DREW — Lenagene Gibson Waldrup, age 89, passed away Thursday, June 26.
A memorial service was held 2 p.m. Saturday, June 28, at Ray Funeral Home in Cleveland.
She was born August 22, 1935. She graduated from Delta State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education, a Master of Education and a Doctoral degree in Education.
Lenagene received the Commercial Appeal’s 2010 Jefferson Award presented in recognition of community service. She was awarded the 2010 Governor’s Award of Excellence in the Arts presented by the Mississippi Arts Commission. In 2011 she was selected to receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award. She served on the Jim Henson Museum board for many years in Leland.
She was a member of the Webb Baptist Church, where she served as an organist.
Wilma Wilbanks sums up Lenagene’s love for the Delta Arts Alliance. “Lenagene was instrumental in the founding and establishment of the Delta Arts Alliance, serving on the inaugural Board of Directors and co-authoring the mission statement and governing documents for the organization. Her passion for arts education for children, coupled with her professional expertise, led to the development of the DAA Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program in numerous schools across the Mississippi Delta, impacting the lives of thousands of children. Lenagene developed the curriculum, secured grant funding, recruited the artist, and worked hand-in-hand with school administrators to ensure the success of the program. Without Lenagene, there would have been no effective arts education in the schools offered by Delta Arts Alliance! She was the driving force in shaping that aspect of our mission. She made it happen!”
Lenagene is preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Walter Everette Gibson Sr. and Mrs. Nora Williams; her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Turley Williams; her grandson, Austin Len Ellis; and her sister, Mary Geniveive Caldwell.
She is survived by her loving husband of 70 years, Billy Joe Waldrup; her children, Cindy Ellis (Mike), Kay Waldrup, Becky Gourlay (William, Royanne Lewis (Denny), Bill Waldrup (Lessie) and Debra Sanford (John); her 11 grandchildren, Almon Ellis (Michelle), Gibson Ellis (Olivia), Blair Dorrough, Rayanne Hollis (Van), Lena Koenig (Nick) Trey Waldrup, Colleen Williams (Will), Roy Waldrup (Ragan), John David Sanford (Mallory), Brandon Sanford (Nicole), Blake Sanford; and 16 great-grandchildren. She is survived by one nephew, Jimmy Caldwell (Debra) and a special cousin, Mary Anna Nelson (David).
