Jewel Ross

CAIRO, Ill. -- Jewel Mae Ross, 88, of Cairo died Friday, Feb. 18, 2005, at Life Care Center in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Aug. 13, 1916, in Cairo, daughter of Candice Luther and Lucy Hatfield Wheeler. She married James Ross, who died Dec. 24, 1991.

Ross was a graduate of Summer High School. She was a cook 25 years with Cairo public schools at Emerson and Bennett schools. She was a member of First Baptist Church.

Survivors include four nieces, Barbara Wheeler and Veronica Hall of St. Louis, Deborah Moore of Brooklyn, N.Y., Lena Hall of Chicago; and two nephews, Othell Gregory of Newark, N.J., and Randy Hall of Grandview, Mo.

Friends may call from 8 a.m. to service time Friday at First Baptist Church.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. Darryl Cox officiating. Burial will be in National Cemetery at Mound City, Ill.

Williams Funeral Home in Charleston, Mo., is in charge of arrangements.