Jackie's Children Honoring Their Mother

This wonderful woman brought two girls and one lucky son into this world. She raised them to be strong, loving adults, and they have gone on to have successful families of their own. She now is the proud Grandmother of six, and her positive influence impacts their lives daily. Jackie Doiron is the embodiment of how one person can change the world!

Jackie Melsheimer Doiron (Class of 1959)

Prayers For Bill Jennings, Class of 1958

PRAYERS PLEASE: Bill Jennings, SAHS Class of 1958, Has COVID Pneumonia

Dear Folks,

Would you please storm heaven for Bill  Jennings who contracted the virus and spent a few days in the hospital, but who became short of breath after 3 days at home?  He is now in Houston Methodist Hospital.  He is on oxygen, but not on a ventilator.  

His wife, Elaine, has COVID too and is recovering at home with low energy and taste issues.

I called Elaine this Thursday and she said Bill has his cell phone and would appreciate a call. His voice sounds a bit weak.  I am sure he would appreciate your prayers.

His contact information is:

William and Elaine Jennings

52 Copperleaf Drive

Woodlands  TX  77381

[Bill's cell]  713-962-7079

[Elaine's] 281-362-7535

b.jennings1@sbcglobal.net

In the union of prayers,

Michael Hosemann

Prayers For Andrea Kelly Hughes

Please keep Andrea Kelly Hughes (Class of 1958) in your prayers.  Andrea is in ICU at Merit Health River Region Hospital here in Vicksburg.  She had a hernia operation and ended up with an infection.  Will keep you posted on her condition.  

Update: Andrea is in Promise Hospital of Vicksburg and on dialysis.  Please continue to keep her in your prayers.

Shirley A. Farish ~ 1939 - 2020/ Obituary

Shirley A. Farish, a resident of Vicksburg,  passed away on Friday, November 6, 2020.  She was 81.  Shirley was the daughter of the late Frank and "Dutch" Farish.  She graduated in 1957 from St. Francis Xavier Academy and attended Mississippi State College for Women.  After graduating from Mercy Hospital Street Memorial School of Nursing in 1961, she was licensed as a registered nurse.  She retired in November 2003 after 42 years of service at Mercy Hospital/Parkview Hospital/River Region Medical Center.  

Shirley was a member of the District 12 Nurses Association, the Mississippi Nurses Association, and the American Nurses Association.  She volunteered in various service groups including the Mercy Delta Express Clinic, Auxiliary at Merit Health River Region, and with the First Baptist Church Medical/Dental Clinic.  Shirley was a communicant of St. Paul Catholic Church.

Shirley responded to many opportunities to promote individual growth in others and enhance healthcare.  She was a CPR instructor and was instrumental in the development and teaching of the first EMT classes in Vicksburg.  In keeping with her desire to help others and promote the education of nurses, she established an endowed scholarship at Hinds Community College named the Shirley Farish Nursing Scholarship.

She was a great believer in helping others.  She once said, " I guess I am happiest in giving a surprise Happy (a gift or something that does not cost much) to others known or unknown".  Her love and support were unconditional and irreplaceable.  She will be greatly missed. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Bob Farish.  She is survived by six Godchildren, cousins, and many friends. 

Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 14 at Fisher-Riles Funeral Home, 5000 Indiana Avenue.  A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at St. Paul Catholic Church.  Interment will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.  Social distancing guidelines will be followed at the funeral home and the church.

Pallbearers will be Tom Butler, Willie Hughes, Ken W. Cook, Roger Jones,  Peter Franco, Gerald Cottingham, Edgar Allen, Gil Israel, John Herrod, Mike Snow, Ed Fava, and Johnny Hollis.  Honorary pallbearers will be the staff and volunteer at Merit Health River Region and the Sisters of Mercy.

Memorials may be made to Vicksburg Catholic School, 1900 Grove St., Vicksburg, MS 39183 or St. Paul Catholic Church, 713 Crawford St., Vicksburg, MS 39180.

Which Year Is Your Favorite - '55, '56, '57?

Those were the good old days!  So glad I grew up in that timeframe.  My favorite is the '55 car but would love to have all three and go for a ride back in time.  We were so fortunate and did not know it.  

Remembering My Son

October 25th of every year since 1964 has been a very sad day remembering my only son, William David Boyd.  I was able to hold him briefly, then he was placed in an incubator, and baptized the next day.  He would have been 56 years old today, but God called him home to be with him.  He was diagnosed with hyaline membrane disease of the lungs and weighed 6 lbs. 2 oz.  He was born before my oldest daughter, Theresa, was a year old on November 11th.  When I’m called home, I will see my son and hold him again.  Happy “Heavenly” Birthday, William David.  I love and miss you so much!   Mom

Col. George Booth (SAHS - Class of 1966)

Shared by Peter Pikul

My cousin, Col. George Booth (St. Aloysius Class of 1966), laid to rest yesterday at Arlington National Cemetery.
Among other duties ... he was a “fighter pilot during the Vietnam War, flying with the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing based in Ubon, Thailand. He flew the F-4 and F-15. During his years of service, Col. Booth also served at Air Force bases in Bitburg, Germany; Soesterberg, Netherlands, and Nellis AFB, Nevada. He spent one year in Toronto, Canada at the Air Command and Staff College, an institution designed to provide high quality professional military education for selected Canadian and international officers. He then provided services to the Canadian government for 2 years at the Canadian Forces Base Rockcliffe headquarters in Ottawa, Canada. Col. Booth subsequently returned to the United States with an assignment to Langley AFB in Virginia where he served as Commander of the 48th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. He later trained at the Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama, the senior professional military education school of the USAF. His final duty station was in Colorado Springs, Colorado where he was a senior officer at NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command).”