Funeral services for Mrs. Nita Jean Upton, age 74, were conducted at 2 p.m Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, at Saulters Moore Funeral Chapel with Rev. Paul Young officiating.
Interment followed in the Society Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Upton, a resident of Oakvale for the past 28 years, entered into the eternal rest of her Lord on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at the Merit Health-Wesley Medical Center in Hattiesburg after a lengthy illness.
Saulters Moore Funeral Home was entrusted with arrangements.
The Upton family received friends Tuesday, Oct. 1, beginning at 12:30 p.m. until the hour of service at 2 p.m. at Saulters Moore Funeral Home.
Mrs. Upton was carried to her final rest by those honored to serve as pallbearers; they included Tate Upton, Payton Upton, Landen Upton, Sammy Broom, Ethan Henderson and Eli Wilson.
Nita Jean Upton was born on Aug. 22, 1950, in Auburn, Alabama.
She grew up in Bay Springs with her loving mother, twin sister and brothers.
In 1968, she married the love of her life, Silas Sexton Upton, and they had four children.
Nita graduated high school from Loring Airforce Base in Limestone, Maine and would later go on to attend college along with her mother and receive her LPN degree.
In pursuit of higher learning and excellence, she returned to college at age 38 to pursue an RN degree in nursing and graduated the valedictorian of her nursing class.
Nita loved nursing and the patients she cared for, before retiring in 2007.
Nita also loved softball, as both a player and a coach.
She coached Little League softball alongside her husband and son for many years.
She will be remembered as a dedicated, loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt.
Nita loved children and in addition to raising her own, she continued to help raise her grandchildren, as well as her nieces and nephews.
She was a member of Society Hill Baptist Church.
Nita is preceded in death by her mother, Nancy Lancaster; her loving husband, Silas Upton and a brother, Vernon Schubring.
Her memory will forever be cherished by her two sons, Cary Upton (Wendy) of Jay, Florida, Charlie Upton of Oakvale; two daughters, Nita Jo Pearce (James) of Hattiesburg, Carrie Ann Ellis (David) of Maine; three brothers, Dean Lancaster (Rainbow), Tracy Lancaster, Paul Schubring; a twin sister, Meta Pierce, and five grandchildren, Tate Upton (Merla), Bayleigh Upton, Payton Upton, Landen Upton, and Leann Upton, along with many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
The Upton family would like to express special thanks to the dedicated doctors and nurses at Merit Wesley Hospital for taking care of their mother for the past five weeks, and the staff of Compassus Hospice.
Online condolences and a guest registry are available at www.saultersmoorefuneralhome.com