Susan McMurtray McDonnell

Susan Diane McMurtray McDonnell, age 64, passed away Wednesday, June 21, 2017. She was born and raised in Gulfport, MS. She moved to Houston, TX to teach school after she graduated with her Master’s Degree in Education. Upon her return to Mississippi, she taught Computer Discovery at D’Iberville Middle School and later at Biloxi Junior High School. She also owned her own photography business, Susan McDonnell Photography. Susan was always active in church. She attended First Baptist Gulfport while growing up, then First Presbyterian Church of Biloxi, and finally First Presbyterian Church of Gulfport for the last eight years. She enjoyed singing and was in the choir her entire life. She loved the Lord and shared the gospel with everyone she met. She had a great sense of humor and was kind-hearted and very generous. She was known for giving away the jewelry she was wearing if someone really liked it. She even gave away her purse once after emptying the contents into a plastic bag. She was also an avid garage sale enthusiast and loved sharing her acquired treasures with family and friends. She was a member of Coffee Club in Biloxi and served alternately as President, Treasurer, and Secretary of the Biloxi Heritage Neighborhood Association. She is survived by her husband Randall Louis McDonnell, Jr.; two daughters, Paige Elizabeth McDonnell of Huntsville, AL and Sarah Ellen McDonnell of Orlando, FL; a son, Mark Thomas McDonnell of Biloxi; and a brother, John Wilson McMurtray of Knoxville, TN. The family requests memorials to the First Presbyterian Church of Gulfport, 10885 O’Neal Road, Gulfport, MS 39503. Service, visitation, and reception were held Sunday, June 25, 2017 at First Presbyterian Church, Gulfport. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport was in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com