Edith Haywood Whiteside Delk, 96, loving and affectionately known as “Mama E”, died Monday, November 8, 2021 at Maury Regional Medical Center.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 11:00 A.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with her grandsons, Jason Delk and Jacob Holmes officiating. Burial will follow in Delk Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 3:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. at the funeral home.
The family suggests memorials to Columbia Academy, 1101 West Seventh Street, Columbia, TN 38401 or Greenfield Bend Church of Christ, c/o Neil Delk, 4462 Greenfield Bend Road, Williamsport, TN 38487. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com.
Born June 16, 1925 in Maury County, she was the daughter of the late Ben Oscar Whiteside and the late Annie Mary Pogue Whiteside. On December 23, 1947, she married Mayfield B. Delk who preceded her in death on January 26, 1972. Mrs. Delk was a graduate of Hampshire High School, where she played basketball. At the age of 90, she participated in the Hampshire Alumni game by throwing the inbounds pass to start the second half of the game. She loved sports and attended every game she could when her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren played or coached any sport.
Mrs. Delk worked many years with the U.S Postal Service, beginning her career as a Substitute Mail Clerk at Williamsport Post Office, then Postmaster at Delrose, Tennessee, and later transferred to Duck River Post Office in Shady Grove where she retired in December of 1989.
She was a member of Greenfield Bend Church of Christ and was a member of the Columbia Academy Associates for several years and attended every Grandparents Day at Columbia Academy.
Survivors include her daughters, Susie (Tony) Sowell of Santa Fe; Anna (Steve) Holmes of Williamsport; son, Neil (Nancy) Delk of Williamsport; brother, Cecil (Letha Lou) Whiteside of Hampshire; nine grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Hortense (Edward) Delk, Kathleen (Charles) Morton, Vera (Jerry) Grimes; and brother, Paul N. (Carmen) Whiteside.
Mrs. Delk’s grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.
