Theresa "Tessie" Smith Tootle

Theresa “Tessie” Smith Tootle, 96, of Biloxi, Mississippi passed away May 14, 2022. Tessie was born September 28, 1925 to Douglas I. Smith and Vera Moran Smith.

Tessie went to St. Joseph’s Academy and after graduating, went to Perkiston where she received an associate’s degree in Home Ec. She was a member of St. John’s Altar Society and the Crafty Ladies Sewing Circle. She was also PTA President of Gorenflo Elementary and Central Jr. High.  Tessie was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who enjoyed sewing, crocheting, and listening to music in her free time.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Douglas I. Smith and Vera Moran Smith; her husband, Leon L. Tootle; child, Mary Joanne Tootle; son in law, Bobby Jordan; and siblings, Douglas Jr, Jerry, Terry, Pat, and Susan Smith.

Survivors include her children, Jeannette Jordan and Geri (James) Davis; grandchildren, Angi (Sam) Brandt, Brian Davis, Chris Davis, Dallas (Chris) Lane, and Nathan (Kristen) Jordan; and great-grandchildren, Alex Jordan, Katie and Paisley Lane, and Arthur and Carter Davis.

A funeral service will be held Friday, May 20, 2022 at 2 PM at Cedar Lake United Methodist Church. Friends and family are invited to visit at 1 PM. Interment will be at Biloxi City Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Backpacks for Children at Cedar Lake United Methodist Church. They would also like to extend a special thanks to the Greenbriar personnel, specifically, Maggie; the Notre Dame Hospice nurse, Joe; and Chaplain Cindy.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Theresa “Tessie” Smith Tootle.