Julia Marie Guice

Julia Cook Guice died on Monday, August 5, 2013 in D’Iberville. Julia Cook Guice was born on February 23, 1928 in Biloxi. She graduated from Biloxi High School and attended Perkinston Junior College and University of Southern Mississippi. Julia was co-owner of Guice Realty and Insurance Company prior to being appointed as the first civil defense director of the City of Biloxi in 1961 after serving several years as a volunteer. She was a founder of the Mississippi Civil Defense Director’s association and served in every officer’s position. While she was Director, she received several awards: Governor’s Commendations for the years of 1963, 1965, and 1970; the National Weather Service recognized her with the Bronze Medal in 1970 and the Public Service Award for the years 1974 and 1980. She retired in 1982. Julia was instrumental in seeking and receiving a grant for the City of Biloxi to build the city’s Emergency Operating Center. The EOC was Julia’s headquarters for the preparation, evacuation, and recovery efforts surrounding Hurricane Camille in 1969. The building now bears her name. Her collateral duties with the City of Biloxi included Historic Preservation Officer where she coordinated the restoration of the Magnolia Hotel, Creole Cottage and the Tullis-Toledano Manor. The State Department of Archives and History recognized her with a Special Achievement Award. Also, she was City Historian of Biloxi and during that period she edited several books including Buildings of Biloxi, History of the Biloxi Public Schools, and When Biloxi was the Seafood Capitol of the World. After Katrina, her book Buildings of Biloxi was an essential reference for architects and urban planners conducting the charettes organized by the Governor’s Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding and Renewal. Julia was a charter member of the Mississippi Coast Historical & Genealogical Society and served every officer’s position as well as its editor. Julia was a former member of the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Historical Society. She was a member of the Architectural Review Commission for the City of Biloxi and served as Chairman for several years. Julia was a member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Tullis-Toledano Manor serving as President for several years. In 1971, Julia developed the City of Biloxi’s first Personnel Management Policy. She developed Biloxi’s first Safety Council in 1979 which established safety and health standards and an accident prevention program. Julia was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer. She served as a former Sunday school teacher and member of the Vestry. She wrote the History of the Church of the Redeemer and was the Church’s Archivist. Julia was preceded in death by husband, Wade Guice; her parents, Henrietta Rhodes Cook and John Orey Cook, Sr.; her mother-in-law Elizabeth Porter Guice; and her father-in-law Richard Reed Guice. Julia leaves a daughter, Judy Guice of Ocean Springs, and two sons, Reed Guice (Susan) and Brent Guice (Suzanne) of Biloxi. Julia is survived by six grandchildren; Angela Guice, Wade Guice, Breton Guice, and Ashley Fredericks of Biloxi; and Charles Reese, Sarah Reese and Andy Reese of Ocean Springs. She is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Adin-Broc Edward Barrett of Biloxi and John Damien Guice of Santa Monica, CA. The family requests donation to the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Biloxi in lieu of flowers. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 at the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 7, 2013 at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Friends may visit one hour prior. Interment will follow at Biloxi City Cemetery.