Karen Hubbard: 1940-2025

EDWARDS, Miss. — On July 4, 2025, Karen (O’Conner) Hubbard, 84, of Edwards, Mississippi, passed away to be with her Lord and Savior.

Karen—known by many names, from “Momma” to “Granny” to “Mamaw”—was born on September 14, 1940, in Missoula, Montana.  Karen was the child of Jack Smith and May O’Conner, and beloved close stepfather, William O’Conner.  Karen spent much of her youth with her parents, sister Shayla, and extended family in the Pacific Northwest.  She spoke fondly of growing up in Montana and Washington State, and of dancing and spending time with friends there.

Eventually, she met her first love, Robert Hubbard, and they settled on Hubbard family land in Mississippi to raise their children.  Years later, after Robert’s death, she married again, this time to Tony Hubbard.  Between Robert and Tony, Karen raised seven children on the family land.  She also hosted, literally, dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren at her house over the years, playing with them, making them treats, and sitting on the porch swing with them!

Karen loved many things in this world.  She was an avid reader.  She could always spark a conversation about a book or article that she had read and what was on her mind.  She also knew and loved the plants in her garden and tending to her yard.  And, although she was a petit woman, she could not be left alone with chocolates or sweets lest they all disappear!

Karen was a lifelong supporter of her church, Bethesda Presbyterian, tithing, volunteering, praying, helping raise up young preachers, and attending service there until her final days on this earth.  She read the Bible daily, thoughtfully pondering its verses even into her eighties.

Karen will be remembered by many in her family and the Edwards community—remembered for her love of God, her love of family, and her infectious laugh that she shared with others.

Karen was preceded in death by her beloved parents and stepfather, Jack, May, and Bill; her close sister Shayla Oades; her first husband, Robert; her beloved young daughter, Kimberly Maylene; her grandchildren, Kaylee and Abby Stevens, and Anna Faith Hubbard; and her son-in-law, Douglas Holder. She is survived by her husband, Tony Hubbard; her children, Rodney (Tammy) Hubbard, Robin Holder, Tammy (Justin) Tucker, Tonya (Benjamin) Bain-Creed, Joel (Michelle) Hubbard, and Angel Stevens; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 9:00-11:00 AM on Wednesday, July 9th, at Bethesda Presbyterian Church in Edwards with funeral to follow.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethesda Presbyterian Church Cemetery Fund.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Karen Hubbard, please visit Glenwood Funeral Home’s floral store.

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