Jacqueline "Jackie" Ann Doiron Obituary

October 10, 1941 ~ July 4, 2025

Jacqueline “Jackie” Ann Melsheimer Doiron died Friday, July 4, 2025, at St. Dominic Hospital.  She was 83.

     Born in Vicksburg, Jackie was the daughter of the late Julius Daniel Melsheimer and Elizabeth “Libby” Cronin Melsheimer. She was a lifelong resident of Vicksburg, as well as a member of the Roman Catholic Church.

     Jackie was a graduate of St. Francis Xavier Academy, where she excelled as a cheerleader and played basketball for the SFXA Blue Streaks.  She went on to Hinds Community College, where she was a cheerleader, voted Most Friendly Girl, and a maid on the Homecoming Court.  She graduated from Business School.

    Jackie loved people, music, dancing, her friends, pen and ink drawing, her dogs, Henry, Buttons, Lucy, Lady, Rocky, and Amy, and working in her yard. She was active in the community, teaching Red Cross swimming and serving as a Water Safety Instructor.  She was the Director of City Playgrounds, volunteered for Meals on Wheels, Altar Angels, Crawford Street United Methodist Church Vacation Bible School, and the Vicksburg YMCA.  She enjoyed coaching Rec Soccer in Vicksburg and coached a team, the Strikers, to a State Championship. She also enjoyed teaching at Crawford Street Play School as the "Movin' n' Groovin'" teacher.  She made many friends at Play School, and she loved and taught many children over the 10 years she worked there.  

    Jackie loved her family. She is survived by her three children, Julie Lizabeth Doiron Sosebee (Craig), Phillip L. Doiron, Jr. (Kara), and Jacqueline Danielle Warnock (Brad), six grandchildren, John “Jack” Sosebee (Sofia), Elizabeth Sosebee Donatucci (Kyle), Anna Kate Doiron Andrews (Sam), Ally Doiron, Mary Bradley Warnock (fiance’ Reed Roberts), Wes Warnock, and a future great-grand-daughter,  Baby Donatucci.

     In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by Phillip L. Doiron, Sr.

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Fisher-Riles Funeral Home, 5000 Indiana Avenue, with services to follow, officiated by the Rev. Robert Dore. 

     Instead of flowers, the family asks for donations to Vicksburg Catholic Schools, Crawford Street United Methodist Church Play School, and Paws Rescue Animal Shelter.

Classmate Jackie Melsheimer Doiron Dies

Classmates:

This is sad news - I was informed this morning that our classmate, Jackie Melsheimer Doiron, passed away today.  It was sudden, and she had coded and could not be brought back.  I will keep you posted on arrangements.  

Marian

God Bless America!

 

Honoring My Friend, Max Edward Polk

May 18, 1942 ~ June 11, 2025

Max Edward Polk passed away on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at River Region Medical Center in Vicksburg. He was born May 18, 1942, in Shreveport, Louisiana, the eldest son of John Thomas Polk and Robertine Higgins Polk of Lake Providence.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a beloved brother, Robert Polk. He is survived by his wife of over 31 years, the love of his life, Linda Lane Polk; his son, Max; his daughter, Tracy; other relatives and friends; and his fur babies, Bobby Blue and Chia. He grew up in Lake Providence, Louisiana, and attended both Catholic and public schools. When Max was only nine years old, his father passed away, a tragedy and hardship that he endured with strength and determination beyond his years. Growing up, he spent a great deal of time on the farm of his grandparents, Albert Marvin Higgins Sr. and Ether Carter Higgins. He gained many skills and developed much common sense under the guidance of his grandparents, and happily helped with chores including feeding livestock, mending fences, gardening, and even churning butter. After chores were completed, fueled by his grandmother's cooking, free time was filled with romping in the woods, riding horses, fishing, and hunting. He cherished memories of those years and often said he was "one of the last of a dying breed," considering it a privilege to have grown up in such a manner.
He began his career in the early 1960s with Letourneau Inc.. He later worked in the nuclear field as a pipefitter, welder, and valve technician through Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 619 in Vicksburg. He enjoyed working in many states before retiring from Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Station.  
His many hobbies included gardening, fishing, and hunting. He and Linda enjoyed many happy hours canning and preserving the fruits of their labors. They also enjoyed traveling, especially on cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska, as well as on trips to The Ark Encounter, Creation Museum, and Shaker Village in Kentucky, and west to The Grand Canyon and other points of interest.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Glenwood Funeral Home, 145 Highway 80, Vicksburg, MS. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM in the chapel, followed by burial in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg. Father Rusty Vincent will officiate.
Pallbearers will be Kevin Mahoney, Jody Higgins, Daniel Riles, Joseph McCormick Jr., Mike Hogan, Joe Mocknick, Robert Foley, and Brad Warnock.   
Max was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church. In place of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul Catholic Church, Vicksburg Warren Humane Society, or a favorite charity. 

Max and I at our 25th Class Reunion at Maxwells Restaurant.

Great-Grandson & Granddaughter Graduating

Emma Claire Nicholas

Fredericksburg, VA

Tidus David Barnhart

Great Falls, MT

I will fly to VA next Tuesday to see my granddaughter graduate on June 1, 2025. I also wish to see my Great-Grandson, Tidus, graduate on May 31, 2025, but I will not. I am so proud of both of them and love them so much. 

Forever Grateful

 

Joan Hennessey Koestler Dies

Joan Hennessey Koestler, a lifelong resident of Vicksburg, Mississippi, was born on February 11, 1933, and departed this life on May 3, 2025, at 92.

A 1951 St. Francis Xavier Academy graduate, she attended St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, Terre Haute, Indiana. After many years as a devoted homemaker, she joined the family firm of P.L. Hennessey, Inc., as a real estate agent in 1979 and worked for 30+ years in the business. She was an active member of the Vicksburg-Warren Board of Realtors and a past member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary.

She was a life-long communicant of St. Paul Catholic Church in Vicksburg, where she served as secretary for the St. Paul Altar Society.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence H. and Margaret H. Hennessey; sons, John R. and Christopher H. Koestler; a brother, Lawrence H. Hennessey, Jr.; and a sister, Catherine Mulhern. She leaves behind daughters, Joan “Missy” (James) Arnold, Charlotte (John) Booth, Patricia (Preston) Williams; sons, Michael R. (Carla) Koestler, Robert M. (Donna) Koestler, Jr., and Lawrence H. Koestler; a brother, John A. (Joy Ann) Hennessey (Class of 1959); 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

The holy rosary will be recited Friday, May 16, at 8:30 a.m., followed by Visitation until 10:00 a.m. at Fisher-Riles Funeral Home, 5000 Indiana Avenue, Vicksburg. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. at St Paul Catholic Church, Vicksburg, with interment ensuing at Cedar Hill Cemetery. 

The grandsons, H Stewart Patterson, Thomas R. Duffey, Jr., B. Carlisle Koestler, John P., and William R. Williams, will be pallbearers.

The family would like to thank the Heritage House Nursing Home and Pax Hospice staff.

Instead of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul Catholic Church, 713 Crawford Street, Vicksburg, MS 39180, or Storehouse Community Food Pantry, PO Box 804912, Vicksburg, MS 39182.