Class of 1959

Friday, April 24, 2026

2010 Classmates Reunion

One classmate is in a nursing home, two classmates and three spouses have passed away since this picture was taken. There were 20 SFXA girls and 19 SAHS boys. May they rest in peace. Amen

Sixty-Seven Years Graduated From SFXA & SAHS

Class of 1959 from our Alma Mater, St. Francis Xavier Academy (now the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation), celebrating 67 years since graduating with 20 girls who were taught by the Sisters of Mercy.+Marie Yowan (Braun), Myrtle Curro Alvarado (Loviza), Rosalye Baldwin (Wilkerson), +Florence Boren (Murphy), +Vera M. Brown (Marshall), Marlene Caston (Wilson), Billie Marie Clark (Price), +Jackie Doiron (Melsheimer), Sue Fowler (McNamara), Theresa Kitowski (Martin), Marian Ann Love, Boyd, Phillips, Kay Hess Simms, Bonnie Terry (Smith), Ina Carol Whittington (Lott). Contact loss with Margaret Mary Sheehan and Antionette Flynn (Sheehan). Rest In Peace ~ +Katherine Turcotte (Meyer), +Lynn Hausermann (Stegall), +Patricia LeBlanc (McNamara), and +Margaret Tice (McCormack).

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Joan C. Donovan Dies

Joan C. Donovan went to her heavenly home on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, surrounded by her family. She was 90 years old.

She was a communicant of St. Michael Catholic Church.

Born and raised in Vicksburg, MS, she was the daughter of the late John Coomes and Pauline Coomes Douat, and was a

A graduate of St. Francis Xavier Academy, in the class of 1954, and attended Hinds Community College.

She was a member of the Sodality of the Virgin Mary, Mercy Associates, and the Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary.

Joan retired from the U.S. Government, Waterways Experiment Station, and also worked at Vicksburg Medical Center as an LPN.

Joan was survived by three daughters: Sharon Donovan, Theresa Joan Donovan, Susan Woodrick (Mike); two sons, Michael Donovan (Carla), Paul Donovan (Theresa Ann); seven grandchildren: Bobby Lampkin, Brian Lampkin, Stephen Donovan (Emily), Jessica Kean (Kenny), Jennifer Grayson (Josh), Rachel Dodd (Joel) and Katlyn; twelve great grandchildren: Shawn Ryan Kean, Aiden Kean, Evie Kean, Ryan Donovan, Alice Donovan, Abby Grayson, Carl Grayson, Patty Grayson, Donny Grayson, Maryjane Grayson, Bray Dodd and Bear Dodd.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Mike; her brother, Billy Coomes; and her nieces and nephews: Renee Coomes, Mike Coomes, Bobby Coomes, and Donna Coomes Stienreide.

Visitation will be held on Monday, April 20, from 9 AM until 10:30 AM at Fisher-Riles Funeral Home, 5000 Indiana Avenue, followed by services at St. Michael Catholic Church at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

She was a very dear friend of mine and known her since working for the Corps of Engineers in 1968.  May she rest in peace.