RZ Necaise

RZ Necaise went home to Jesus at midnight on March 12, 2021. She was 87 years old. RZ was born to Selva and Mary Bennett on April 3, 1933 in Pearl River County, MS. She was the youngest of four children (all had initials for names, AJ, XL, IV and RZ). As a child, she worked alongside her family on a Tung tree farm and oil processing plant. When her daddy took a job as a ranch manager, she trained Tennessee Walking horses there, at Rock Ranch. RZ and her husband Rudy Necaise were high school sweethearts. They had two children together, Don and Renee. They divorced. RZ, still young, became a single-mother. She had to overcome many societal barriers of the time in order to provide for her family. She worked full time to keep her children fed and well dressed. She purchased a home in her name only, at a time when single women were commonly denied credit and mortgages. Rz had a long career as a bookkeeper in the automobile sales industry and later as an accountant at a local casino. In her retirement, she enjoyed visiting and laughing with friends, long walks and watching the many birds she kept fed in her yard. She was a gentle soul with an open heart. Proceeded in death by her parents and both of her children, she is survived by her sister IV Burge and her niece, Rachell Richards (Bobby) and their children, Christie, Brett and John. She also leaves behind many close friends and loved ones including but not limited to: Janelle Walker; Jill Anderson and her son Asher; Joe Vacula; Julie, Bailey, Bram and Amelia Koch; Hope, Emily and Ellis Newell. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m on her birthday, April 3, 2021 at Bradford-O'keefe Funeral Home, 1726 15th Street in Gulfport MS. Visitation is from 10-11am.Her loved ones would like to express our thanks for the wonderful help and care given by the nurses and staff at Seasons/Singing River Hospital, and Canon Hospice in Gulfport. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation of your time by visiting with a senior citizen who could use a little love and attention--we know she would feel honored by that. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is honored to served the Necaise family. View and sign the online tribute at www.bokfh.com