Annelle McCay Majors

• Annelle McCay Majors, 92, of Gulfport Mississippi went home to be with her Lord on May 12, 2023.

She was born July 30, 1930 in Rienzi, Mississippi to a Methodist minister and his wife, Reverend William Claude McCay from Carnesville, Georgia and Bertha Louise Carter McCay from Darlington County, South Carolina.

Annelle was the youngest of 6 children. She spent her childhood as a preacher’s daughter living in several North Mississippi towns. She graduated from Houston High School in 1948 and attended Belhaven College in Jackson where she received a bachelors degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Music in 1953. Annelle sang in the Chorale Ensemble and performed each year in Belhaven’s Singing Christmas Tree (oldest in the U.S.). She also served as President of the Methodist Council at Belhaven in 1951-1952. 

Following college Annelle moved to Yazoo City, Mississippi to begin her teaching career then went to Belzoni, Mississippi to teach and also serve as the pianist for First Methodist Church where her brother, Reverend John Marion McCay, was pastor. 

In 1956 she moved to Gulfport to become a teacher on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. On a blind date she met William Wallace Majors from Columbus, Mississippi who quickly became her “True Love” then adoring husband several months later. They were married on February 9, 1957 at First Methodist Church of Belzoni with her brother John officiating their wedding. Nell and Wallace were married sweethearts for 66 years! 

They moved to New Orleans, Louisiana as newlyweds then Baton Rouge, and on to Dothan, Alabama before moving back to Gulfport in 1961 when Wallace went to work for Mississippi Power Company. 

She returned to teaching in the Gulfport School system and taught at East Ward, West Ward and Bayou View Elementary for a total of 18 years, and Westminster Academy for 18 years. After retirement she returned to teaching for four more years at Covenant Christian Academy, until Hurricane Katrina destroyed First Presbyterian Church in 2005 where the school was located. With over 40 years in the classroom, her teaching career ended at age 75. She loved her students and she loved to teach! 

Nell was a long time member of First Baptist Church of Gulfport and loved serving the Lord there. She served in several areas over the years from singing in the Sanctuary Choir to keeping bed babies in the nursery, teaching Vacation Bible School and even chaperoning Youth trips. She was involved in Women’s Mission work and ladies Bible study groups, taught Sunday School classes and was instrumental in helping start a new Young Married Sunday School Class that she taught and served in with Wallace for many years, loving each couple as their own! 

Nell and Wallace did community work together at the Gulf Coast Food Pantry, which was supported by FBC Gulfport. Nell also served as a prayer counselor there. She volunteered with Feed my Sheep Ministries as well. Nell was active in the Women’s Auxiliary for the Gideon’s International, even serving a term as President while Wallace was a Gideon. 

Annelle was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Carter McCay, Reverend Dorsey McCay and Reverend John McCay; two sisters Carrie Ward and Gee Coggin; and grandson, Matthew Carter Kirk. 

Survivors include her husband William Wallace Majors, now residing in Madison, MS; son William Wallace Majors, Jr. (Cindi) of Madison, MS; two daughters, Rebecca Lynn Mills (Mike) of Tuscaloosa, AL, and Cherri Carol Kirk (Lee) of Madison, MS; nine other grandchildren, Dianna Majors Davis (Joe), Jennifer Majors Cranford (Philip), Joshua Majors and Daniel Majors (Hannah); Reid Mills (Lesley), Rachel Mills, and John Mills (Hayden); Christian Kirk and Carley Grace Kirk; twelve great grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives. 

Annelle’s Celebration of Life service will be Saturday, June 3, 2023 at First Baptist Church - Gulfport with visitation at 1:00pm until the service at 2:00 pm.

Her burial will be Monday, June 5, 2023 at 9:00 am at the National Cemetery in Biloxi.

In lieu of flowers the family prefers gifts to the Building Fund of First Baptist Church of Gulfport or to The Gideon’s International. 

Riemann Family Funeral Home, Gulfport, is serving the family during this time.