Ina Webb Walters passed away on Monday, December 16, 2019, at the age of 74.  A life-long citizen of Columbus, she was born on April 28, 1945, to the late John DeWitt and Peggy Ellis Webb. Visitation will be at Lowndes Funeral Home on Thursday, December 19 from 4:30-6:30 PM.  Graveside services will be at Beersheba Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery on Friday, December 20 at 10:30 AM.

Ina graduated in 1963 from S.D. Lee High School and attended Mississippi State College for Women.  As a child, she developed her passion for animals by taking care of her father's hunting beagles. Known as the "Goat Lady of South Lehmberg", she could always be found outside with her goats and donkeys, or her cats and dogs, or her geese, or her flying squirrels, or her chickens, or her turkeys, or…whatever animal someone dropped off by her house.  Many people said they wished they could live as one of her pets because she took such good care of them. Ina fostered hundreds of animals through the years and would often keep many which she feared would never be adopted.

As a seamstress, Ina "stitched memories" when she sewed hundreds of beautiful wedding dresses.  Many Saturday nights would find her seated on the couch with a white dress, a needle, thread, and a bowl of tiny pearls which she would attach by hand to create a bride's wedding dream. In addition to working as a seamstress, Ina worked for the Mississippi Probation Service for 10 years, the MUW Fant Memorial Library for 4 years, and drove a school bus for the Columbus Municipal School District for 10 years.  She was involved in many organizations including Beta Sigma Phi, Lowndes County Republican Women, Columbus Arts Council, Daughters of the American Revolution, Columbus Lowndes Humane Society, Columbus Lowndes Friends of the Library, and the Lowndes County Republican Executive Committee.  She also served as an officer in many of these organizations.

Ina was a wonderful mother, but it was the role of "Grandma" that she truly enjoyed.  For her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she tirelessly sewed clothing and costumes for dress-up and plays, carted her menagerie of animals to their schools for show-and-tell, carried them to Broadway musicals, traveled with them to educational destinations such as Washington, D.C., and attended countless athletic events to watch them play.  She strongly encouraged civic, political, and community responsibility and leadership in her grandchildren through her volunteerism and involvement.

Ina is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Clinton Lawrence Walters;  son Mark Walters (Denise) of Columbus, daughter Melissa Price (Mike) of Columbus, son David Walters (Elizabeth) of Smyrna, TN; sister Gabie Smith (Greg) of Columbus, brother Jack Webb (Marie) of Northport, AL; grandchildren Blaine Walters (Corie), Webb Price (Anna Grace), Hannah Miller (James), Macy Walters, Clay Walters of Columbus; Jackson Walters, Garrett Walters, Isabelle Walters, Sarah Goad, Spencer Goad of Smyrna, TN; great-grandchildren Ella Miller, John Webb Miller, Vivian Miller, Connor Price, South Walters of Columbus; niece Jessica McDill (Brad) and great-nephew Jacob McDill of Columbus.

In lieu of flowers, Ina's family wishes to honor her love for animals by asking that donations be made to the Columbus Lowndes Humane Society, 50 Airline Road, Columbus, MS 39702 or www.clhumanesociety.org.