LAUREL — Winnie Louise Renfroe, a former resident, died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011, at ComfortCare Nursing Center in Laurel. She was 87.

Mrs. Renfroe was born Dec. 4, 1923, in Lucedale, but lived most of her life in Vicksburg. She was a graduate of Leakesville High School in Leakesville and Perkinston Junior College in Perkinston, Miss. She received her degree as a registered nurse at the Vicksburg Hospital School of Nursing in 1945. During nursing school she received the prestigious Florence Nightingale Award. In the 40 years that she practiced nursing, she diligently served as a private duty nurse, a staff nurse and later held a supervisory nursing position at Vicksburg Hospital. She was a member of Bowmar Baptist Church and the Bowmar Senior Saints. She loved flowers and she loved to garden. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.

She was married to the late Charles Thomas “C.T.” Renfroe Sr., of Vicksburg.

Survivors include three children, Charles Thomas Renfroe Jr. (wife Louise) of Bartlett, Tenn., Douglas Lee Renfroe (wife Sheryl) of Raymond and Linda Renfroe Gavin (husband Bruce) of Laurel; eight grandchildren, Mary Matthews of Boulder, Colo., Marti Oliva of Lafayette, Colo., Katie Carter and Betsy Wade of Bartlett, James Renfroe of Seattle, Kris Gavin of Memphis, Lindsey Gavin of Daphne, Ala., and Luke Renfroe of Raymond; and 13 great-grandchildren, Stephen Carter, Will Carter, Emily Wade, Maddie Wade, Bryant Wade, Joseph Oliva, Katherine Oliva, Kristen Oliva, Ivy Matthews, Macy Matthews, Austin Chapman, Christian Renfroe and Kaitlyn Renfroe.

One grandson, Douglas Lee Renfroe Jr. of Killeen, Texas, preceded her in death. Mrs. Renfroe’s parents were the late William Harrison Allen and Winnie McLeod Allen of Lucedale. She was one of nine children, all of whom preceded her in death. They were Bertha Allen of Mobile, Herbert Allen, Bessie Allen, T.D. Allen, Helen Allen and Daniel Allen, all of Lucedale, Henry Allen of Baton Rouge and Dr. Edward Allen of Monroe, La.

Mrs. Renfroe lived the last two years of her life at ComfortCare Nursing Center to be closer to her daughter, Linda. When she died Tuesday morning, she was surrounded by family and the many caregivers who loved and admired her.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 tonight at Fisher Funeral Home. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Kris Gavin (grandson), Keith Renfroe (nephew), Edgar Hughes (nephew), Jason Wade (husband of her granddaughter), Ken Carter (husband of granddaughter) and Stephen Carter (great-grandson). The Rev. T.J. Tennison of Bowmar Baptist Church will officiate the service. Burial will follow at the Greenlawn Gardens Cemetery.