Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 30, 2024, in the chapel of McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada for Nancy Ross Bratton, 83, of Pea Ridge, who died on Wednesday, March 27, at her beloved residence. Burial followed in Smith Cemetery in the Rosebloom Community. Visitation with the family was held one hour prior to the service on Saturday, March 30.
Nancy was born on Oct. 22, 1940, in Yalobusha County, the daughter of the late Jim Dave “J.D.” Ross Jr. and the late Sarah Lee Tilghman Ross. She was the second of 10 children. She was married for 63 years to Jimmy Ray Bratton Sr. They had four children, two grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Nancy worked at AS Hospitality in Memphis, Tenn., until her retirement. She will be remembered as always smiling, good natured, kind and always eager to spend time with her family and especially large groups of her nieces and nephews. She loved to quilt, travel and make crafts.
Nancy was a true confidant to her friends and family. The marriage partnership of Nancy and Jimmy led them to participating in many activities at the YMCA and they made many friends through these activities. They also loved family and family vacations, but especially the time they had with their grandchildren and great grandchildren. Nancy was an excellent cook and enjoyed feeding a crowd whether at the homeplace or the Pea Ridge Hunting Club. Nancy was the friend or family everyone needs in their lives, totally devoted and bringing that unconditional love to everyone she came in contact with.
In addition to her parents, her husband, Jimmy Ray Bratton Sr.; three children, Jimmy Ray “Bubba” Bratton Jr., Thomas “Tommy” Wesley Bratton and Sandra Kay Bratton; five brothers, Jimmie S. Ross, Douglas Ross, Melvin L. Ross, Alvin C. Ross and Wesley D. Ross; two sisters-in-law, Doris Bratton Strider and Maxine Bratton Parchman and one brother-in-law, Harold Strider, preceded Nancy in death.
Survivors include, one daughter, Donna Fortner; two grandchildren, Christopher “Chris” Malone and April Fortner (Colin); three great grandchildren, Avalyn West, Eli West and Evalyn West; daughter-in-law, Sandra Sowell Bratton; two brothers, Charles Ross and Steve Ross (Sybil); two sisters, Sissy (Larry) Pierce and Ellen (Paul) Keene, all of Pea Ridge; sisters-in-law Sharon Ross, Sally Ross and Ann Ross and brother-in-law, Hal Parchman, along with many nieces, nephews and extended family.
Honoring Nancy as pallbearers were Mike Ross, David Ross, Brent Ross, Calvin Ross, Chris Malone and Jonathan Hoop. Honorary pallbearers were Cary Worsham, Michael Allen, Larry Smith and Colin West.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to the Smith Cemetery Fund c/o Steve Ross, 7023 Pea Ridge Rd., Grenada, MS 38901 or to a charity of your choosing.
Online condolences can be expressed to the family at www.mckibbenandguinn.com
McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada was in charge of arrangements.
