Obituaries

Jerry Don Layton

Jerry Don Layton

Jan 14, 2021

Mr. Jerry Don Layton, age 86, of Mobile, Alabama, passed away on Thursday, January 14, 2021, in Gulfport, MS. Mr. Layton was born on September 21, 1934, in Grand Bay, Alabama, to Guy and Mae Layton. He retired from the United States Air Force and from Ingalls Shipbuilding and his hobbies included bowling. He was preceded in death by his...

Clara "Jean" Parden Moody

Clara "Jean" Parden Moody

Jan 13, 2021

Clara “Jean" Parden Moody, 91, joined her husband, granddaughter, and other family members in Heaven on Wednesday, January 13, 2021. Jean was born on May 6, 1929 to Charlie R. and Eva E. Parden in Lucedale, Mississippi. She finished high school in Starkville, MS, after marrying the love of her life, Dwight L. Moody, on December 28, 1945. She slowly...

Mary Ann Oncale

Mary Ann Oncale

Jan 13, 2021

Mary Ann Oncale, age 71, of Ocean Springs, MS, passed away on Wednesday, January 13, 2021, in Ocean Springs. Mary Ann was born on February 13, 1949, in Tylertown, MS to John P. and Katherine L. Smith. She attended Biloxi High School and was a Contracting Officer at Keesler Air Force Base. Mary Ann was preceded in death by her...

The Honorable Benjamin F. Gibson

The Honorable Benjamin F. Gibson

Jan 13, 2021

Benjamin F. Gibson, age 89, of Gulfport, MS died Wednesday, January 13, 2021, in Gulfport. Few words can describe not only what Benjamin F. Gibson accomplished, but more importantly, who he was as a man. He was a Trailblazer, a Pioneer... a Giant Among Giants! Benjamin was born on July 13, 1931 in Safford, Alabama to Eddie and Pearlie Mae...

Shirley Juanita Broome Rivers

Shirley Juanita Broome Rivers

Jan 13, 2021

Shirley Rivers, 84 miraculous years old, passed from this earthly body into her heavenly body in the Light of her loving Savior on Wednesday, January 13, 2021. Shirley was miraculous, because she was born with what doctor’s termed then as a blue baby, born with a deformed heart. The doctor’s told her parents she would not live past 13 years...

Marjorie Ellen "Marge" (Smith) Abel

Marjorie Ellen "Marge" (Smith) Abel

Jan 12, 2021

**THE LOCATION FOR THE LIVE STREAM HAS BEEN CHANGED FROM THE BRADFORD-O'KEEFE FACEBOOK PAGE TO THE ST. PAUL UMC FACEBOOK PAGE.** Marjorie Ellen "Marge" (Smith) Abel, 95, of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, passed away on Tuesday, January 12, 2021. She died peacefully, from old age, with her daughter Susan at her side, at the end of a long and happy earthly...

David Martin "Camp" Mohler

David Martin "Camp" Mohler

Jan 12, 2021

David Martin Mohler, or “Camp” as he was affectionately known, was born in Biloxi on March 18, 1959. David was a life-long resident of Ocean Springs, MS, and passed from this life into the arms of his loving Heavenly Father on Tuesday, January 12, 2021. A devout Catholic, David was a life-long parishioner of St. Alphonsus in the city of...

Aurita Riva Denning

Aurita Riva Denning

Jan 12, 2021

Aurita Riva Denning, age 69, of Gulfport, MS, died Tuesday, January 12, 2021, in Gulfport. She was preceded in death by her spouse, David Denning; and parents, Eustaguio Riva Barrera, and Maria Cruz Panaifo Hidalgo. She is survived by her son Stephen Denning; sisters Celia Rosa Riva Panaifo, Rosario Riva Panaifo, Julia Rosa Riva Panaifo, Marga Riva Silva and Mercedes...

Thomas Albert and Virginia Verlon Windham Turner

Thomas Albert and Virginia Verlon Windham Turner

Jan 12, 2021

In their 65 years of marriage, Thomas Albert Turner and Virginia Verlon Windham Turner, both of Ozark, Alabama, humbly created a rich legacy. The young couple eloped in Troy, Alabama, on December 9, 1955, and returned to Ozark to begin their life-long journey together. Thomas served in the US Army for 3 years and the US Airforce for 27 years,...

Eleanor Emma Mize

Eleanor Emma Mize

Jan 11, 2021

Eleanor “Lollie” Emma Hudson Mize, 87, departed this life on Monday, January 11, 2021 in Gulfport, Mississippi. Mrs. Mize was born in Biloxi, September 5, 1933, and lived most of her life, in Gulfport. She was a member of St. John Catholic Church in Gulfport. She was a wife and homemaker and believed family should always come first. She was...

James White

James White

Jan 11, 2021

James White, passed away on January 11, 2021 after a brief illness. Married 33 years, he is survived by his best friend and love of his life, his wife, Jeanie Bailey White; children, Kevin Sokol-White, Kelli Armstrong and Jaime Lee. He is also survived by father-in-law, Burl Bailey; sister and brother-in-law, Debbie and Ronnie Thompson; Gayle, Nick, Kayleb and Ali...

Charles (Chuck) Lawrence Byrd

Charles (Chuck) Lawrence Byrd

Jan 11, 2021

Charles (Chuck) Lawrence Byrd, age 76, of Gulfport, MS, passed away on Monday, January 11, 2020. Charles was born in Huxford, AL on October 11, 1944, the fourth of five children of Curtis and Beatrice (Flowers) Byrd. Charles graduated from Ernest Ward High School, Walnut Hill, FL in May 1963. Following high school, he enlisted in the United States Air...

Terry L. Williams, Sr.

Terry L. Williams, Sr.

Jan 11, 2021

Terry L. Williams, Sr. (TL) passed away in his home on January 11, 2021 in Vancleave, MS after his long, hard battle with pancreatic cancer. Mr. Williams was born on September 1, 1952 in Mobile, AL to James Edward Williams, Sr. and Zelia Dorothy Williams. Terry lived his life to the fullest with his passion for Alabama football, hunting, and...

Dorothy Elizabeth Mitchell

Dorothy Elizabeth Mitchell

Jan 11, 2021

Dorothy Elizabeth Mitchell, age 95, of Gulfport, MS, passed away peacefully on January 11, 2021. She had recently beaten covid-19 and covid pneumonia, though she grew weary and was ready to meet the Lord just days before her 96th birthday. She maintained good spirits and a positive outlook throughout even the most challenging days, and her visits with grandchildren and...

Virginia Evelyn Sass Gilbert

Virginia Evelyn Sass Gilbert

Jan 10, 2021

Virginia Evelyn Sass Gilbert, “Mama”, “Jean”, “Granny”, “Big Gran”, age 92, passed peacefully on January 10, 2021 surrounded by her children at her home in Ocean Springs, Mississippi ending her lengthy journey with lung cancer. She was the fifth child born to parents who immigrated to the United States as young children from Germany, Frederick August Sass and Johanna Marzolph...

John Joseph Venezia

John Joseph Venezia

Jan 10, 2021

John Joseph Venezia (Suga, Sarge, Charlie), age 100 of Gulfport, MS passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on January 10, 2021. He was born on April 20, 1920 in Rockland Lake, N.Y. to Gaetano and Rosina Venezia. He graduated from Congers High in 1939. He worked as a welder before joining the military in 1942. He retired as...

William Turner Wood

William Turner Wood

Jan 10, 2021

Dr. William Turner Wood, Sr., died on January 10, 2021, in Gulfport, MS, a few days shy of his 94th birthday. Bill was born on January 21, 1927 in Gulfport. He grew up in Pass Christian among a large, loving extended family and many friends. Bill attended Pass Christian Schools through the eleventh grade. He graduated from Perkinston Junior College...

Helen Winona Bounds

Helen Winona Bounds

Jan 9, 2021

Helen Winona Bounds, 98, a resident of Biloxi, died at home on Saturday, January 9, 2021. She is a former member of St. James Catholic Church and current member of Fatima Catholic Church. Helen’s professional life was diverse. She worked as a beautician and contractor for W.P. Marshall Construction Co. and Southern Bell Telephone Co. She was a dispatcher for...

Forrest Clay Franklin

Forrest Clay Franklin

Jan 8, 2021

Forrest Clay Franklin, age 66, of D’Iberville, Mississippi passed away Friday, January 8, 2021 in Gulfport, Mississippi. Mr. Franklin was a long-time resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and a native of Bruce, Mississippi. He was born to William Alvin and Willie May Franklin in Marks, Mississippi. He attended Bruce High School and The University of Mississippi. He proudly served...

Patrick D. Brown

Patrick D. Brown

Jan 8, 2021

Mr. Patrick D. Brown, age 53, of Vancleave, MS went to his Heavenly Home and had a beautiful reunion with passed family, on Friday, January 8, 2021. Pat previously worked at Halter Marine, Moss Point, and presently was employed with Huntington-Ingalls Shipbuilding where he has left many friends and co-workers. Besides his family, Pat loved life, and he lived it....