Retha E. Schanrock, 86, of Quitman, passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at Baptist Anderson Medical Center, surrounded by her loving family.
Retha was born to Robert Preston and Evie E. (Collins) Cooper on December 5, 1939, in Clarke County, Mississippi. To know Retha, lovingly known to her family as “Ree Ree,” was to love her. She was a woman with a truly big heart, known for her deep love of Jesus, her devotion to her family, and her ability to make everyone feel loved and cared for. She was a shining light to all who knew her. A dedicated Christian, she found joy in reading her Bible daily and was known for sharing her faith and “preaching” to her sister, Jaunice, every morning.
Retha was a beloved second mom to most of her nieces and nephews and was a wonderful sister. She loved shopping trips ―especially to Dillard’s―checking in on Facebook, playing cards, and spending Friday nights at the fish camp with her friends. She will be remembered for her amazing chicken and dumplings and her selfless dedication to taking care of everyone around her.
Those left to cherish Retha’s memory are her sister, Juanice Ballard (Teddy); her nieces, Michell Smith (Troy), Nikki Whitaker (late husband, Mike), Lisa Gordon (Larry), Jennifer Minton (Manning), and Gaye Drawdy (Brent); her nephews, Chris Ballard and Preston Cooper; a host of great and great-great nieces and nephews; her sister-in-law, Sue Cooper (late husband, Robert); along with numerous beloved friends.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harold Schanrock; her parents, Preston and Evie Cooper; her sisters, Jennie V. Hayes and Lolita Solomon; and her brother, Robert Cooper.
Visitation for Retha will be held on Saturday, March 14th, from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church in Quitman, MS. Funeral Services will begin at 12:00 p.m. with Bro. Dennis Coats officiating the ceremony. Burial will take place at Odd Fellows Cemetery.
Serving as Pallbearers for Retha’s service will be Troy Smith, Preston Cooper, Chris Ballard, Wyatt Ballard, Sawyer Ballard, Dalton Dikes, and Todd Kemp. Serving as Honorary Pallbearer is Jagger Whitaker.
The staff of Webb & Stephens Funeral Homes-North is grateful for the opportunity to honor Retha’s life and memory and to serve her loving family during this time.
Submitted by Webb & Stephens Funeral Home
