In Memory of Sister Mary Rita, R.S.M.

Died: August 10, 1968 ~ Funeral services for Sister Mary Rita Davidson of St. Francis Xavier Academy will be held today at 3 p.m. from St. Paul's Catholic Church with Bishop Joseph B. Brunini conducting the service. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery with Fisher Funeral Home in charge. Sister Rita died Saturday after a brief illness. She was 70.

She was born in Biloxi, the former Teresa Davidson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Davidson, Sr. She entered the order of the Sisters of Mercy at the age of 17 and pronounced her vows three years later.

Sister Mary Rita taught in a number of schools in Mississippi, spending the major part of her life in Vicksburg. She was noted for her work in the field of English, Social Studies and Theology and her contributions to the SFXA Library.

Survivors include two sisters, Mrs. Olga Staehling of New Orleans and Mrs. John Pisarich of Biloxi.

Active pallbearers will be Cyril O'Neill, Vincent Schaff, C. Home Smith, Lawrence Hennessey, J. W. Evans, Joseph A. Gerache, and Harry Hardin.

Honorary pallbearers will be Sister Mary Ignatius, RSM, Sister Mary Francis, RSM, Sister Mary Isabel, RSM, Sister Mary Claudia, RSM, Sister Mary Adelaide, RMS, Sister Mary Joseph, RSM, Sister Mary Hildergarde, RSM, Sister Mary Angela, RSM, Sister Mary Placide, RSM and Sister Mary Henrietta.

She was a very kind and gentle person. When sister died, for the first time in history, there were Sisters of Mercy as honorary pallbearers because of their love for Sister Mary Rita.

~May They All Rest In Peace~

Picture taken at Cedar Hill Cemetary ~ June 14, 2009

Banquet at St. Michael Parish Hall

Left to right, Phillip Doiron, '59, Dickie Matherne, Mickey Sullivan, '59, Larry Miller, '59, Walter Little, '59 and Ivan Cunningham, '59. Thanks to classmate Larry Miller for sending me this photo to share with everyone on our blog. Would love to get some more pictures to post from our reunion and will give you credit. Thanks, Marian :)

Our 50th Anniversary Graduation

I received this bit of news from Larry Miller who wanted me to pass along to our classmates who enjoy a little history, that today, Sunday, May 31, is precisely 50 years since our graduation ceremony at St. Paul's Catholic Church. Quite coincidental that our 50th anniversary would fall on exactly the same date, he said.

Sister Mary Cabrini Fagan

Published:
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 1:13 PM CDT

BARLING, Ark. — Sister Mary Cabrini Fagan, Sisters of Mercy, died Sunday, May 24, 2009, at Catherine McAuley Retirement Convent in Barling, Ark. She was 80.

Born in Bassfield, she was baptized Agnes Bernice Fagan.

Sister Cabrini entered the Sisters of Mercy community at Webster Groves, Mo., on Sept. 8, 1946, and made her first vows on March 12, 1949.

She received a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and English and history degrees at Our Lady of the Lake in San Antonio, Texas, on July 15, 1958. Her first years of teaching were in New Orleans at St. Alphonsus. She then moved back to Mississippi, where she taught for many years in Biloxi, Pass Christian, Hattiesburg, Vicksburg and Meridian.

Sister Cabrini retired to Our Lady of Wisdom in December 1999, then moved to McAuley Convent in August 2003.

She is survived by two sisters, Natalie Stephens of Carson, Miss., and Lois Bishop of Tallahassee, Fla.; a brother, Edmond Fagan of Bassfield; and nieces and nephews.

Rosary will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday at McAuley Retirement Convent. The Funeral Mass will follow at 10 a.m. at the convent. The burial of her ashes will be at Calvary Cemetery in Fort Smith, Ark., under the direction of Fentress Mortuary of Fort Smith.

50th Class Reunion Pictures

FELLOW CLASSMATES!

If any of you have pictures that you want to share from our 50th class reunion, I would be more than happy to post them here and give you credit. Just email them to me at: mariandeerhunter@bellsouth.net or mail to me at 1104 National Street, Vicksburg, MS, 39180 and will make sure you receive them back. We need to keep our blog going and more photos would be a good thing! Thanks so much! Marian :)

1959 Football Schedule

Click to enlarge!

St. Aloysius High School Champions Day!

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen, will declare Friday, May 22, 2009 "St. Aloysius High School Champions Day"! You can view the proclamation adoption and members of the Baseball Team and Golf Team LIVE on Channel 23 at 10:00 a.m. Friday morning.

Below is a draft copy of the Proclamation. GO FLASHES!!

Proclamation

WHEREAS, the St. Aloysius High School Baseball and Gold teams both recently earned the title of Mississippi High School Activities Association's Class 1A State Champions; and

WHEREAS, St. Aloysius golf team members are: Alex Lanier, John Lindigrin, Charles Marsalis, Michael McKnight, Chris Ingram, Fisher Campbell, Elliott Bexley, Nick Mekus; and

WHEREAS, St. Aloysius baseball team members are: Brendan Beesley, Joseph Brown, Luke Burnett, Seth Carpenter, Andrew Collins, Josh Eargle, Emil Ellis, Reed Evans, Stephen Evans, Mathew Foley, Judson Gatling, Thett Hasty, Blake Haygood, Corey Jones, Wails Kemp, Chris Luke, Ryno Martin-Nez, Matt Mims, Patrick Murphy, Regan Nosser, Neal Ricks, Justin Rushing, Pierson Waring, Sean Weaver, and Ben Welp; and

WHEREAS, the golf team has excelled under the guidance of Head Golf Coach and Athletic Director Jim Taylor and the baseball team has been inspired and ably coached by Head Baseball Coach Clint Wilkerson, Assistant Coaches Chris Buse and Trey Clark, Team Managers Cameron Reed and George L. Tzotzolas, II, Team Statistician Eugene Buglewicz, Team Nurse Joan Bugleqica, Athletic Trainer Suzie Channell, Diamond Girls Aden Rials, Jeanna Cialone, Lauren Curtis, Haley Davis, Kourtney Dorbeck, Katie Floyd, Emily Fordice, Haleigh Huddleston, Sara Marcus, Chandler Mims, Kristan Murphy, Morgan Tidwell and both teams have been supported by their classmates, VCS Administrator Jennifer Henry, Principal Michele Townsend, teachers, families and friends in their quest for perfection on the golf course and baseball diamond; and

WHEREAS, these young athletes and the entire Flashes family are to be commended and congratulated on their hard work, effort and dedication which reflect a cooperation spirit and high degree of sportsmanship which bring honor to their school and community

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That I, Laurence E. Leyens, by virtue of the authority vested in me as the Mayor of the City of Vicksburg, for and on behalf of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and the people of Vicksburg, do hereby declare Friday, May 22nd, 2009, as

ST. ALOYSISU HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONS DAY

in Vicksburg, Mississippi and urge all citizen to join with me as we honor these young athletes and celebrate their accomplishment.

Signed this 22nd day of May in the Year of Our Lord Two-Thousand and Nine''

Laurence E. Leyens

Mayor