Marie Morris Alfonso

Marie Morris Alfonso, of Madison, Mississippi, formerly of Gulfport, died on June 23, 2017 at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland, Miss., at the age of 97. She was born on October 19, 1919 in Scotland, South Dakota to Bertha Ellen Morris and Eli Morris. She grew up in Watts, Oklahoma, and graduated high school there in 1939. She attended Sparks Memorial School of Nursing, graduating in 1948 as an RN. She served her country in the Army Nurses Corps, rising to the rank of captain before being honorably discharged in 1958. She married Joseph Decidue Alfonso in 1957, and was stationed with him in various places in Europe and the United States until returning to Gulfport after his retirement from the U. S. Army in 1965. Mrs. Alfonso was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Joseph Decidue Alfonso, sisters Cleo Bretz and Aileen Davis, and brothers William Thomas Morris, Chester George Morris, Wade Charles Morris, James Elmer Morris and Eli Morris Jr. She is survived by her daughter, JoAnna Alfonso Williams (Harris) of Pensacola, Fla., one granddaughter, Augusta Williams Fair (Bailey) of Jackson, Miss., three grandsons, Harris Augustus Bell Williams, Jr. of Hattiesburg, Miss., Bennett Joseph Decidue Williams and Knox Haralson Williams of Pensacola, Fla., and a sister, Pauline Wood. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and her devoted friend Margie Bell of Jackson, Miss. The family wishes to thank the staff of Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland for their loving care of Mrs. Alfonso during her time there, as well as Dr. Rebecca Moulder and staff for their care of Mrs. Alfonso during her time in Madison. Services will be held on Monday July 3, 2017 at 1 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Gulfport, where friends may visit for one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery with military honors by the U.S. Army. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials to St. Vincent De Paul Society; c/o St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 2414 17th Street; Gulfport, MS 39501, the Gulf Coast Sailing Foundation; c/o Gulfport Yacht Club; P. O. Box 600; Gulfport, MS 39502 or the charity of one's choice. Serving as pallbearers will be her son-in-law Harris B. Williams; grandsons Harris B. Williams, Jr., Bennett J. Williams and Knox H. Williams, her grandson-in-law Bailey R. Fair, Dr. Thomas F. Hewes, nephew Donald J. Alfonso, Sr. and great nephew Christopher Mensi. Honorary pallbearers will be her nephews Nofie D. Alfonso, Jr., Christopher D. Alfonso, August D. Alfonso and Andy J. Alfonso, Jr. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements.