Mrs. Jerlene W. Harmon Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Coleman Funeral Home of Southaven Jerlene Weed Harmon, 76, passed away peacefully on June 29, 2022, in Southaven, Mississippi surrounded by her loving family. A celebration of life will be held Sunday, July 10th from 2-4 pm. Please contact leahtkeys@gmail.com for location and further details. Jerlene was born December 18, 1945, shortly after her mother Evie Floyd went to her eight-month prenatal visit in Greenville, Mississippi. There was great joy when the delivery room nurse at King Daughter’s Hospital announced the birth of a baby girl to her father John Cooper Weed. Thirty-five minutes later a second baby girl, her surprise twin sister was born! Jerlene and Sherlene were bonded from day one. Both girls were adored by their older brothers who always included their twin sisters in play and later in adolescent adventures. When Jerlene was six years old the Weed family attached their house trailer to their 1950 Chevy step side truck and affixed a rocking chair in the truck bed, which served as a seat for her grandmother on their journey to California. The Weed family drove to their new home in San Diego, California where they lived for three years before returning east to Eudora, Arkansas, and eventually back to Greenville, Mississippi. Jerlene attended E.E. Bass Junior High School where she enjoyed playing softball and running relays on the school track. Later while as a student at Greenville High School, Jerlene was riding in a pickup truck when she was spotted by Butch Harmon, who was struck by her beauty. Weeks later Butch was in study hall at school when a classmate handed him a note folded in a triangle. It read, “I sure would like to meet you. Could we get together and talk? - Jeri” Butch looked around the room and discovered that she was sitting in front of him. He was beyond ecstatic. “It was Christmas, the Fourth of July, and New Years’ fireworks all at once!” They met outside right after study hall. Butch thought it was too good to be true. From that day forward he saw her every single day. In 1966 Jerlene graduated from Greenville High School and that summer Butch coached Little League baseball in order to save money to buy Jerlene an engagement ring. He borrowed a friend’s Ford Mustang, put the ring in the glove box, and picked Jerlene up for a ride. Butch asked her to hand him something from the glove box where she discovered the ring box. She said, “yes!” Blue skies smiled upon Butch and Jerlene at their wedding on July 7, 1967, in Greenville at First Baptist Church. Jerlene’s only wedding regret involved her dress choice. She wanted a long white dress and her mother-in-law felt it was inappropriate and recommended a short-length dress, to which Jerlene agreed. Following the wedding, they honeymooned for a weekend in Jackson, Mississippi. Upon returning to Greenville, while moving into their first apartment Butch expressed that he disagreed with popular gender roles modeled for him and Jerlene by their parents’ marriages. Together they decided they would have a true partnership with shared responsibilities. Butch supported Jerlene’s interests and independence in a time when wives were mostly relegated to homemaking, exclusively. The following three years, Jerlene and her twin sister Sherlene and a group of friends worked at the Greenville Mill spending their days singing and laughing while manufacturing carpets. Three years later, Jerlene gave birth to her first son Jamie, followed by Shane. Jerlene adored her sons and truly enjoyed mothering them. She was very intentional and compassionate in her parenting them. Butch’s career in grocery management moved them to many cities across the mid-south. No matter where her family lived, Jerlene remained very close with her mother who stayed in Greenville until her own passing in March of 2000. Jerlene and Butch were committed to being hands-on parents. They modeled integrity, humor, forgiveness, and the value of hard work for their sons. They supported Jamie’s interest in photography and Shane’s love of sports. When her sons were in 4th grade, Jerlene was recruited to work at Walmart in Wynne, Arkansas. She negotiated own her employment terms, prioritizing time over wages, as her commitment to her family was most important to her than any job. Jerlene found great joy in working at James Gattas Jewelers in Memphis, Tennessee. She began in watch repair and quickly learned to engrave, using a jig for lettering. She took great care in all details and enjoyed the challenge of engraving rings, bracelets, and necklaces. Of all engravables, trophies brought her the most joy because she knew that the recipients worked hard to receive their awards. Jerlene truly took pride in this work. In the years following, Jerlene worked with Butch at Fresh Approach in Germantown, where she enjoyed tasting exotic fruits. Jerlene and Butch also joined the team at Seven Seas Photography, taking photos on the Memphis Riverboats alongside her son Jamie. She particularly loved meeting people from different places and she was excellent at managing a crowd with grace and courtesy. Later in her life, Jerlene took on her absolute favorite role: Nana to five grandchildren, all of whom she loved without condition. Her love and generosity live on in their memories. Throughout her life, Jerlene loved to sing with her twin sister Sherlene, especially while sitting on the large swing built by her late father, which sits in the backyard at her home in Southaven. She spent many fun-filled days on Lake Ferguson enjoying swimming, fishing, and waterskiing. She truly enjoyed spending time outside birdwatching, gardening, and watching the seasons change. Jerlene was a member of Bellevue Baptist Church and is remembered as being a committed Christian woman who embodied Christ’s love. She spoke often of God’s love for humanity and expressed her gratitude for God’s wondrous creation. Jerlene radiated joy, comfort, and empathy to all she encountered. She deeply loved all children and welcomed her sons’ friends as her chosen family. She embodied the qualities of integrity, grace, peacemaking, and true kindness. Jerlene’s precious spirit will be missed by family, friends, and truly anyone who was blessed enough to enter her orbit. Jerlene W. Harmon is survived by her ever-loving husband, James “Butch” Harmon of Southaven; her sons, Jamie Harmon (Leah) of Memphis, TN, and Shane Harmon (Casey) of Trinidad, CA; her grandsons, Gus Harmon (Angel) of Memphis, Hopper Harmon of Memphis, and Grady Harmon of Trinidad; her granddaughters, Everett Hayes of Memphis, and Ellie Harmon of Trinidad; her twin sister, Sherlene (Paul) Weed of Bartlett, TN; and a host of beloved nieces and nephews. Mrs. Jerlene was preceded in death by her father, John Cooper Weed; her mother, Evie Floyd Weed; and her brothers, John Weed, Jerry Weed, and Leonard Weed. Coleman Funeral Home of Southaven is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left on her Tribute Wall at www.colemanfuneralhome.com.

Mrs. Jerlene W. Harmon

December 18, 1945 - June 29, 2022