Ella Mae Barq

Miss Ella Mae Barq, age 90, of Biloxi, MS passed away on Sunday, October 19, 2014. She was the Corporate Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer of Barq’s Incorporated and Barq’s Bottling Company. Miss Barq was born in Pascagoula, MS to Edward A. Barq, Jr. and Lillian King Barq. She graduated from Biloxi High School and attended Gulf Park College where she was a member of Sigma Psi Iota Sorority. She was on the first Advisory Board of The Peoples Bank of Biloxi, on the organizing board of The Great Southern Club in Gulfport, a member of the National Soft Drink Association and Mississippi Soft Drink Association. She was a member of many Gulf Coast Organizations including The Gulf Coast Symphony, Gulf Coast Opera Theatre, and Coast Community Concert. She served as Director and Area Vice President of Metropolitan Dinner Club and Captain of Billikens Carnival Association. She earned Life-Time Member status of Les Masquees Carnival Association after being a member for over 50 years. As a member of the Gulf Coast Carnival Association, she was honored to be Queen Ixolib in 1950 and was later a Director of the association. Miss Barq was a faithful Catholic and attended Nativity BVM Cathedral and Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. She was very devoted to her family and friends and will be missed by all who knew her. Miss Barq was preceded in death by her parents, Edward A. Barq, Jr. and Lillian King Barq; brother, Edward Barq, III; sister-in-law, Lucille Gillich Barq; brother, William A. Barq; and brother-in-law, Billy Ray Quave. Survivors include her sisters, Dorothy Barq Quave and Beryl Barq Lewis; brother-in-law, John Lewis, Sr.; sister-in-law, Lou Ella Viator Barq; neices, Diane “Bunny” Barq and Lisa Lewis Fletcher; nephews, Edward “Sonny” Barq, IV, Barrett W. “Barry” Barq, Robert “Bones” Barq, John Lewis, Jr., and Thomas Quave; and numerous great nieces and great nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Nativity BVM Elementary School Endowment Fund, 1046 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, MS 39530. Friends may call two hours prior to the Mass that will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Biloxi on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. A private entombment service for family members will be held immediately following the Mass. The Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.