Ella Knight

Ella Mae Knight, age 93, of Corinth, Mississippi passed away June 1, 2022. A family and friends gathering for Ella will be held June 4, 2022 from 12:00 to 2:00 pm at McPeters Funeral Directors followed by a celebration of life at 2:00 pm.

Ella was born August 4, 1928 in Corinth, MS to Otis D. and Frona B. Huff. She was the fourth born of seven children, Henry Huff, George Huff, Susie McGee, then Ella Mae, Thomas Huff, James Russell Huff and finally Otis Lee Huff.

Ella Mae Huff Knight could grow anything. Her home in Corinth was surrounded by growing things – vegetables in the garden out back, exotic plants and flowers in her greenhouses, African violets and orchids down in the basement. People would bring her their plants, for her to save. With the same love and care, she grew a family: three children, five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Eventually, no matter where life would take them, they would find their way back to Mama’s house and join her at the long kitchen table for a hand of Rummy or a slice of German chocolate cake.

Growing up, she worked hard on the family farm and years later would amaze her grandchildren and friends with stories about her childhood. In 1946, she married Julian O. Knight, and they were married for 56 years until his death in 2002. They lived in Memphis for years before moving back to Corinth. They had three children, June, Cathy and Stan.

Ella Mae was highly competitive and not afraid of a little colorful language. In her family, everyone would compete to be the first to say “Christmas Eve Gift!” on Dec. 24, so she would stay up late on Dec. 23 to be ready at the stroke of Midnight. She never let any grandchild win at Rummy if she could help it.

She was artistic. She loved to draw and paint when she had free time. She had a piano that she wished she could play better, and so encouraged her kids and grandkids to take up musical instruments.

She had a special way of providing a forever warm hug to her family. Each of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren have received a unique handmade quilt made by her loving hands.

Ella Mae loved her family fiercely. She was the glue, the connector, the caregiver. When it was time to celebrate –a graduation, a marriage, a job, a holiday– she’d host. She was the keeper of the family stories. If anyone in the family was going through a tough time, she would be there with whatever lifeline might be needed. She even delivered one of her granddaughters in the backseat of a car on the way to the hospital.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and siblings.

She is survived by her three children, June Owens (George), Cathy Knight Spisak (Michael) and Stan Knight (Louisa); five grandchildren, Erik Perel (Erica and great-grandchildren, Harrison, Ellamarie, Owen) and Carey Perel (Ashley and great-grandchildren Simon and Odell), Lauren Butler (Shade and great-grandchildren Bay and Lake), Sara Todd (Rusty and great-grandchildren Knight and Rush) and Zachary Spisak. She was loved and cherished by many nieces and nephews, especially Lana and Buddy Burns, Diane McGee and Robert Knight.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mcpetersfuneraldirectors.com for the Knight family.