Mrs. Laverne Sanders Hellums, 86, died Tuesday, July 26, 2016, at Ridge View at Meadow Brook in Birmingham, Alabama. The memorial service will be Saturday, July 30, 2016, at 12 p.m. at Oxford-University United Methodist Church with the Rev. Eddie Rester and the Rev. Warren Black officiating. Visitation will be prior to the service beginning at 11 a.m. in the activity center of the church.  A private graveside service will follow at Oxford Memorial Cemetery.  Waller Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Born in Paris, Mississippi, the only child of the late Marvel Kisner and Gurvis Oswell Sanders, Mrs. Hellums was a longtime member of OUUMC and a member of PEO.  A 1948 graduate of Yocona High School, she attended MSCW and went on to earn her undergraduate and Masters degrees from Ole Miss before completing her PhD at Oklahoma State University in 1982.  In 1988, she was awarded the title of State Home Economist of the Year before retiring from the University of Mississippi as director of educational training of the National School Food Service Institute in 1992.  She was very proud of her work in co editing the cookbook “Rebel Recipes,” still a staple of many Ole Miss kitchens. Prior to the university, she taught at South Panola and Taylor High Schools. She married her husband of 65 years on February 17, 1951, one of the first weddings in the new sanctuary at OUUMC. Laverne was a gracious hostess and fabulous cook who loved entertaining friends and family. She traveled the world and made friends everywhere she went. She maintained her impeccable taste and appearance until the very end.

Survivors include her husband, James Hellums of Birmingham, Alabama; Sally Woolley and her husband, Tim of Birmingham, Alabama, and two grandchildren, Emily Taylor and her husband, Jerry of New Orleans, and J.P. Woolley. She was predeceased by a daughter, Alicia.

Memorial contributions in Mrs. Hellums’ memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 2170 Business Center Drive, Suite 1, Memphis, TN 38134.

For additional information or to sign an online guestbook, visit www.wallerfuneralhome.comor call 662-234-7971.