Graveside Funeral Services for Mrs. Alla Faye Fike were held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, at the Silver Creek Baptist Church Cemetery near Tylertown in Pike County. Mrs. Fike, age 96, passed away from this life on Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, in Richton. Elder Larry Fike and Rev. Scott Kennedy officiated.

Saulters Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Alla Faye Smith Fike was born on Aug. 28, 1924, at home near Tylertown to Newell Booker Smith and Bessie Lee Hall Smith.

Mrs. Fike was a retired High School Teacher and was a member of Prentiss Baptist Church.

Mrs. Fike was the Valedictorian of her graduating class at Lexie High School.

She was chosen Miss Southwest Junior College. Mrs. Fike earned dual Bachelor of Science Degrees from Mississippi Southern College, now the University of Southern Mississippi.

Mrs. Fike taught mathematics for 39 years at the following schools before retiring in 1987, alongside her husband, Coach Archie Fike from Prentiss High School; Dexter High School (Tylertown), McLain High School (McLain), Leakesville High School (Leakesville), Loyd Star High School (Brookhaven), Magee High School (Magee), and Prentiss High School (Prentiss).

Mrs. Fike was named Star Teacher three different times during her teaching career. She was considered one of the very best teachers, by her principals and students alike.

Mrs. Fike married the love of her life, Archie Lee Fike on April 26, 1947.

Mrs. Fike worked alongside her husband, keeping the scorebook as Coach Fike coached his basketball team on the court.

Wherever the Fikes lived, they were active in the Baptist Church in that town. Mrs. Fike was a longtime Sunday School Teacher at Prentiss Baptist Church.

Welcoming Mrs. Fike into Heaven were her mother and father; her husband of 41 years, Archie Lee Fike; three brothers, Neil Smith, N.B. Smith Jr, and Lindy Smith and two sisters, Alda Smith and Delora Higginbotham.

Surviving Mrs. Fike are her three children, Linda and Willie Hathorn Jr. of Petal, Martha and Doug Gardner of Hernando and Larry and Rhonda Fike of Spring, Texas; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; one sister, Willa Smith of Tylertown; one sister-in-law, Donis Smith of Tylertown; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Friends desiring to do so are asked to make memorials to the Silver Creek Cemetery Association in care of Mrs. Donis Smith, 806 Oak Drive Tylertown, MS 39667.