Barbara Jean McRae

Barbara Jean Bright McRae, a longtime resident of DeKalb, Mississippi, went home to be with the Lord in Jackson on March 27, 2025. She was 93 years old.

The next to last child in a large, loving family of 12 children, Jean, as she was called for most of her life, was born in Choctaw County. As the daughter of a carpenter, she moved frequently during her early years, their family traveling to where jobs were. One of her fondest memories was their time as a family during World War II living at Camp McCain where her father was building barracks for the soldiers. A prized possession later in life was a badge from Camp McCain that kind officers gave her once when she visited there.

Eventually her family settled in Memphis, where she attended White Haven High School. She recalled those days with great affection and attended many high school reunions to enjoy reminiscing with her classmates.

She was the last of her siblings to leave home. While living with her parents as a young adult, she absolutely adored spending time with nieces and nephews. She was the “cool” Aunt Jean who took them to see movies and ballgames and on all kinds of fun outings. She also took them ice skating, wearing beautiful skating outfits.

In 1958, she had a whirlwind courtship with Reginald McRae of DeKalb. They were both in the bridal party of a February wedding and had their own wedding in October of the same year. Their two daughters arrived before long, and shortly after she began keeping books at the DeKalb branch of McRae & Company, working with her husband.

She was a whiz at numbers. As a bookkeeper, she was known for her precision. If the books were only a few pennies off, she knew all the tricks for finding and correcting the error. For most of her career, she worked with her husband at McRae & Company, and later at his own business, East Central Gas Service in Philadelphia. When he sold the business and retired, she began working for the Town of DeKalb and remained there until her own retirement several years later. She also kept books for DeKalb Presbyterian Church where she was a member.

She came from a very musical family and had a beautiful alto voice. She sang in the choir at church and as a soloist for weddings of family and friends. She was a very accomplished self-taught seamstress and made many beautiful dresses and outfits for herself and especially her daughters.

Baking was another specialty. She was known for her cheese straws, apple-dapple cake, chocolate sheet cake, and cheesecakes most of all. She loved making goodies to enjoy and share with others. When her adult daughters came home to visit, more times than not they left with treats to take back and share with their own friends and coworkers.

But where she really shined was in being a wife and mother. Her husband, who was 10 years her senior, developed diabetes as an adult and she was so faithful to help him stay healthy. Near the end of his life, she spent many days making sure he was taken care of, especially following a rough season when he battled throat cancer. She loved him faithfully for 48 years of marriage until his passing in 2007.

The next few years, she bravely learned to live alone, enjoying all-number fill-it-in puzzles, picking up pecans, and enjoying the company of her little Jack Russell terrier, “Deuce.” She and her daughters enjoyed several trips during those days, including a trip to Branson. One of the best trips was a journey down memory lane to Memphis and all her old high school haunts. They enjoyed the spring tulips at Biltmore one year, too.

Not long after the Biltmore adventure, life took a little turn as she started down a long road with Alzheimer’s. As it does, the disease loosened many things from her grip. But one thing she never lost was recognition of her daughters. She loved them fiercely, and never looked at them without love in her eyes.

According to her own testimony, she had asked Jesus to be her Savior. So now, she is in His presence, whole, healed, and full of joy.

She is survived by her daughters, Regina “Gina” McRae and Rhonda McRae of Ridgeland, and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews whom she loved very much.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Reginald Lowry McRae, her parents and all her wonderful brothers and sisters: Parents, J.W. and Mary Bright; siblings Lexie Henson, Nancy Henson, Pauline Bright, Robert Bright, Dorothy Driver, Coyce McGaugh, Evelyn Mailloux, Abner Bright, Wesley Bright, Janelle Harwood, and Bonnie Carpenter.

Her daughters would like to offer heartfelt thanks to special people who helped make her latter days the very best possible: Rita Steele, the staff at The Blake at Township memory care, the staff at Compere’s Nursing Home, and the staff, especially hospice nurse Tamara Barbaro, at Accent Hospice Care.

There will be a visitation in DeKalb at Webb & Stephens Funeral Home from 1-2 pm on Tuesday, April 1st, followed by a graveside service at McRae Cemetery in DeKalb at 2:30 pm, with Reverend Wally Bumpas officiating the service. In Jackson, there will be visitation beginning at 10 am on Friday, April 4th, with a memorial service at 11 am at First Presbyterian Church of Jackson. The family would be grateful for any memorial gifts to French Camp Academy, Lake Forest Ranch Camp, and the Choir Fund of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson.

The staff of Webb & Stephens Funeral Homes-DeKalb is grateful for the opportunity to honor Jean’s life and memory and to serve her loving family during this time.

“Her children rise up and call her blessed . . .” Proverbs 31:28