Belva Johnston Pleasants

Belva Johnston Pleasants, 93, of Minter City passed away peacefully at the home of her daughter on Nov. 29, 2022.

Belva was born on Nov. 9, 1929, in Chunky, Mississippi.  Her family moved to Grenada, where she graduated from high school.  She attended Mississippi State College for Women.  After two years of college, she married Hal, her loving husband of 70 years.  They proudly raised their family in the country outside of Minter City.

Belva, who had been a homemaker, decided to start a career as a Realtor at the age of 52. Prior to buying Short Street Realty Co. Inc., she had worked there for six years and continued working until she retired in 2019. During this time, she served as president of the Greenwood Board of Realtors. She was inducted into the Mississippi Realtors Hall of Fame in 2007.

Belva loved her home and community and was an exemplary model of volunteerism.  She was one of the founders of Pillow Academy and served as the first secretary of the Pillow Academy Parent Teachers Association.  She served as the president of Greenwood Little THEATRE and was secretary of Matinee Musicale of Greenwood. Belva was director of the Greenwood-Leflore County Chamber of Commerce, where she was instrumental in building the Veterans Memorial and the Parks between the Bridges. 

Belva received The Greenwood Commonwealth’s Community Service Award in 2011.

Belva was a devout Christian and a member of Minter City United Methodist Church. Every Sunday, she would brag on the attendance numbers of her Sunday school class.  She truly loved God and her beautiful little church. Belva was a shining example of what it meant to be a Christian. She loved to serve, and it showed. She truly will be missed.

Belva is preceded in death by her parents, Nettie Parks and Evan Johnston; two sisters, Bernita Armacost (Dale) and Ruth Round (Roy); and her husband, Hal Calhoun Pleasants Sr.

She is survived by her two sons, Hal C. Pleasants Jr. (Alyce) of Jackson and Dudley C. Pleasants (Kay) of Greenwood; daughter Annette Pleasants Mize (Allen) of Greenwood; devoted friend Regina Henderson; a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild.  

Pallbearers will be William Calhoun Pleasants, Allen Hobbs Mize Jr., William Pleasants Mize, Benjamin David Estes, Burrell Sturdwick Gee, Luke John Underberg and James Moore Bowen IV.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the sanctuary at St. John’s United Methodist Church. The funeral service will be held at 9 a.m. Friday at Minter City United Methodist Church followed by a graveside service at Loch Umbra Cemetery.

Belva’s family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Dr. Charles Nause, the nurses and staff of Dr. Charles Nause, Sunflower Home Health and Heart of Hospice for the exceptional care extended to Belva.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Minter City United Methodist Church, Locus Benedictus, Beacon Harbor or the charity of your choice.

Wilson and Knight Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Please visit www.wilsonandknight.com for the online guestbook.