Heather Ree Slay

Heather Ree Slay passed away on August 27, 2022 at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston. The daughter of Richard Wesley Slay and Ginger Watkins, she was born on October 22, 1973 in Columbus. In 1979, the family moved to Jackson where Heather attended Jackson Academy for 12 years. She then attended Auburn University where she received a bachelor’s degree in psychology. At Auburn, she was a member of the Delta Zeta sorority. In 2000, Heather graduated cum laude from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. She made her home in Houston where she practiced with a major law firm. She was an outstanding attorney winning many awards throughout law school and her career.

She came into the world a happy baby, with big bright blue eye, always smiling. Her first school friends named her “Smiley”. Heather never met a stranger throughout her life. She had many friends wherever she was. She was loving, caring, funny, smart, and beautiful. She had a heart of gold, always lending a helping hand to the underdog. Heather often volunteered at various shelters including battered women. The year of her death, she had a family living with her on asylum from Africa; a young mother and her three children. She was a member of St. Anne’s Catholic Church.

However, her biggest accomplishment was her four children. She was so proud of each of them. Heather will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Survivors include her children; Phillippa Frances Powers, Hannah Katie Powers, Ginger Drew Powers, and Raymond Wesley Powers, all of Houston; her partner, Robert “Chip” Downey of Houston; her parents, Ginger Watkins of Ridgeland, and Richard Wesley (Martha) Slay of Gluckstadt; her brother, Wes (Lindley) Slay; two step siblings, Shellie Graham (mike) Kirby of Clinton, LA, and J.W. “Boomer” (Sabrina) Graham of Pelahatchie; her paternal grandmother, Margie Ree Slay of Quitman; the father of their children, Jason A. Powers; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Heather was predeceased by grandparents, Philip Watkins, Imogene Watkins, and Wesley Wyatt Slay.

Services will be held on October 1, 2022, at St. Richard Catholic Church, with a visitation at 10 AM followed by the funeral mass at 11 AM. A private family burial will be held at Parkway Memorial Cemetery on Highland Colony Parkway.

Memorials may be made to Catholic Charities, Inc of Jackson, MS.

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