Peggy Jean Tuma

Funeral services were held Thursday, August 13, 2009 at Whitesand Baptist Church in Prentiss, MS for Mrs. Peggy Jean Tuma, age 61, of Prentiss, who passed away August 10, 2009 at her residence in Prentiss. Internment followed at Whitesand Cemetery. Dr. F. W. Tripp, Rev. Charles Burnham, Rev. L. C. Anthony and Former Governor Bill Waller, Sr. officiated. Pall bearers were Jeffrey Lee, Tim Lee, Brian Blackman, Keith Drakeford, John Lee, Jay Allen and Dustin Smith. Honorary pall bearers were Harold Rhodes, Eddie Smith, Dan Hinrichs, Jeff Riggs, Rick Cooper, Mims Berry, Jr., Pat Keith, Nate Blount, Curtis Wilson, Danny Sinclair and Mitchell Roberts. Peggy Jean Tuma was born, February 28, 1948 on a farm eight miles north of Prentiss to Reggie and Lurlean Lee. She has been an active resident of the Prentiss area for over 61 years. Early, she was active in church and high school activities. Currently she is a member of Prentiss Presbyterian Church. Her career started as an office associate at Sears, then to The Prentiss Headlight. Her restaurant career was initiated in convenience stores before starting the County Fisherman restaurant at the “Old Ford Garage” location on Columbia Avenue in Prentiss. She started the business on a “Shoe String” with used equipment, southern family recipes and a fierce determination to succeed. She personally tasted and evaluated every dish before it went to the buffet line for her customers. She set the County Fisherman “expected level of performance” that customers appreciated and grew to expect. Currently there are four franchise locations--Prentiss, Mendenhall, Jackson and Laurel. All locations have employees that were trained by Peggy. The Country Fisherman grew beyond her wildest dreams. Her accomplishments have been recognized by state and local organizations. The most prestigious is the Cornerstone Award given the first time by the Mississippi Restaurant Association to Peggy in 2003. The Mississippi Magazine awarded the Prentiss Country Fisherman the “Best Family Buffet” in 2005. Local awards include the “Salute to Business” award in 2002 and “Business of the Year” award in 1994 both given by the Jefferson Davis Community Development Association. In 2006, Jefferson Davis Fire Chiefs and Public Safety Personnel presented her an award for donating more than 5000 meals to Hurricane Katrina workers. There have also been many other appreciations and honors given by local civic clubs. Peggy is survived by her husband, Harold Tuma; sons, Stephen Upton and Craig Upton; step daughters, Nancy Hinrichs, Stacy Cooper, Karen Keith and Diane Wilson; sisters, Margaret Jones, Helen McRaney, Elizabeth Shows; brothers, David Lee, Calvin Lee and Glen Lee; and ten grandchildren. The love, respect and affection for Peggy by her family, employees, customers and friends is a great tribute to the thoughtful and caring ways she treated all. She was always generous with her time and money and especially with her love and affection for her family, her community and her friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, 4800 I-55 North, Suite 30, Jackson, MS 39211.