Ben Judson and Ann Wharton Kitchings

Ben Judson Kitchings of Long Beach, 84, went home to be with the Lord on September 21, 2015. Ann Wharton Kitchings, 84, of Long Beach was reunited with her husband of 64 years when she also went home to be with the Lord, on Sunday, February 28, 2016. Ben Kitchings was born in Forkville on December 31, 1930 to Atley Asher Kitchings and Marion Mudd Kitchings and grew up in Clinton. Ann Wharton was born in Gulfport on February 26, 1932 to Frank Ramsey Wharton and Allie Lee Allen Wharton and grew up in Pass Christian. Ben and Ann met at and graduated from Mississippi College and were married on August 18, 1951. They moved to New Orleans where Dr. Kitchings graduated from Tulane University School of Medicine in 1955. The couple moved to Nashville where Dr. Kitchings completed his post-graduate training at Baptist Hospital in 1956. A daughter, Kim, was born to the Kitchings in Nashville and soon thereafter the family moved to Valdosta, GA, where Dr. Kitchings served two years as a physician in the United States Air Force. In 1959, after Ben's honorable discharge from the USAF, the Kitchings family moved to Long Beach with their toddler and their newborn second daughter, Lynn. It was in Long Beach that Dr. Kitchings established his family medicine practice and third daughter, Lori, was born, completing their family. Dr. Kitchings practiced medicine in Long Beach for 54 years, seeing his patients at the hospital and clinic and sometimes even making house calls to the very ill. Ben and Ann were known for their compassion and generosity. Many times when Ben made house calls to provide medical care, Ann accompanied him, bringing meals and supplies. Ann and Ben were active in the community, including involvement in the Long Beach Republican Committee and the Long Beach School Board. The Kitchings’ home and clinic were destroyed twice by hurricanes - Hurricane Camille in 1969 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Both times Ann and Ben continued to serve their community even while recovering from their own personal loss. They were concerned not only for the medical, physical, and emotional needs of others, but also for their spiritual needs. Dedicated followers of Jesus Christ, Ben and Ann were active in the First Baptist Church of Long Beach for many years and then were founding members of Long Beach Community Church where they spent many years ministering and teaching God's word. Ann worked tirelessly to be the best mother and grandmother that she could be. Ben and Ann Kitchings were preceded in death by their parents, their daughter, Kim Kitchings, and Ben’s brother, Harold T. Kitchings. Left to mourn their passing are their daughter, Lynn Bradshaw and husband, Ron, of Waco, Texas, and daughter, Lori Hilton, and husband, Perry of Gulfport, and their beloved grandchildren, Ben William Bradshaw and wife, A.J., of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Elizabeth Bradshaw Henning and husband, Ryan, of Austin, Texas. Dr. Kitchings is also survived by his brother, Atley A. Kitchings, Jr, and wife, Betty Jane; brother, John T. Kitchings, and wife, Mindy; sister, Grace Kitchings Hannah, and husband Bob. The Kitchings' family is very grateful for the many dedicated caregivers and physicians who assisted them in recent years and to the staff of Gentiva Hospice. Bradford O’Keefe, Gulfport handled the arrangements. Services were held for Ben and Ann Kitchings with interment at Long Beach cemetery. Cards of condolence may be mailed to Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 1726 15th Street, Gulfport, MS 39501. Memorials may be sent to Long Beach Community Church, P.O. Box 947, Long Beach, MS 39560; or the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians, 755 Avignon Dr., Ridgeland, MS 39517 or charity of choice.