Navlean McDuffey Pittman

Navlean McDuffey Pittman was a true servant of God. She had faithfully served her family as the wife of a deacon, a loving mother, and a sister.
Pittman was the first born of eight children of James McDuffey and Luella Dampier McDuffey, born February 20, 1949 in New Hebron. Navlean joined Pleasant Hill Baptist Church at an early age. She confessed Jesus as her Lord and Savior in 1968 and was baptized by Rev. Allen.
June 6, 1972, Navlean was united in holy matrimony to Daniel Pittman of Monticello. God blessed them with five children- Daniel, Jennifer, Dale, Melvin and Marleana.
Once married, she later joined Bethany M.B. Church in 1972, where she faithfully served as deaconess, church secretary, pastor’s assistant, Sunday school teacher, choir member, usher, and president of the Junior and Senior Mission ministry on local, district, state and national levels. She later joined Abundant Life Church under watch care, where she remained until her health declined.
She received her education from Cherry Hill, Beulah Williams, and McCullough High School, from which she graduated in 1968. She received her Business Associate Degree from Utica Junior College in 1970. She later attended Copiah-Lincoln Community College, where she received an Associate Degree with honors in Child Development in 2014. She also attended Mississippi State University.
Navlean worked for various companies- Collinswood Ind., New Hebron School, Magnatek Mfg., Genesis One School, Five County Child Development, Kellwood Mfg., and Mississippi State Univeristy Extension Service as an Extension 4-H Youth Agent for Lawrence County, from where she retired after 10 years. She volunteered with Girl Scouts and 4-H clubs of Lawrence County. She was best known as a seamstress, a craft she learned from her mother. Navlean was a teacher for several years in the public school system. For five years, she was a homemaker, keeping the garden while her husband was away at work. She was the historian for the Walter McDuffey family reunion.
Navlean left a legacy of love, respect, faithfulness and hard work. She was a leader in all manners, teaching others good ethics and moral values. She was bold, outspoken and encouraging about God’s Word, which led all her children into the ministry.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband of 44 years, Daniel Pittman; two brothers, Rev. Jurris McDuffey and Harvest McDuffey and one sister, Lula M. Lejoy.
She leaves to cherish her memories her devoted children: 3 sons, Daniel “Patrick” Pittman of Byram, Dale Pittman of Evans, Georgia, and Melvin Pittman of Monticello and 2 daughters, Jennifer Fields of Brookhaven and Marleana McQueen of Hattiesburg; 12 grandchildren; 3 brothers, Alvin McDuffey, James McDuffey, Jr. and LauRia McDuffey, all of New Hebron; 2 sisters, Lartha McDuffey Rhodes and Lucille McDuffey Cosby, both of New Hebron; 8 sisters-in-law; 5 brothers-in-law; two aunts, Mazzie Lee Dampier Drones and Ella Jane McDuffey; 1 uncle, Leon Dampier and 1 god-daughter.