Marilyn Dee Haywood Welch Griffin , 89, of the Stockman Community of Shelby County, went to be with the Lord on January 19, 2024.

She was born November 5, 1934, to Jim and Stella Haywood.  Miss Marilyn loved her family, friends, and loved life.  She never met a stranger.  Marilyn was a door greeter for Wal-Mart in Center for many years.  If she met you once, she recognized you forever as one of my customers.  She was loved by a big family and many friends.  Marilyn had many little sayings that each one of her children, grandchildren, and friends will remember of her.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Claudine Moore, Ardell Bardwell, Hester Blackwell, James Haywood; son, Bobby Welch; three grandchildren; and one great grandchild.

Marilyn is survived by daughters, Delois Blackwell of Nacogdoches, and Rebecca and Bobby Strong of Carthage; sons, Larry and Francine Welch of Springs, Colorado and Jimmy and Marilyn Welch of Stockman; seven grandchildren, Delisa Carroll, Terry Welch, Chris Welch, Jamie Welch, Anthony Welch, Buddy Strong, and Robert Strong; many great grandchildren and great great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.

Services will be at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 25, 2024, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center with visitation on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Burial will be in the Blair Cemetery in Timpson.  Officiating the services will be Bro. Robert Strong and Buddy Strong.

Pallbearers will be Joshua Strong, John Strong, Austin Eldridge, and Anthony Welch.