It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Erma Maxine Read, a cherished soul who left this world on Friday, June 26th, 2026. Born on Tuesday, November 5th, 1929, in Banner, Illinois, the daughter of Stephen Jennings and Maggie (Shelton) Jennings. On April 17, 1949 in Olney, Illinois, Maxine married Ray H. Read and he preceded her in death on May 6, 2012. Maxine lived a fulfilling 96 years surrounded by the love of family and the beauty of the world around her.
Maxine was a dedicated employee at A.M.F. in Olney, working diligently as a factory worker while also lending a hand alongside her beloved husband, Ray H. Read, in their farming endeavors. Together, they created a life filled with laughter, hard work, and deep love for each other and their growing family. Maxine’s passions were vast and varied. She had an adventurous spirit that found joy in traveling, the peacefulness of fishing, and the thrill of mushroom hunting. Her love for nature and beauty was evident in her treasured gardens and vibrant flowers. Maxine cherished picnics and playing games with her family, making sure there were always hugs to share. A lover of literature, Maxine found solace and wisdom in the pages of many books, with her Bible being the dearest companion of them all.
Her loving legacy lives on in her surviving family: her son, Michael Read and his wife Debra of Iuka; two daughters, Janis Burroughs of Joplin, Missouri, and Jamie Fussell and her husband John of Homer, Louisiana. She was an adored grandmother to 12 grandchildren, a great-grandmother to 29, and a great-great-grandmother to 9. Maxine is also survived by her sisters, Lou Clark of Florida and Rosie Henson of Iuka, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband Ray, Maxine was preceded in death by her parents, Stephen and Maggie Jennings, her son, Matt Read, and her grandson, Josh Read. She also joins her siblings, Steve Jennings, Everett Jennings, Charlie Jennings, Les Jennings, Ollie Greenwood, Sandy Oswald, Karen Hodge, Jessie Turner, Beulah Colclasure, and Darlene Sopher.
Friends and loved ones are warmly invited to honor Maxine’s life at a Visitation on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the Sutherland-Rankin Funeral Home in Salem, Illinois. A Graveside Service will follow at 11:30 AM at Iuka Cemetery in Iuka, Illinois. To honor Maxine’s memory, memorial donations may be made in lieu of flowers to the Iuka Cemetery, and will be graciously accepted at the Sutherland-Rankin Funeral Home, 310 North Broadway / P.O. Box 97 Salem, Illinois 62881, (618)548-1234. Online condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.sutherlandfuneralhome.com and the Funeral Home Facebook Page. The Sutherland-Rankin Funeral Home is honored to be of service to Maxine’s family during this time.
