Melinda Penn Bethea

Melinda Penn Bethea, 67, passed away on Tuesday, December 30, 2014, in Gulfport, MS. Mrs. Bethea was born on October 8, 1947. She and her husband of 48 years, Mack Allen Bethea, are long-time residents of Gulfport. Mrs. Bethea was born in Brookhaven, MS, and attended Brookhaven High School, where she was elected Miss Brookhaven High in 1965. She then studied at the Mississippi State College for Women where she was a member of the Silhouette Social Club and graduated in 1969. She married Mack Bethea in 1967 and later began her career teaching English and Spanish at Brandon Academy followed by Harrison Central High School. She subsequently spent many years assisting her husband with his law practice. Mrs. Bethea was an active member of the community and spent years teaching Sunday school and vacation Bible school. Her passion was serving and working with special needs children and adults. She was a coach for Special Olympics area III in both swimming and equestrian for many years. She served as a long time board member and past president of both the Gulf Coast ARC and the Gulf Coast Western Variety Dancers support group. In 2010, she was the recipient of the Lifetime Network Caring Woman Award, given to a woman who has overcome personal adversity. Mrs. Bethea is survived by her husband, Mack, and three children, Shelley Bethea Kennedy (Bradley); Daniel Bethea; and Emily Bethea; two grandchildren, Madeline Kennedy Dietrich (John) and Nathan Kennedy; three great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Betsy Penn Smith and Nancy Penn Pavy. She was preceded in death by her father, John Sidney Penn, her mother, Betty Watkins Penn Denson, and her sister, Judith Penn Ewing. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 2, at Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home, 1726 15th Street, Gulfport from 5:00-7:00 pm. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 3, at the First Presbyterian Church of Biloxi at 10:00 am. The service will be followed by a graveside service at 2:00 pm at Lake Park Cemetery in Laurel, MS. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Special Olympics Mississippi (specialolympicsms.org) or the First Presbyterian Church, 1340 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS. 39530. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com