Virginia Howell Canterbury

Mrs. Virginia Howell Canterbury, age 89, of Gautier, Ms, died Wednesday, February 12, 2014, in Ocean Springs. Mrs. Canterbury was a longtime resident of the community and a member of the First Baptist Church of Gautier. She was a member of Keesler's Lady Golf Association and the Copiah-Lincoln Jr. College Tennis and Archery Team. She was preceded in death by her husband of 27 years, Macel Lafayette Canterbury, daughter, Judith Barkow, two sons, Paul Canterbury and Virgil Canterbury, parents, Virgil and Eula Sullivan Howell, sister, Fannie May Smith and brothers, Pruitt Howell and Leroy (Jack) Howell. Survivors include a daughter, Frances Abelene (Fred) Stephens of Biloxi, MS, two sons, Macel L. (Chris) Canterbury Jr of Gautier, MS, and Billie H. (Terrie) Canterbury of Vancleave, MS, three sisters, Hilda Howell of Pittsburgh, PA, Annie Ray Hammonds of Tipton, GA and Dixie Adkins of Union, MS, a brother, Marion Howell of Jackson, Ms, ten grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Visitation will be on Saturday, February 15, 2014, from 12:30 pm until 1:30 pm, with a 1:30 pm chapel service, all at the Vancleave Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Pinecrest Cemetery in Gautier, MS. In lieu of flowers the family prefers donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105.