Frances Campbell
November 28, 1935 – August
4, 2009
Photo Courtesy: Susie James
Goodbye, ‘Bud’
With photo of
By SUSIE JAMES
For the Commonwealth
Frances
Campbell Jordan “Bud” Welch is famous.
Her
death early Tuesday after a years-long battle with cancer won’t change that;
nor will it change the feelings of love and respect she inspired in so many for
decades.
A few
days prior to her death, the new mayor, Mel Hawthorne, spoke of visiting with
the ailing former longtime alderman, who had not sought re-election in June. He
said thoughtfully that if there were a heart and soul of Vaiden, it was “Bud”
Welch.
She
wanted so much for the rebirth of a strong sense of community, she’d said in recent
months.
Her
roots were deep in the Vaiden area, and she explored the histories of her
origins as well as those of others who had a thirst for genealogy. She was part
of the Kennedys and the Vaidens, who were pioneers -- some might say gentry --
as this county, which is embroiled in a year-long celebration of its 175th
anniversary, was developed.
A
Yankee reporter who once worked for the
“Confederacy
of Silence” was often funny as the dickens. “Bud” talked about her experiences
with Rubin as he visited her neighborhoods, both metaphysical and real, but
ultimately she remarked that “Richard didn’t like us very much.” It’s hard to
believe she meant Rubin didn’t like “Bud” as a person.
Utterly
devoted to her family, her Shongalo Presbyterian Church, and of course her
community, “Bud” recalled ruefully that there had been a time she had not realized
how precious the county‘s records were. This oversight had long been righted,
however, and as Durward Stanton, who is Carroll County’s current circuit clerk,
said after learning of her death, “’Bud’ was a very special lady. Her heart and
soul was in her family and in Vaiden, Miss.”
In
late 2007 the elegantly designed brick structure that had housed Shongalo
Presbyterians since the late 1800s, imploded. “Bud” would live to see the near
completion of its “phoenix rising,” the construction of the new house of
worship guided by her husband, Dennis.
“Bud”
was a natural to join the group of genealogists and local historians that got
together in the late 1990s to produce “
She
loved animals, and her heart did more than just bleed for the downcast and the
abused. She was proactive. She loved reading, too, and appreciated humor as well
as the facts. If she thought she wasn’t the best source of facts about her part
of the state, though, she’d sic questioners on those she considered better
grounded. Long time friend and public servant Clarence Pierce was referred to
quite frequently.
Debbie
McClain, who for years has been deputy clerk at the Carrollton Courthouse, said
of “Bud”: “She was one of the funniest and most likable people I ever met.”
Rickie
Corley, who is Beat 5 supervisor, said, “She was one of the most loved and
respected women. She was loved by both black and white; they depended on her.
She was a historian for the community and was also active in animal welfare.
People would throw strays out, and she’d try and find them homes.”
Corley
wasn’t the exact age of her children, but he went to school with them, he said.
She had a very special quality, Corley said. “She could say things to people
that if you or I said them, they might get mad, but not if she said them,” he
added.
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Funeral Service Program
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From:
the Winona Times & Conservative website, August 7, 2009.
Vaiden mourns the loss of
beloved town leader
by Reggie Ross
Former Vaiden
Alderman Francis "Bud" Welch died earlier this week after a long
battle with cancer.
As an alderwoman, Welch served the town of
"She will be missed," Carroll County Beat Five Supervisor Ricky
Corley said. "She had a way of speaking to people straight forward that
only she could."
Corley said Welch was loved by the entire Vaiden Community and served the town
as a good citizen and leader.
Welch passed away Tuesday in Vaiden. She was 72.
"Explaining her love for Vaiden is a very difficult explanation,"
husband Dennis Welch said Tuesday afternoon. "Vaiden was her total life.
The physical town, the people and her family are what she lived for."
Welch was elected in the 1999 special election to replace then-alderwoman
Theresa Manuel, who resigned from the position.
"She (Welch) was very interested in the town," Vaiden town clerk Edie
January said. "She loved the animals as well. We don't have an animal
shelter, so she would go out of her way to take care of the animals that were neglected."
In 2001 Welch was reelected to her seat and once again in 2005.
A graduate of
Last year, Welch along with husband, Dennis, worked with the Mississippi
Department of Archives and History for funding in getting the building
completed. With Welch spearheading the process of seeking funds for the
building, MDAH would eventually grant over $10,000 to go towards the building's
renovation.
Welch said in a fall 2008 interview that she hoped the center would bring a
sense of togetherness to the town.
"People are stopping and looking at the building and they seem very happy
at what they see," Welch said.
Former mayor George Turbeville explained earlier this week that Welch's
commitment to the town is immeasurable.
"She (Welch) was one of the most dedicated people I've ever known,"
Turbeville said. "She always put God and her work first."
Turbeville said Vaiden is a better place because of Welch and also used the
renovation of the
"She worked so hard for whatever she thought would benefit the
people," Turbeville said.
Longtime Vaiden alderman Curtis Meeks also spoke about the years he spent with
Welch on the board.
"She was a very strong person, and she always got things done. When she
started something, she wanted to finish it."
When asked to describe the love his wife had for the town of
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From: http://www.clarionledger.com,
08/05/2009
Frances Welch
Mrs. Frances Campbell
Jordan “Bud” Welch passed away on Tuesday, August 4, 2009, at
Visitation will be at Oliver Funeral Home in
Bud, as she was known to everyone, was born on November 28, 1935, in Kosciusko,
Mississippi, to Frances Wright Jordan and Dewitt Campbell Jordan. She grew up
in Vaiden.
She graduated from
Bud also began a career with the U.S. Postal Service and retired from that
occupation more than thirty years later. She and her husband opened several
other businesses in Vaiden including a service station and a supermarket.
Bud greatly loved her church, Shongalo Presbyterian, in Vaiden. She enjoyed
singing in the choir and participating in the women’s circle.
She served several terms on the Vaiden Board of Aldermen and as Vice Mayor. She
was a member of the Third Arrow Chapter of the Daughters of the American
Revolution in
Bud was the manager of
Bud was preceded in death by her parents and a son, William Logue Welch.
She is survived by her husband, Dennis E. Welch; son, Dennis Dewitt Welch and
wife, Nina, of Grenada; son, James Richard Welch and wife, Cynthia, of
Meridian; brother, Dewitt C. Jordan and wife, Joyce, of Cary, North Carolina;
brother, James Vaiden Jordan and wife, Marilyn, of Rochester, New York;
granddaughter, Chelsea Denise Welch of Oxford; grandson, James Edward Welch of
Meridian; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Myeloma Institute for Research and
Therapy, 4301 W. Markham,
An online guestbook may be signed at www.ofhwinona.com.
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From the Oliver Funeral
Home Website – http://ofhwinona.com,
08/05/2009
(November 28, 1935 - August 4, 2009)
Funeral services for Frances "Bud" Welch of Vaiden will
be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 7, at Oliver Chapel, with burial
following in
Mrs. Welch died of cancer at
Bud, as she was known to everyone, was born on November 28,
1935, in Kosciusko, Mississippi, to Frances Wright Jordan and Dewitt Campbell
Jordan. She grew up in Vaiden. She graduated from
Bud greatly loved her church, Shongalo Presbyterian, in
Vaiden. She enjoyed singing in the choir and participating in the women’s
circle. She served several terms on the Vaiden Board of Aldermen and as
Vice Mayor. She was a member of the Third Arrow Chapter of the Daughters
of the American Revolution in
Bud was the manager of
and heirlooms handed down to her.
Bud was preceded in death by her parents and a son, William
Logue Welch. She is survived by her husband, Dennis E. Welch; son Dennis
Dewitt Welch and wife, Nina, of Grenada; son James Richard Welch and wife,
Cynthia, of Meridian;; brother Dewitt C. Jordan and wife, Joyce, of Cary, North
Carolina; brother James Vaiden Jordan and wife, Marilyn, of Rochester, New
York; granddaughter Chelsea Denise Welch of Oxford; grandson James Edward Welch
of Meridian; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Ken McDougal, Wayne McDonald, Marion
Jones, and Joe Don Jones. Honorary pallbearers will be Ralph Self, George
Willis Turbeville, Bernard Sanders, and Dr. Tom Dulin.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Myeloma Institute
for Research and Therapy, 4301 W. Markham,
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From the Greenwood Commonwealth website, August 5, 2009
Frances
Services for Frances “Bud” Welch will be at 10 am.
Friday at Oliver Funeral Home in
Mrs. Welch passed away Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009, at
Bud, as she was known to everyone, was born Nov. 28, 1935, in Kosciusko to
Bud greatly loved her church, Shongalo Presbyterian, in Vaiden. She enjoyed
singing in the choir and participating in the women’s circle. She served
several terms on the Vaiden Board of Aldermen and as vice mayor. She was a
member of the Third Arrow Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution
in
Bud was the manager of
Bud was preceded in death by her parents and a
son, William Logue Welch.
She is survived by her husband, Dennis E. Welch; two sons, Dennis Dewitt Welch
of Grenada and James Richard Welch of Meridian; two brothers, Dewitt C. Jordan
of Cary, N.C., and James Vaiden Jordan of Rochester, N.Y.; two grandchildren
and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, 4301 W.
Markham,
An
online guestbook may be signed at www.ofhwinona.com.
-------------
From:
the Winona Times & Conservative website, August 7, 2009.
Frances Campbell
Mrs.
Frances "Bud" Welch passed away on Tuesday, August 4, 2009, at
Bud, as she was known to everyone, was born on November 28, 1935, in Kosciusko,
Mississippi, to Frances Wright Jordan and Dewitt Campbell Jordan. She grew up
in Vaiden. She graduated from
Bud greatly loved her church, Shongalo Presbyterian, in Vaiden. She enjoyed
singing in the choir and participating in the women's circle. She served
several terms on the Vaiden Board of Aldermen and as Vice Mayor. She was a
member of the Third Arrow Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution
in
Bud was the manager of
Bud was preceded in death by her parents and a son, William Logue Welch. She is
survived by her husband, Dennis E. Welch; son Dennis Dewitt Welch and wife,
Nina, of Grenada; son James Richard Welch and wife, Cynthia, of Meridian;;
brother Dewitt C. Jordan and wife, Joyce, of Cary, North Carolina; brother
James Vaiden Jordan and wife, Marilyn, of Rochester, New York; granddaughter
Chelsea Denise Welch of Oxford; grandson James Edward Welch of Meridian; and
numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Myeloma Institute for Research and
Therapy, 4301 W. Markham,
An online guestbook may be signed at www.ofhwinona.com.
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From the
August 5, 2009
Frances
Campbell
Funeral
services for Frances Campbell Jordan “Bud” Welch, 73, are at 10 a.m. Friday at
Oliver Funeral Home in
Visitation
is Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mrs. Welch died Aug. 4, 2009, at
Bud,
as she was known to everyone, was born on Nov. 28, 1935, in Kosciusko, to the
late
Bud greatly loved her church, Shongalo Presbyterian, in Vaiden. She enjoyed
singing in the choir and participating in the women’s circle. She served
several terms on the Vaiden Board of Aldermen and as Vice Mayor.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, William Logue
Welch.
Survivors include her husband, Dennis E. Welch; two sons Dennis Dewitt Welch of
Grenada and James Richard Welch of Meridian; two brothers, Dewitt C. Jordan of
Cary, N.C., and James Vaiden Jordan of Rochester, N.Y.; a granddaughter, a
grandson, and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Myeloma Institute for Research and
Therapy, 4301 W. Markham,
Oliver Funeral Home of
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From the Author
Bud Welch was the first
person to send me information to put on the Vaiden site. She was elated that Vaiden – her town – would
have one more outlet to be known to the world.
Vaiden is the only community,
town or city in the world with that name, and Bud Welch was the historian of
Vaiden. I have amassed a great amount of
knowledge about Vaiden from Bud over the years, and continue to do so. I take pride in knowing that I can help the
world to know about the town of
Thank You for being a part
of my life and instilling a love for
August 16, 2009