Memorial services will be announced at a later date for Alice Jean Woods Sossaman, age 81, who passed away peacefully in the early-morning hours of Saturday, May 18.
Alice was born Aug. 4, 1942, in Memphis, Tenn., to Tommy Frank Woods and Dorothy Richardson Woods. She grew up in Marks, and was a graduate of Marks High School.
After graduation, she sought employment with the hosiery mill in Batesville. She would go on to have other factory employment later in her life with Kellwood Manufacturing and Holley Carburetor, and she would end her working career by greeting customers with a warm smile as a waitress at the George Payne Cossar State Park Restaurant, where she retired. But the job she most loved was being a wife, homemaker and mother to her five children.
She married John Henry Sossaman in 1966. The two had been married 57 years when he preceded her in death a few short months ago. She was known for her excellent cooking skills – being able to take any leftovers and make a completely different, delicious meal or whipping up a dish no one had ever heard of.
She was also known for her love of shopping and her bargain-hunting skills. Her philosophy was that there must be a clearance rack or sale in each and every store.
Years ago, she attended Gatewood Church of God and, most recently, Shiloh Cowboy Church near Coffeeville.
She was small in stature but a force to be reckoned with. She had fought throat cancer, lung cancer and, most recently, skin cancer. She suffered a debilitating stroke, but kept her smile and sense of humor, always loving to visit with her family — most especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she is preceded in death her daughter, Jeanna Alison Sossaman Mills; a sister, Frances Carroll, and three brothers, Tommy, Albert and Billy Woods.
She is survived by her daughter, Krista Sossaman McFerrin (Clay) of Charleston; her sons, Billy Sossaman of Water Valley, Johnny Sossaman of Coffeeville and Terry Sossaman (Theresa) of New Albany; her son-in-law, Kelly Mills of Cordova, Tennessee.; a sister, Dorothy Ann Rayburn of Sardis; sisters-in-law, Edna Woods Cook (Charles) of Marks; Joyce Sossaman of Coffeeville; Ann Woodard (Richard) of Byhalia; Louise Richardson (Roger) of Charleston and Linda Leake (Marvin) of Hattiesburg; brothers-in-law, Jimmy Sossaman of Batesville, Albert Sossaman (Sarah) of Coffeeville, Willie Sossaman of Moscow, Tenn., Robert Sossaman, and Mike Sossaman of Teasdale.
She is also survived by four grandchildren, Brandon McFerrin of Charleston, Kelsey Bright (Ryan) of Charleston, and Addison Sossaman and Ethan Sossaman, both of Water Valley; and four great-grandchildren, Harper, Beckett, Baylor and Ryder Bright, all of Charleston.
Seven Oaks Funeral Home is in charge or arrangements.
