Cecil Purnell
Born: May 21st, 1920
Died: August 26th, 2011
Obituary
Cecil Purnell, 91, formerly of Burlington, died in Kansas City, Missouri, on Friday, August 26, 2011, at 6:08 p.m. Born on May 21, 1920, in Alcorn, Mississippi, she was the daughter of John C. and Mary Ardenia Patten Thomas. She married Nathan Jefferson in 1944 in Mississippi. He preceded her in death. Cecil was a homemaker, and also worked at Hotel Burlington. She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She was a member of Greater Hope Missionary Baptist Church. She is survived by six sons, Lovie Thomas, LeRoy Jefferson & Aloshis Jefferson, all of Burlington, Iowa, Bobbie Jefferson of Kansas City, Missouri, Travoris Jefferson of Monmouth, Illinois, Gentric Hicks of Ft. Madison, Iowa; four daughters, Sara Jefferson of Burlington, Iowa, Loisteen Farley of Kansas City, Missouri, Marquitta Jefferson of Kansas City, Missouri, and Tamika Jefferson of Jonesboro, Arkansas; two brothers, Chester Thomas of Freeport, Illinois and James Thomas of Country Club Hills, Illinois; three sisters, Sarah Crump of Tampa, Florida, Kathleen Weatherspoon of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Martha Owens of Chicago, Illinois; over 200 grandchildren and over 200 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, one daughter, Joyce Jefferson, four sons, Jimmy Thomas, Willy James Jefferson, Earnest Jefferson, and Nathan Jefferson, five brothers, John, Jesse, J.C., William, & Richard Thomas; and two sisters, Lucille Hurth Atwell & Lula B. Brooks. Funeral services for Cecil Purnell will be held on Thursday, September 8, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at Prugh's Chapel, Burlington, Iowa. Rev. James Thomas and Rev. John Hurts will officiate. Interment will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery, Burlington, Iowa. The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. in Prugh's Chapel. A memorial has been established.