Elsie Elender Jenkins Cranford

Elsie Elender Jenkins Cranford, age 88, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 8, 2025, in Gulfport, MS. Born on May 13, 1937, in Crandall, MS, to Perry and Esther Jenkins, Elsie led an extraordinary life full of achievements and compassion.

From modest beginnings, where her mother crafted her dresses from flour sacks, and learning to drive a logging truck despite her petite stature, Elsie demonstrated remarkable determination. She became the first in her family to graduate from college, a feat that set the stage for her impactful career.

Elsie started her nursing journey at the South Mississippi Charity Hospital School of Nursing, a period marked by strict rules that did not deter her. In 1957, she secretly married Eldon Welborn and subsequently paused her studies in 1958 to welcome her first child, Link. Defying the barriers of her time, she returned to nursing, graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1963, after a prohibition on marriage and a dorm living requirement were lifted.

Elsie's pursuit of education continued with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Mississippi and a Master’s in Health Care Management from the University of South Florida. She served meritoriously as Chief of Nursing Service at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in Boise, ID, Biloxi/Gulfport, MS, and Lake City, FL. Following Eldon's death and her retirement from the VA, Elsie’s passion for healthcare led her to work as a Nurse Surveyor for The Joint Commission, inspecting hospitals nationwide.

Her dedication to serving others persisted as she worked until age 83, concluding her professional journey as a Medicaid Supervisor for the Southern Mississippi Planning & Development District. Elsie's contributions were widely recognized, earning her accolades such as the Biloxi Woman of the Year from the Lighthouse Business and Professional Women’s Club and membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Elsie is now joyously reunited with her parents and other loved ones in heaven, predeceased by her husband, Eldon Welborn, and her brothers, Lamar and Lavelle Jenkins. She is survived by her loving spouse, Mikeil Cranford, whom she married in 2006, her adoring children, Link and Coy Welborn, and cherished grandchildren Kaitlin Welborn, Chris Marty, and Tolar Welborn. Her sister, Cathy Taylor, also shares in celebrating Elsie’s remarkable legacy.

In remembrance of Elsie’s profound impact, her family suggests donations, in lieu of flowers, be made to the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Center and Research Institute https://giving.usf.edu/online/gift/f/250148/ and the American Diabetes Association Diabetes Research, Education, Advocacy | ADA

Although she was not afflicted by either disease, she was passionate about both charities due to affected close family members.

Elsie’s life was a testament to resilience, compassion, and dedication, leaving an enduring legacy of love and service.

Funeral Services will be held at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home on Pass Road in Biloxi on Monday, June 23, 2025 at 11:30 am. Friends may visit from 10:30 am until service time. Interment will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery.

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Elsie Elender Jenkins Cranford.