Funeral set for Saturday for longtime DeSoto County school board member Ann Jolley

WALLS, Miss. — Visitation and funeral services for Ann Courtney Osborne Jolley, 82, will be held Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, at Minor Memorial United Methodist Church in Walls. Visitation is 10 a.m.–2 p.m., with the funeral to begin immediately afterward.

Jolley died Sept. 12 at her home in Walls. Born March 9, 1943, in Baltimore, Maryland, she later moved to DeSoto County in 1972 and became a pillar of community life. She was married for 62 years to the late Raymond Andrew Jolley and is survived by two sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A devoted member of Minor Memorial United Methodist Church, Jolley taught toddler Sunday school for more than 25 years and served on numerous church committees. Beyond the church walls, she and her husband helped create the Walls Volunteer Fire Department, and she worked county elections as a poll worker. Professionally, she served as an administrative assistant with Avant Insurance.

Jolley’s public service was most visible during more than three decades on the DeSoto County Board of Education. She was first sworn in January 1989, represented District 3 (the county’s westernmost area), and served until her retirement effective Oct. 1, 2022. She held the board presidency at various times, including the 2010–11 school year, and in 2017 was named Board Member of the Year by the Mississippi School Boards Association. After her retirement for health reasons, Jerald Wheeler was appointed to fill her seat.

Her tenure spanned periods of rapid district growth, facilities expansion and staff development initiatives. As board president in 2010–11, district materials highlight professional development efforts aimed at strengthening classroom instruction.

In a statement, DeSoto County Schools Supt. Corey Uselton said, “Ann Jolley served on the DeSoto County school board for 34 years with unmatched knowledge and experience. She cared deeply for people, always putting the needs of students and employees at the heart of her decisions. Her legacy is one of wisdom, compassion, and unwavering dedication to our schools and community.”

Service information

• Visitation: Saturday, Sept. 20, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
• Funeral: Begins at 2 p.m. (immediately following visitation)
• Location: Minor Memorial United Methodist Church, Walls, Mississippi.

Ann Jolley’s obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/olive-branch-ms/ann-jolley-12519995