Flora Mae Arant Womack died on Sunday, October 26, 2025 at the age of 102. She was born in Monroe, La. on March 5, 1923 to Julia Day and Edwin Hunt Arant. A private burial will take place Thursday, November 6 at 10 a.m. at Magnolia Way Cemetery in Pocohontas. Visitation will be held at 11 a.m. at Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church followed by a service at 12 noon.
Flora Mae lost her mother to disease at age three, and because of her father’s poor health moved to Magee to live with her aunt and uncle, Nell Day and Otis Judson Biglane. She attended Magee Public Schools where she was named Miss Magee High School and graduated as valedictorian in 1941. She attended Millsaps College where she majored in biology, was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, and met her future husband.
Following graduation from Millsaps, in June 1945, Flora Mae married Noel Catchings Womack, Jr. and moved to Philadelphia, Penn. where Noel attended Thomas Jefferson Medical School. After a residency in Memphis, Flora Mae and Noel returned to Jackson where he practiced pediatric medicine for forty-two years and they raised their three children.
Flora Mae was a full five feet of boundless energy. She loved her family, her volunteer work, her community of friends in all parts of the world, and she was always ready for a good party. She was an active member of Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church, where she served on the Layman’s Board and was a Methodist Youth Group leader. Flora Mae was a member of the Junior League of Jackson. She treasured her time as a member of the Mississippi Museum of Art Gallery Guild and Board of Directors. She served on the Millsaps Alumni Board and received the Jim Livesay Award for volunteer service in 1992. Her broad spectrum of interests resulted in membership in several luncheon clubs, the Discussion Club, an Investment Club, the Play Readers Club, and many other organizations. Flora Mae never met a stranger. She loved people and people loved her.
She is preceded in death by her mother, father, aunt, uncle, husband, son, Noel Catchings Womack, III, and son-in-law, Jesse Coggins. She is survived by her children, David Womack (Susan) of Jackson and Julia Womack Coggins of North Bend, Ore. She is also survived by grandchildren Noel Womack IV (Roxanne) of Oxford, Christopher Womack (Christine) of Birmingham, David Judson Womack II (Brittany) of Tupelo, Judson Arant Womack of Jackson, and three great-grandchildren, Audrey Womack and Ava Womack of Birmingham, and Eleanor Womack of Tupelo.
The family is grateful to the devoted caretakers at St. Catherine’s Village, especially the staff at Campbell Cove and the Hughes Center, Sister Dorothea Sondgeroth, Lisa Wilburn, and Dr. George Patton along with the family of Edna Hamilton, who meant so much to Flora Mae and the Womack family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church, 305 N. Congress St., Jackson, MS 39201, Millsaps College, 1701 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39210, or Mississippi Museum of Art, 380 S. Lamar Street, Jackson, MS 39201.
