Webb & Stephens Funeral Homes

09/29/2025

CONGRATULATIONS to our incredible director Amanda Carney for placing second as 2025 Readers' Choice Best Funeral Director in The Meridian Star! You deserve this recognition, and we are proud of all the work you do!

09/11/2025

Twenty-four years may have passed, but we will always remember 09/11/2001, the day that changed our country forever. May we lift up in prayer all who lost loved ones, all who bravely walked into the wreckage to save lives, all who fought to remind the world how strong we are, and all who love our country enough to still defend it from those who would cause her harm.
Please take a moment today to pause, reflect, and pray for our nation.
Photo: FDNY Firefighter Mike Bellatoni kneels in prayer before his initial entrance into the wreckage of the Twin Towers. Photographer: Matthew McDermott

09/06/2025

We're inching closer to 🍂autumn🍂 every day, and we know we can expect cooler weather, pumpkin spice flavored everything ☕, fall festivals, pumpkin patches, and more. We're always planning ahead and planning for change. With that being said, are you planned ahead for your final services? Let us help you with all your final wishes so that, no matter what changes life throws your way, no matter what season you find yourself in, you and your loved ones are always prepared.

08/29/2025

We will always remember August 29, 2005, the day that Katrina, a category 4 hurricane, struck our state, took the lives of over 200 Mississippians, impacted millions, and changed us forever.
Where were you when Katrina hit? What do you remember most?

May we never forget this day and pray for all of those impacted by this terrible storm.

08/18/2025

To our first responders, please join us for lunch from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm on Thursday, September 11th at our downtown location in Meridian as we honor the brave work you do for us and our community.

08/09/2025

Webb & Stephens sees the hardwork our military, police, fire, EMT, and pastor men and women do for our communities. That's why we offer a discount for pre-arranging with us-- that's always in place. No deadlines. No final offers. Just a forever promise to those who promise every day to honor, protect, and serve.

07/29/2025

Everyone join us in congratulating Kelli Shepperd! She has completed her apprenticeship and is officially a funeral director. We cannot be more excited for you, Kelli, and are grateful to have you and the exceptional work you do at Webb & Stephens!

07/22/2025

Webber Jay Kelly

Funeral services for Webber J. “Webb” Kelly will be held on Friday, July 25th, beginning at 11:00am at Neshoba Baptist Church with Bro. Will Savell officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in the church cemetery where Webb will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife, Betty.

Mr. Kelly, age 88, passed into our Savior’s arms on Monday, July 21st, at the family home he lovingly built. Webb grew up in Union, MS and lived in Neshoba and Union his entire life. He and Betty, his loving wife, were married for 68 wonderful years, until her passing in 2023. Enlisting in the United States Army in June of 1954, he served our country honorably until April 1963.

A man of many abilities, Webb was a beef cattle rancher, tree farmer, and worked in the construction industry; having built many Sears and Roebuck stores in the Southeast, and residential homes. He was a savvy businessman, who invested in various real estate opportunities. Webb painted art and carved primitive folk art, such as animals, people, and farm tools. He said, “Growing up during the depression, we were too poor to have toys, so we made them”. Much of his work has been given to his friends. For instance, if his friend were a doctor, Webb would carve a stethoscope onto the coat or if he were a farmer, Webb would carve the farmer holding a shovel. He built a tall cross on 8th Street in Meridian, placed a quarter on top of it, and made sure to tell his children about it every time they passed it. Webb also built the brick sign in front of Neshoba Baptist Church, where he was a long-time member.

He was a skilled Domino player and enjoyed watching his favorite Westerns on tv. His many musical talents (self-taught) were playing the violin, guitar, harmonica, and piano, which he played and sang, “You Are My Sunshine” each morning to get the children up for school. To know him, was to love him. He could remember everyone he had ever met throughout his lifetime. He seemed to have the Master’s touch from his early years in life but in the last of life’s stage, he would tell you that it’s never too late to receive the true touch of the Master. And that’s the most important touch of all.

Mr. Kelly is survived by his children, daughter, Lynette Fulton and her husband, Tommy, of Laurel, MS, son, Ricky Kelly of Union, MS, and daughter, Rhonda Bounds and her husband, Tony, of Union, MS; his sister, Helen Pilgrim of Arlington, TX; his grandchildren, Laurie Stewart and her husband, Daniel, of Sumrall, MS, Paige Ridout and her husband, Trent, of Little Rock, MS, Chas Lashley and his wife, Skylar, of Union, MS; along with his great grandchildren, Maddie Stewart, Mary Taylor Stewart, Addie Lashley, Rylee Lashley, Micah Lashley, and Noah Ridout.

Webb was preceded in death by his wife, Betty, and his parents, Ike and Elsie Kelly.

The family would like to extend special appreciation to Pat Brown, Regina Hollinsworth, Sherry Mitchell, Lorri Hillhouse, and Joyce Blalock for being compassionate and loving caregivers to their father.

Serving as pallbearers for Mr. Kelly’s service will be Chas Lashley, Daniel Stewart, Trent Ridout, Robert Pilgrim, Brian Gordon, and Bennie Anderson. Honorary pallbearers are Tommy Fulton, Bobby Smith, Tommy Waddle, Tony Bounds, and Robert Ezelle.

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

View Webber Jay Kelly's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

07/03/2025

06/27/2025

Webb & Stephens Begins American Flag Retirement Program to Honor Veterans
On June 20, 2025, Webb & Stephens Funeral Homes announced its flag retirement program, an initiative aimed at honoring both veterans who have passed and American flags no longer fit for display.
Webb & Stephens placed a donation bin for these flags at their location on 39 North in Meridian, MS. The Boy Scouts of America Choctaw Area Council agreed to support the program and allowed a bin to be placed at their office location on 8th Street in Meridian.
According to Webb and Stephens’s General Manager Joe Tew, the funeral home hopes to reach more people within the community who support veterans. “We want to show respect to our service members and to our country as a whole,” said Tew. “We’re grateful to our local boy scouts and hope that more organizations in Meridian will help us collect American flags.”
The United States Flag Code provides specific instructions for how to properly dispose of an American flag once it is torn or tattered beyond repair: burning the flag or placing the flag in a container and burying it in the earth. When a veteran passes and comes into Webb & Stephens’s care, the funeral home will either burn the flag with a veteran who chooses cremation or place the retired flag inside the casket of a veteran who chooses burial, forever linking the two together and honoring both.
This initiative begins a tradition for Webb & Stephens and illustrates the funeral home’s attention to those who faithfully served their country. “This program signifies the patriotism we all should have,” said Tew. “We will always strive to respect the symbol of our nation as well as the men and women who risk their lives to keep us free.”
To learn more about the program, donate a flag, or request a donation bin, please call 601-483-2206, or stop by the Webb & Stephens North location at 7774-A MS-39, Meridian, MS 39305.

06/24/2025

What Makes Webb & Stephens unique as a funeral home?
We're the only funeral home with an ALL-FEMALE staff of directors: Kelli Shepperd, Amanda Carney, and Katelyn Tomberlin!
What does it mean to be served by an all-female directors staff?
❤️More compassion, empathy, and caring for families
❤️Greater focus on details to ensure all families receive the best service
❤️A softer perception of the funeral industry paired with unrivaled leadership
❤️Beautiful, superior cosmetology (known in our world as "desairology!")
❤️Charm and personalized, special touches to the services they direct
In 1970, just 5% of funeral director program graduates were women. Today, that number has climbed to 72% nationwide. We are proud to promote Kelli's, Amanda's, and Katelyn's hardwork and recognize that while the job isn't always easy for female directors, the work they do is beyond compare.

06/20/2025

Leona McKee

Leona McKee, 80, of Union, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 16, 2025, at her home.

Leona was born to Bennie D. and Leetry D. “Moosy” (Williams) Boykin on September 8, 1944, in Union. She will be remembered as a wonderful and loving mother and grandmother. She was lovingly known as "Granny" to everyone. Leona enjoyed gardening and tending to her chickens. She was also an excellent cook, most famous for her biscuits. Leona was a strong and gentle Southern woman, who stayed active until recently due to her illness.

She is survived by her daughter, Nancy Lynette McKee; her son, Charles Nick McKee; brother, David Boykin (Annette); three grandchildren, Carmon Comans, David McKee, and John McKee; three great grandchildren, Kalie Ray Comans, Katie Ann Comans, and Carlton Kaine Comans; along with a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Bennie and Leetry Boykin; her beloved husband, Charles Arthur McKee; sister, Nancy Rhodes; brother, Carol Boykin; and her daughter, Melissa Ann Comans.

The family will hold a private gathering at a later date to celebrate Leona’s life.

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

View Leona McKee's obituary, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.