Hilda Ann Seymour Strayham

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Hilda Ann Seymour Strayham of D’Iberville who went to her heavenly father with her family by her side, on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at the age of 90. Hilda, the matriarch of our family was born on January 6, 1935 in D’Iberville to parents Eula Mae Lawrence & Lee Moses Seymour. She is preceded in death by her loving and devoted husband, William P Strayham Jr of 56 ½ years; her granddaughter, Candice Maria Newman; and great grandson, Hunter Michael Baker. She also was preceded by her twin sister, Wilda Seymour Creech (3 weeks prior); her sister, Shirley Rose Santa Cruz; her brother, Lee Seymour, her parents, Eula Mae and Lee Seymour; her mother-in-law, Nicolena Radich Strayham; and her two aunts who raised them, Aline and Lucille Seymour.

Hilda is survived by her children, Michael Strayham, William (Joan) Strayham, Stephen (Paulette) Strayham, Bernadette (John) Newman, and Andrew (Lucille) Strayham, as well as her sister, Eula Lee Williams. She will forever be cherished and remembered by her grandchildren, Stephanie Baker, Jason Strayham, Josh Swinford, Nicolas (Tracie) Strayham, Jillian Strayham, Brooke (Jared) Broadus, Justin (Ruby) Strayham, Ivan (Jamie) Strayham, Hope Newman, Kahlee Newman, Brianna (Miles) Barras, Shelby (Luke) Cumbest, and Joann Strayham. She is also survived by her great grandchildren; Carmen, Jara, Macrae, Collins, Ramsey, Haven, Ryleigh, Harper, Sawyer, Wesley, Annaston, Greyson, Audrey, Brooklyn, Dane, Brinley, Bryce, Beckham, & Elijah, and so many more that called her Maw Maw.

Hilda was a life-long resident of D’Iberville. She attended St. Theresa Elementary School where she reigned as queen of the May Festival beginning a tradition of six granddaughters who reigned as queen and one grandson as king. She then attended Sacred Heart Academy All Girl’s Catholic High School in Biloxi where she graduated in 1953. She later attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Jr College – Jefferson Davis Campus to further her musical career. She, and her twin, were employed at Kress in downtown Biloxi after high school. Later, she was employed at KAAFB as a civilian secretary until retirement. She married her high school sweetheart in 1957, in a double wedding with her twin at Sacred Heart Catholic Chapel. Her lifelong love for playing the piano and organ began with lessons as a young child and at 10 years old she began playing the organ for mass at Sacred Heart. She even played for her first wedding at 12 years old. She continued to play the organ for Sacred Heart for 60 years and then was welcomed at Our Lady of Fatima Church to play an additional 10 years, where she retired at 80 years old. She played for numerous masses every weekend on Saturday and Sunday, many weddings, funerals, special occasions, and would play with the choir every Sunday. One of her proud moments was playing for the Rosary Rally held at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. She remained dedicated to her Catholic faith, was very active in the church, and treasured the close friendships with the priests over the 70 years. The priests were like family to us and spent many days in our home for special occasions, like Christmas Eve every year. She enjoyed going to weekly bingos, playing cards, sewing, cooking for everyone, but mostly spending time with her family.

It is often said that one of the most beautiful journeys is to walk with someone all the way to Heaven’s Gate, and the most painful step of that journey is when you reach the gate of Heaven and that person keeps going and you have to step back. Her legacy will live on and she will be deeply missed by all.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Monday, December 1, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. Friends are invited to visit from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at D'Iberville Memorial Park.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dorothy Dunning and her staff at SAAD’s Home Health & Hospice, and the Greenbrier nurses and staff and also her doctor, Paul Pavlov, and his staff that cared for our Mother. We would also like to thank the compassionate caregivers who came to her home in the years prior.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Hilda Ann Seymour Strayham.