HOUSTON, Texas — Verna Leggett McInnis, 89, passed away on Jan. 30, 2012, in Houston, Texas. Verna was born on Aug. 22, 1922, in Vredenburgh, Ala., to John Vernon and Gertrude Mabel Leggett. During her childhood, Verna lived in Baton Rouge; Alvin, Texas; and in Sumrall and Grenada, Miss. She graduated from Grenada High School and later worked for a time for the Judge Advocate Corps as a legal secretary at Camp McCain. Verna married Walter “T” Mann, a Naval aviator, at the outset of World War II. “T” was killed shortly after their marriage in a training flight in Oklahoma.

After World War II, Verna moved to Vicksburg, where she worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Waterways Experiment Station. She met and married Jack Hazzard McInnis, a native of Vicksburg, and they made their home in Vicksburg where they raised two children, John Michael McInnis and Richard Kevin McInnis. After her husband, Jack, died in 1973, Verna continued to make her home in Vicksburg until 2004, when she moved to Houston.

Throughout her time in Vicksburg, Verna was active in various organizations. She was proud to be a charter member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary. Additionally, she was active at various times with the Vicksburg Needlepoint Guild, the Vicksburg Garden Club and the Friends of the Vicksburg Public Library. But Verna had the most fun and enjoyed lifelong friendships with the members of her bridge club who played regularly for over 50 years and with her neighbors in the Maywood Terrace Supper Club.

Verna loved her church. She was raised in the Baptist faith but joined her husband Jack in becoming members of the Episcopal church. She was a member of Christ Episcopal Church and, later, The Church of the Holy Trinity, Episcopal, in Vicksburg where she was active in the Episcopal Church Women’s groups. Upon moving to Houston, she loved attending services at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church and she was comforted in her final months by many of the priests from St. Martin’s, especially Father John Bentley, Father Marty Bastian and the Rev. Mary Wilson. In particular, Father Bastian and Rev. Wilson were with her in her last days at The Methodist Hospital in Houston and gave her great comfort.

Verna is survived by her son, Mike, and his wife, Judy, of Olive Branch, Miss., and their daughter, Tara Cristin McInnis-Alvord and her husband, Steve, and their son, Tyler, of Keizer, Ore. Additionally, she is survived by her son, Kevin, his wife, Anya, and their children, Jack Payton McInnis and Thomas Powell, all of Houston. Verna is also survived by her brother, Bobby T. Leggett and his wife, Betty Jo, of Southaven, Miss. Finally, Verna is blessed to be survived by her nieces, Janice Bays, Laura McFadden and Belinda Faught, and by her nephew, John Leggett, and their families and by many cousins, all of whom she thought of often and loved dearly.

Verna was also predeceased by her father and mother and by her brother, John Vernon Leggett.

Verna and her family would like to thank the many caregivers who helped her in these past few months, especially the staffs of Holly Hall Retirement Community and the doctors, nurses and caregivers of The Methodist Hospital in Houston. In particular, heartfelt thanks is given to Norma Pineda of Houston, who helped Verna in so many ways and the caregivers of HomeInstead who always provided the additional help and comfort Verna required as her needs grew greater.

Funeral services for Verna will be conducted at The Church of the Holy Trinity, Episcopal, 900 South St. in Vicksburg, on Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, at 11 a.m. A visitation with the family will take place in the McInnis Parish Hall from 9:30 a.m. until just prior to the service. Immediately following the service, interment will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg.

Verna and her family are honored to have Thomas Powell, Bobby Amborn, Andy Amborn, Hays Latham, Stan Terry Jr., Robert Terry, Dr. Walter Johnston Jr. and Beau Stahl serve as pallbearers. Verna considered them all part of her extended family of sons.

In lieu of flowers, Verna requested that memorials be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis; to The Church of the Holy Trinity, Episcopal, 900 South St., Vicksburg, MS 39180; or to the St. Martin’s Episcopal Church Endowment Fund, 717 Sage Road, Houston, TX 77056.