Loraine Wesson, 92, passed away Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, at North Mississippi Medical Center, Hospice Unit. She was born September 9, 1923, to Edgar and Gertrude Bush Riley. Having lived in Shannon most of her life, she was currently living at Avonlea Assisted Living in Tupelo.

During World War II, she worked in Prairie at the Gulf Ordnance Plant. She worked with her husband, Sidney Abernathy at Abernathy and Clark. Loraine held the position of Executive Director of Faith Haven and was dedicated to her work there. She was recognized with the Outstanding Citizen Award presented by Woodman of the World in 1994. She was actively involved with the Mississippi Walking Horse Association and was the first woman added to the Hall of Fame in 2003. Loraine was past chair person of the Tupelo Christian Women's Club. She was one of four awardees for the Jefferson Public Service Award in 2012. Loraine was also involved in state politics and campaigning. In her spare time, she painted with oils and loved to knit for her family.

She was a member of First Baptist Church, Shannon where she taught Sunday School, helped with the Royal Ambassadors, and was active in the Woman's Missionary Union in her church, county and Northeast Mississippi. Her main mission in life was to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone she had the pleasure of meeting.

Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, at First Baptist Church of Shannon with Rev. Mark Cayson, Rev. Randy Robbins, her first cousin, and Rev. John Davis officiating. A graveside will follow in Shannon Cemetery under the care of W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors.

Survivors include four children, Sid Abernathy (Sue), Amelia Anglin (Larry), Ed Abernathy (Debbie) and Tom Abernathy (Linda) all of Shannon; grandchildren, Tina Jolly (Scott), Sydney Abernathy, Daphne Collins (Luke Jackson), Ellen Hill (Chris), Brad Abernathy (Tina), Jason Abernathy (Alyssa), Chris Abernathy, Edgar Abernathy (Chrystal), James Abernathy, Joseph Abernathy (Ashley Say) and Courtney Reed; 15 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; brother, George Edward Riley of Collierville, Tenn.; special cousins that were more like daughters, Gail Patterson and Gigi Bistrow and a very special friend, Mary Dale Rutherford Rogers.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Sidney Abernathy; husband, Dr. Tom Wesson.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be James ""Bootie"" Sloan and Farris Homan, Jr. 

Visitation will be from 4 until 7 p.m. today, Jan. 4, 2016, at W.E. Pegues, Tupelo.

Memorials may be made to Faith Haven, P.O. Box 835, Tupelo, Mississippi 38802.

Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com.