TN to be near her oldest daughter and family. She worked at Shelby Tissue in Memphis, TN starting as a receptionist but quickly moving to their Customer Service Team because of her bubbly personality. She was eventually promoted to Customer Service Manager. In 2001, she moved back to Petal, MS to live with her father in his last years. She worked for Stribling Equipment until he passed in 2006 and then retired to Covington, TN. Nell loved to travel and visited several countries over the years. One of the highlights of her life was her 75th birthday when she traveled with her daughters, sister and two close friends to Las Vegas where she met her teenage idol, Wayne Newton. He bought champagne for the group and serenaded her from the stage with the Happy Birthday song as all guests joined in. Another favorite trip was to Toronto, Canada where she enjoyed the musical "Phantom of the Opera" with a dear friend. She was an avid crafter and was always doing projects for others. Over the years she enjoyed sewing, crocheting, knitting, cross-stitching, quilting and scrapbooking. The homes of her loved ones and friends will forever be filled with her handiwork. Nell was preceded in death by her parents, Brooks L. and Kathryn (Spence) Phillips of Petal, MS, and her brother, Charles Plummer of Los Angeles, CA. She leaves behind her children Debbi (Don) Hollar of Covington, TN, Wendi Hill of Hattiesburg, MS, Bill (Tracy) Founds of Petal, MS and a beloved sister, Sue (Tim) Fortenberry of Petal, MS. She had nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren: Meghan Nutting and her daughter, Rowan; Hannah (Johnathan) Williams and their daughters, Maggie and Molly of Moselle, MS; Hollie (Bob) Nerren and their daughter, Reave of Hickman, TN; Lindsay (Brad) Ellzey and their children Sawyer, Grant and Aubrey of Ellisville, MS; Bethany (Brian Bailey) Napier and their children Weston, Selah and Lincoln of Hattiesburg, MS; Tanner (Jocelin) Hill of Petal, MS; Rylee Hill of Hattiesburg, MS; Tyler Founds of Petal, MS and Andrea Hollar of Memphis, TN. Also special in her life was her sister-in-law, best friend and travel companion Patricia Founds of Exton, PA; nephew Raymond (Jean) Plummer of Folcroft, PA; niece Lisa Widdowson and nephew Andrew Founds and their families of Arlington, VA; niece Dana (Demboski) Kreider and her family of Oxford, PA; and her long-time physician, Dr. Satheesh Nair of the James Eason Transplant Institute, Memphis, TN. A Celebration of Life gathering will be held on March 11, 2023 when she will be interred beside her parents at Hillcrest Cemetery in Petal, MS.