Miriam Mars

MEMORIAL SERVICE:TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 20144:00 P. M. MCCLAIN-HAYS CHAPELWITH VISITATION BEGINNING AT 3:00 P. M.OFFICIATING:  REV. FRED BRITTON Miriam Mars, 52, of Philadelphia, Mississippi, passed away January 24, 2014 at her home. Miriam, a lifelong educator, teacher, assistant principal, and curriculum specialist, spent over twenty years teaching at Philadelphia High School and for the Choctaw Tribal Schools. The daughter of Mont and Dawn Mars, Miriam inherited her parents’ love of animals and nature. Although she resided in the city for most of her life, Miriam was an avid equestrian, and it was her desire to live in the country and to be nearer to her horses that led her to make her home at Red Fox Run on her family’s farm. Because of her passion and love for animals, Miriam dedicated much of her time to fostering and finding homes for dozens of sheltered and abandoned animals. Among her greatest joys was her family, including her loving daughter, Jessica, and her precious grandson, Jackson. She also enjoyed watching the Philadelphia Tornadoes and the Ole Miss Rebels, reading, collecting pottery and Choctaw Indian baskets, cooking, making jewelry, creating flower and greenery arrangements, and playing cards, especially Shanghai and Bridge. Survivors include her daughter, Jessica Long Pickering (Blake); grandson, Jackson Isaac Pickering; parents, Mont and Dawn Mars; brothers, James (Kim) Mars and Dan (Sherry) Mars; sister, Dawn Lea (Jeremy) Chalmers; and nieces and nephews, Adam (Casey) Mars, William (Carol Marie) Mars, Sarah Mars, Mary Lea (Cole) Burkhalter, Sam (Jillian) Mars, Fent Mars, Abe Mars, Hadley Chalmers, and Charlie Chalmers. She also had eight great-nieces and nephews: Mary Montgomery Mars, Maddox Mars, Jax Mars, Alex Mars, Bailey Pilgrim, Caroline Mars, Will Mars, and Della Burkhalter. Donations may be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals online at http://www.aspca.org/ or mailed to:ASPCAAttention:  Gift Processing CenterP. O. Box 96929Washington, DC  20090-6929,your favorite animal shelter or to a charity of your choice.