Merry Christmas Classmates!

Wishing all a very Merry Christmas!  God be with you!

Let's Go Down Memory Lane 56', 57', 58', 59'

Classmate ~ Vera Agnes Marshall Brown Dies

Vera Agnes Marshall Brown, a lifelong resident of Vicksburg, passed away Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, at Select Specialty in Jackson.  She was 75.

She was the daughter of the late Lee Carlton “Teddy” and Vera Agnes Marshall.  A graduate of St. Francis Xavier Academy Class of 1959, Vera was trained as a registered nurse by the Sisters of Mercy, receiving her degree from the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing, then she worked in her profession for over 50 years in various areas of nursing.

In 1982, Vera was honored as Home Health Nurse of the Year. Vera was a member of Pi Alpha Kappa Sorority. She was a lifelong communicant of St. Paul Catholic Church, where she served on numerous committees, including the St. Paul Altar Society, chairman of the bereavement committee, St. Paul Choir and several boards, including Parish Council.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Eleanor Bagby; and one granddaughter, Christina Francis.

Survivors include her husband of 52 years, George Brown of Vicksburg; two daughters, Andrea Brown (Owen) Francis of 

Mandeville, La.; Julie Brown (Bill) Walker of Clinton; one son, George (Lara) Brown Jr. of Natchez; two brothers, Lee Marshall “Teddy” of Lexington, S.C., and Charles Marshall of Vicksburg; four grandsons and two granddaughters.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016, at St. Paul Catholic Church with the Rev. Tom Lalor officiating. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Gardens Cemetery under the direction of Frank J. Fisher Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Frank J. Fisher Funeral Home with Rosary at 6:30 p.m., and from 9 a.m. Tuesday until the hour of service at the church.

Pallbearers will be Colin Francis, Patrick Francis, Hunter Walker, Michael Marshall, Tim Marshall and Andy Griffith. Honorary pallbearers will be members of Pi Alpha Kappa Sorority, St. Paul Catholic Church Choir, St. Paul Altar Society and members of the bereavement committee

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Paul Catholic Church, 713 Crawford Street, Vicksburg, MS, 39180.

Our Classmate Vera Marshall Brown Dies

It is with great sadness to let you know that our classmate, Vera Marshall Brown, passed away last night.

May she rest in peace in our Dear Lord's arms.

Why Canonisation?

Efforts to have Catherine McAuley, The founder of the Sisters of Mercy canonized as a Saint.

It is God who makes saints. The Church simply ratifies God ’s handiwork and calls it to the attention of the faithful for their encouragement and veneration. When the Church declares that a person is a saint she is saying in effect that this person is with God, that his or her life is worth imitating and that she or he has the power to intercede with God on our behalf. It is the ordinary members of the faithful who bring to the attention of the institutional Church the fact that such and such a person has lived his/her life of Christian virtue in a way that goes beyond what would be expected of an ordinarily good person.

Jesse F. Jones III Dies In 2015

Jesse F. Jones III, 76, of Leavenworth, Kan., died, Monday, Feb. 9, 2015, at St. Luke’s Cushing Medical Center.

He was born on July 28, 1938, in Vicksburg, the son of Jesse F. and Josephine R. (Morrissey) Jones Jr.

Jesse graduated from St. Aloysius High School (Class of 1957) and the University of Mississippi in 1961, where he was commissioned through the ROTC program into the United States Army as a field artillery officer.

He served two tours in Vietnam, graduated from the Command General Staff College, went on to serve with the Joint Airborne Command Post, and then concluded his career at Fort Leavenworth, first as an instructor at CGSC, and served as the director of the Nuclear Chemical Directorate. During his service, Jesse was recognized for his leadership and received various military honors, including the Meritorious Service Award, Combat Infantryman Badge and Bronze Star Medal (Oak Leaf Cluster) as well as numerous foreign decorations.

Jesse retired from the Army in April 1984, and was able to explore his lifelong fascination with technology when he opened Computers ASP, which he operated until 1997.

After that time, he was able to concentrate on what was important to him, his family and finally, grandchildren. Jesse was an active member of the community and served as senior warden of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

He was active in the Downtown Business Association, founded the Silverback Men’s Book Club, was  a member of the OB coffee group and was an active member of the Democratic Party. He was known for his booming voice and personality. Jesse enjoyed a lively debate, reading, playing on the computer, model trains and sharing a meal and a story or two with family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Nina Jones Alvarez of Metairie, La., and Mary Jones Kavanaugh of Vicksburg.

Jesse is survived by his beloved wife, Jo Anne Nutt Jones; eight children, Julie Ann Marcus of Prairie Village, Kan., Steven (Katie) Marcus of Vicksburg, Jesse Fuller Jones IV of Weaverville, Calif., Miles (Angela) Marcus of Jackson, Belle (Michael) Morgan of Wichita Falls, Texas, Treadwell (Karin) Jones of Prairie Village, Kan., Thomas (Dr. Jill Urban) Jones of Dallas and Elizabeth (David) Karkosky of Portland, Ore.; 11 grandchildren, Don, Sara, Blanche, Emma, Forrest, Michaela, Sam, Rowan, Patrick, Anna and Catherine. Jesse leaves an extended family of cousins, nieces and nephews, including Mittie Towne and Josephine Pratt of Vicksburg.

Services will be noon, Aug. 11, 2016, at Cedar Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Beth Palmer, rector of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, officiating.

Charles Riles Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Prayers For Vera!

I got word this morning that our classmate, Vera Marshall Brown, is in ICU on a ventilator at Merit Health River Region.  

Please keep her in your prayers at this time and will keep you updated.

May God be with you and bless you!


June 26 - Sunday:  I spoke with Andrea, Vera's daughter, and she told me that she is a little better but still sedated and on ventilator.
June 28 - Still on ventilator with some improvements but still sedated.
June 30 - On ventilator but off of sedation and improving.
July 2 - Semi-conscious but still on ventilator per her husband, George.
July 4 - Just talked to Vera and sitting up in a chair and said to keep the prayers coming and will be starting physical therapy and hope she can put one foot in front of the other. Great news!  Keep the prayers coming! 
July 6 - She may be transferred to a room today and will need physical therapy.  Keep the prayers coming!
July 7 - In Room 587 and getting physical therapy.  A great sign of improvement.  Keep the prayers coming!
July 8 - May be transferred to Heritage House Nursing Home for PT/Rehab next Monday.  Keep the prayers coming everyone.  God is truly blessing Vera's recovery. 
July 11- Talked to Vera and sounded really good but had a setback of fluid building up and waiting to get that stabilized so she can go to Heritage House to continue her rehab.  Keep praying.
July 16 - Talked to Vera today and still in hospital room 587 and continuing IV meds for heart and maybe going to Promise Hospital this coming Monday for further nursing care.  Please continue to keep her in yours prayers. 
July 19 - Talked to Vera today and she has been moved to Promise Hospital for further care and will start occupational therapy tomorrow.  You can reach her at 601-883-3234 and she is in Room 127.  Please continue to keep her in your prayers for a speedy recovery.  
July 20 - I got word today that Vera has been moved to another room at Promise Hospital which is the old Vicksburg Hospital on the north frontage road on second floor.  Her room #132 and phone number is 601-883-3229.  I know she would appreciate you going by for a visit if you can or a phone call. 
July 22 - I spoke to Vera yesterday and she told me she had a setback is why she was moved to Room #132 but is stabilized now. Please continue to pray for her.
July 29 - Went to visit with her and she was in good spirits.  Dr. came in while I was there and said she possibly could go home later next week.  She is still on IV meds for her heart.  Keep praying for her.
August 2 - I talked to Vera today and she is still in Promise Hospital but now running a fever.  Trying to locate what is going on and still on IV meds for her heart.  Please keep the prayers coming for her. 
August 4 - Talked to Vera today and no more fever and may get to go home next Friday if all goes well. 
August 10 - Today I spoke to George Brown, Vera's husband and said she will most likely go home Friday.  She has been taken off of her IV heart meds.  Keep the prayers coming because she will need home care as well.  I know the family appreciates all your prayers and thoughts since all this went down in June.  Praise The Lord!
August 13 - Vera was discharged yesterday and went home! Thanks so much for all your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time for her. I know she appreciates all your prayers for her recovery. Wonderful news!  May God Bless and continue to keep her well. 
August 20 - Our Classmate was discharged from Promise Hospital last Friday and home with nurses coming in to check on her.  Just talked to her daughter and said that she is still weak.  Please continue to keep her in your prayers as she tries to recover from her health issues. 
August 21 - Update:  Vera is back in the hospital today being stabilized and resting.  Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers.  May God Bless and heal you, Vera. 
August 22 - Vera was moved to the Heart Unit for more specialized care. Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers. 
August 25 - Vera is in ICU now and having a CPAP to help with her breathing.  Continue your thoughts and prayers for her and may the Good Lord Blessed and heal her. 
August 31 - Vera is still in ICU.  Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers.  God be with you Vera! 
September 4 - Ina Whittington and I visited Vera today and she is out of ICU and in Room #420 at Merit Health River Region.  She is on and off the CPAP machine but still need your thoughts and prayers. Hopefully, soon she will be back home recovering. 
September 9 - Vera was put back in ICU this morning according to her husband George to stabilize her vital signs.  Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers.  May God be with her! 
September 13 - Vera will be transported to St. Dominic's Hospital in Jackson, MS, today per her husband George for further rehab. Please keep the prayers coming as she continues to struggle with her health issues.  God Bless her! 
September 21 - Vera is a patient at Select Specialty Hospital in Room 140, Ridgewood Rd., Jackson, MS.  She is being monitored on her vitals so please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers.  May God be with you, Vera! 
September 26 - Vera is being moved the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS, for more cardiac care according to her husband, George and daughter, Andrea.  Please continue to keep her in your prayers.  May God touch Vera with his healing hands and give her comfort and peace. 
October 2 - Talked to George about Vera today and he said that she is still in Intensive Care at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS.  She is somewhat better, he said.  Please continue to keep the prayers coming and hopefully she will get strong enough to come home soon.  

Visiting Classmate & Retreat Area

Yesterday, we took a road trip to Greenwood, Mississippi to visit our classmate, Ina Lott Whittington, who moved there last August. We all went out to eat at The Crystal Grill and had a great time. 

Left to right:  Myself, Marian Love Phillips, Sue McNamara Fowler, Myrtle Loviza Alvarado and Ina Lott Whittington. While there we road around Greenwood checking out a town with nine bridges crossing the Yazoo River. 

We also visited Locus Benedictus - "A Place of Blessing" which is a retreat area under construction.  I'm letting the pictures speak for themselves of this beautiful/peaceful place in the heart of Delta.  

  

  

Let Those Who Visit Here

Be Blessed With Joy, 

Peace, Love and Mercy.

1950's Memories

Long ago and far away, in a land that time forgot,

Before the days of Dylan, or the dawn of Camelot.

There lived a race of innocents, and they were you and me,

For Ike was in the White House in that land where we were born,

Where navels were for oranges, and Peyton Place was porn.

We learned to gut a muffler, we washed our hair at dawn,

We spread our crinolines to dry in circles on the lawn.

We longed for love and romance, and waited for our Prince,

And Eddie Fisher married Liz, and no one's seen him since.

We danced to 'Little Darlin,' and sang to 'Stagger Lee'

And cried for Buddy Holly in the Land That Made Me, Me.

Only girls wore earrings then, and 3 was one too many,

And only boys wore flat-top cuts, except for Jean McKinney.

And only in our wildest dreams did we expect to see

A boy named George with Lipstick, in the Land That Made Me, Me.

We fell for Frankie Avalon, Annette was oh, so nice,

And when they made a movie, they never made it twice.

We didn't have a Star Trek Five, or Psycho Two and Three,

Or Rocky-Rambo Twenty in the Land That Made Me, Me.

Miss Kitty had a heart of gold, and Chester had a limp,

And Reagan was a Democrat whose co-star was a chimp.

We had a Mr. Wizard, but not a Mr. T,

And Oprah couldn't talk yet, in the Land That Made Me, Me.

We had our share of heroes, we never thought they'd go,

At least not Bobby Darin, or Marilyn Monroe.

For youth was still eternal, and life was yet to be,

And Elvis was forever in the Land That Made Me, Me.

We'd never seen the rock band that was Grateful to be Dead,

And Airplanes weren't named Jefferson, and Zeppelins were not Led.

And Beatles lived in gardens then, and Monkeys lived in trees,

Madonna was Mary in the Land That Made Me, Me.

We'd never heard of microwaves, or telephones in cars,

And babies might be bottle-fed, but they weren't grown in jars.

And pumping iron got wrinkles out, and 'gay' meant fancy-free,

And dorms were never co-ed in the Land That Made Me, Me.

We hadn't seen enough of jets to talk about the lag,

And microchips were what was left at the bottom of the bag.

And Hardware was a box of nails, and bytes came from a flea,

And rocket ships were fiction in the Land That Made Me, Me.

Buick's came with portholes, and side shows came with freaks,

And bathing suits came big enough to cover both your cheeks.

And Coke came just in bottles, and skirts below the knee,

And Castro came to power near the Land That Made Me, Me.

We had no Crest with Fluoride, we had no Hill Street Blues,

We had no patterned pantyhose or Lipton herbal tea

Or prime-time ads for those dysfunctions in the Land That Made Me, Me.

There were no golden arches, no Perrier to chill,

And fish were not called Wanda , and cats were not called Bill.

And middle-aged was 35 and old was forty-three,

And ancient were our parents in the Land That Made Me, Me.

But all things have a season, or so we've heard them say,

And now instead of Maybelline we swear by Retin-A.

They send us invitations to join AARP,

We've come a long way, baby, from the Land That Made Me, Me.

So now we face a brave new world in slightly larger jeans,

And wonder why they're using smaller print in magazines.

And we tell our children's children of the way it used to be,

Long ago and far away in the Land That Made Me, Me.

If you didn't grow up in the fifty's, 

You missed the greatest time in history,

Hope you enjoyed this read as much as I did.  

 Thanks for the memories. 

Memorial Day ~ 2016

Wishing my classmates a thoughtful and respectful Memorial Day. 

Sunrise at Chimney Rock State Park, North Carolina.

Late Classmate's Son Passes Away Suddenly

Gary W. Yowan, passed away suddenly on May 18, 2016 at the age of 54. Beloved son of the late William E. and the late Marie Christine Braun Yowan (Class of 1959).  Loving brother of Sandy (Ed) Gulick and his late twin brother, Glenn.  Proud Uncle of Eddie, Tommy and Aunt Kaitlyn. Dear nephew of Diane Cassatly.

Visitation will be Friday 3-9 p.m. at the Wasik Funeral Home, Inc., 49150 Schoenherr Rd. (N. of 22 Mile Rd.) Shelby Twp.  Funeral service on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home.  Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at: www.wasikfuneralhome.com

A family picture taken a few years ago at Ocean Isle, NC, of our classmate Marie Braun Yowan who passed away January 19, 2016. Shown with Marie is her late husband, Bill, daughter, Sandy and son, Gary who passed away yesterday, May 18, 2016. 

Happy Mother's Day Classmates!

Walt's Look Around MS: Sisters Of Mercy Convent

An article was published today by WLBT-TV's personality, Walt Grayson, about the Sisters of Mercy Convent that is in need of repairs.  Please check out the story below.

Story

Sisters of Mercy Convent

SFXA Rhythm Band

4th Grade

(Click on picture to enlarge)

Old Pictures Of St. Aloysius College

Post Card of St. Aloysius College, Vicksburg, MS, at the corner of Grove and First North Streets.  Founded in 1879.

The same building.

St. Aloysius College Band at Saint Francis Xavier Academy (SFXA) auditorium. 

St. Aloysius College

Lost In The Fifties Tonight

The 2016 S.F.X.A. Class Reunions

 Walnut Hills Restaurant

Pictures taken at Walnut Hills Restaurant for our last get-together on a stormy evening of April 11, 2016, before Kay and Jim continued on their trip. We had four days of catching up and spending quality time together. It's always great to see them come back home for a visit. Wishing them safe travels. Myself, Anita Zorn Hossley (Class of 1958), Kay Hess Simms and Myrtle Loviza Curro Alvarado. 

smile emoticon

Jim and Kay Simms at Walnut Hills Restaurant.

10 South Rooftop Bar & Grill.

Picture taken at 10 South Rooftop Bar & Grill April 10, 2016 after having lunch together with former high school classmates. Out-of-town classmates were in town for the St. Aloysius/St. Francis Alumni Banquet held Saturday evening at Farrell Hall. Left to right - Jim Simms, Ina Lott Whittington, Kay Hess Simms, Myrtle Loviza Curro Alvarado, Anita Zorn Hossley (Class of 1958), Bobby Alvarado and myself. 

St. Paul Farrell Hall

(Class of 1959) Myrtle Loviza Curro Alvarado, Sue McNamara Fowler, Kay Hess Simms, Ina Lott Whittington, Vera Marshall Brown and myself, Marian Love Boyd Phillips. 

Six Classmates attended the 2016 St. Aloysius/St. Francis Alumni Banquet on April 9, 2016 at St. Paul Farrell Hall.  It has been 57 years since graduating from our Alma Mater, S.F.X.A.  No classmates from St. Aloysius attended.  

We also ate lunch at Cracker Barrel but took no pictures were taken on April 9, 2016. 

KJ's River Town Grille  

Picture taken on Friday, April 8, 2016 at KJ's River Town Grille in downtown Vicksburg.  Myrtle Loviza Alvarado with husband Bobby, Kay Hess Simms and husband, Jim, Ina Lott Whittington, myself, Vera Marshall Brown and husband, George and Sue McNamara Fowler.

Vicksburg Landmark Has Collapsed - Funding Needed For Repairs

Part of a Mississippi landmark that housed Nuns and taught thousands of students in Vicksburg has collapsed and community funding is needed for repairs. DETAILS>>http://bit.ly/1Mv5O03

2016 St. Aloysius/St. Francis Alumni Banquet

Vicksburg Catholic School

St. Francis Xavier Academy ~ 1860

 St. Aloysius High School ~ 1879

April 9th, 2016

Special Guests

Class of 1966

Class of 2016

St. Paul Farrell Hall

The Vicksburg Apartments, old Y. M. C. A. and the Old Court House Museum in the background.

Class of 1959

Vera Marshall Brown, Myra Logue and George Brown.

George Brown, Glenda LaGarde and Bobby Alvarado.

Jim and Kay Hess Simms

Nina Cocarro Buell, Margaret Patricia "Patty" Hebler Grey, Sue McNamara Fowler and Tommy Ray McNamara.

Myra Logue, Nina Cocarro Buell and Margaret Patricia "Patty" Hebler Grey

Joe Harrison (Magician) Class of 1966.

Left to right: Myrtle Loviza Curro Alvarado, Sue McNamara Fowler, Kay Hess Simms, Ina Lott Whittington, Vera Marshall Brown and Marian Love Boyd Phillips.  The Class of 1959 celebrating 57 years!  Out of 20 girls, 5 have gone to their heavenly reward, 2 cannot be found and 7 classmates could not make it.