St. Al Goes For First State Soccer Championship Tonight In Starkville

Chasing A Championship:  St. Aloysius' Jack Dowe, right fights his way past Central Hinds' Nick Lauderdale during Wednesday' MAIS Class AAA semifinal.  

MAIS Class AAA Championship
St. Aloysius (13-5) at Starkville Academy (9-7)
Saturday, 6 p.m.
At Mississippi State Soccer Field

In the postgame euphoria of Wednesday's state semifinal win, St. Aloysius' Jack Dowe did what any player would do and said he felt like the Flashes would go on to win in the championship game.  A second later he took it back.  "I don't want to jinx it," he said with a laugh.

It was probably a wise move.  For all their success and skill, it wouldn't hurt the Flashes to have luck on their side as well when they returned to the field on Saturday.

St. Al (13-5) will take on Starkville Academy at 6 p.m. at the Mississippi State Soccer Field on the MSU campus, in the MAIS Class AAA boys championship game.

It's the first time St. Al has ever played for a state title in boys soccer.  Starkville Academy (9-7) is in the Class AAA final for the second year in a row.

"I've been dreaming of this since I was in the seventh grade.  It's crazy," said Dowe, a senior forward who has had three goals --- including both game-winner --- and two assists in St. Al's two playoff victories so far.

The biggest challenge for the Flashes might be putting their last game behind them.  They knocked off four-time defending Class AAA champion Central Hinds, 2-1 and ended the Cougars' 71-game winning streak in the process.  Central Hinds had not lost since the 2013 state championship game.

St. Al had lost five times to Central Hinds over the past two seasons, including an embarrassing 8-0 defeat earlier this year and in the 2017 state semifinals.  Wednesday's victory was one that is players will never forget - - but also one they have to, in order to avoid a letdown when the stakes grow even bigger on Saturday.

"I think it is (tougher) because of pressure," said St. Al coach Scott Mathis, who led the school's girls team to the Class AAA championship in 2015.  "If they can keep everything in check, they're going to be fine.  I've been in that championship game with the girls, and they almost gave it away.  But we held on and did it, and I think the boys can do the same."

Mathis didn't have to go back too far to see how the right mindset can affect the outcome of a game.  The Flashes, perhaps looking ahead to their nemesis Central Hinds, struggled to get past Adams County Christian School in the first round of the playoffs.  They trailed 2-1 at halftime before scoring twice in the second half to wind 3-2.

Mathis said that was a bit of a wake-up call.  "After ACCS, I'm not going to rule anything out," Mathis said.  "What we've done is beat the top team in the state, and we're going to play off of that and focus on what we're going to do next."

Although it is in the championship game for the second year in a row, Starkville Academy took a similar route as St. Al to get there.  The Volunteers beat Indianola Academy 5-1 in the first round, then won 1-0 against a Heritage Academy squad that had beaten them twice in the regular season.

Brody Pierce, who spent most of the winter with the basketball team, has scored four of the Volunteers' six goals in the playoffs.  His total includes the game-winner against Heritage.

Now both the Flashes and Volunteers have one final obstacle to clear before they can truly celebrate.

"We've got to get over the hump sometime," Mathis said.  "I told them, 'You guys have got what it takes to do it,' so let's just do it."

Michael T. Morrissey Jr., Dies

Michael T. Morrissey Jr., died Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, at River Region Medical Center. He was 78.

Born in Vicksburg, he was the son of the late Michael T. Morrissey Sr. and Elizabeth Mengis Morrissey.

Mike was a graduate of St. Aloysius High School in the Class of 1958 and a graduate of The University of Mississippi. He was a member of Hawkins United Methodist Church and also attended St. Albans Episcopal Church.

He is survived by his wife, Judy Williams Morrissey; son, Michael (Bo) Morrissey III (Judy); daughter, Kelly Morrissey Stevens; stepdaughter, Suzanne Williams Jackson (Darryl); and a stepson, Shawn Williams (Vickie). Mike is also survived by his grandchildren, Alex and Shelby Stevens, Lauren and Sara Morrissey, Kaleb Williams, Jay and Madelyn Jackson and Michael Kintsley.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Rosalie Biedenharn and Alice Woody; and a brother, Tommy Morrissey.

Services will be 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 19, 2018, at Hawkins United Methodist Church.

Visitation will be Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at Riles Funeral Home and Monday at Hawkins United Methodist Church at 9 a.m. until the hour of the service. Burial will be at St. Albans Episcopal Church Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Ed Carruth, Ralph Abraham, Joe Loviza, Roeland Bell, Hardy Warren, Roger Gunn, Roger Cliburn, Richard Price, Bill Lovelady and Jimmy Kendrick.

Memorials may be made to Love a Child, Post Office Box 60063, Fort Myers FL 33906 and to Samaritans’ Purse, Post Office Box 3000, Boone, NC 38607.

(Florence Murphy Morrissey Boren (Class of 1959) married Michael T. Morrissey , Jr. (Class of 1958) in 1962 They had three children.  Kelly, 1965, Norma Ann, 1966 (deceased) and Michael, III "Bo" in  1968)

Prayers For Ina

Please keep our classmate, Ina Lott Whittington in your prayers.  She is seeing a hip specialist at the University Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) today.  Her surgeon who did her last two replacements last year cannot help her anymore and has referred her to UMMC for further medical care.  She will need your ongoing prayers.  I will keep you updated here on her progress and that she will get the medical attention she needs at this time.  

02-04-2018 ~ Ina was seen by a Doctor at UMMC and had an infection in her hip and was put on an antibiotic.  She will return to UMMC for further tests to see if the infection has cleared on February 26th  Her operation has been scheduled for April 11th because her Doctor has a scheduled overseas assignment. Ina is resting at home in bed and can sit up in a wheelchair.  Please continue to keep her in your prayers.  

If you like, you can send a card to cheer her up.  Ina's address is 109 Colonial Drive, Vicksburg, MS  39180  I'm sure she would deeply appreciate it.

03-02-2018 ~ Ina got word today from her Doctor that the infection has returned in her hip and will have to be removed before she can have her surgery in April.  She also may have pneumonia in her right lung as well.  She will go Monday to have more x-rays to check her lungs.  I will keep you posted.  Please continue to keep Ina in your prayers daily.

03-09-2018 ~ X-rays showed that it was not pneumonia in her right lung but enlarged blood vessels instead.  Please continue to keep her in your prayers.  

In Memoriam ~ Lois Marie Sullivan

Lois Marie Dungan Sullivan passed away last Saturday night in Vicksburg, which was her lifetime home.  

She would have been 97 years old this year.  

She is survived by her beloved four sons, Mickey (Class of 1959), Bobby, Jimmy, and Mike.  A private graveside family service was held.  

Lois was a sweet, elegant and lovely lady with a beautiful smile.  

Praying that God will comfort the family through this time of sadness and may she rest in peace. 

Published in The Vicksburg Post 

Lois Dungan Sullivan died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018. She was 96.

Mrs. Sullivan was a lifelong resident of Vicksburg.

She was preceded in death by her husband of over 70 years, Albert L. “Chink” Sullivan.

She is survived by four sons, Mickey Sullivan, Bobby Sullivan, Jimmy Sullivan and Mike Sullivan; seven grandsons; one granddaughter; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Private services were held under the direction of Riles Funeral Home.

Her family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials are made to a charity of choice.

Classmates Mother Has Died

I received word today that Mickey Sullivan's Mother, Lois Sullivan, has died.  Please keep Micky and his family in your prayers.  I will post Obituary as soon as I receive it. 

Obituary for Dorothy Blough "Dot" Cunningham

Obituary for Dorothy Blough "Dot" Cunningham

Dorothy Blough “Dot” Cunningham, 74, passed away on Thursday, January 11, 2018, at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson.

Born August 8, 1943, in Jackson, she was the daughter of the late John Herbert Blough and the late Lorene Keuhl Blough. 

She was a 1961 graduate of Central High School in Jackson and attended Hinds Junior College. She retired from Union Oil of California. 

Dot was active in many organizations at her church and was an FOA Volunteer. She was a wonderful and gracious hostess and will be remembered for celebrating the love of her family and the joy of her friends. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her nephew, David K. Stewart.  

She is survived by her husband of 56 years,  Ivan H. Cunningham,  of Madison; sisters; Florence Helena Pickering (Tommy),  of Orlando; Mamie Lorene Pitts and Bettye Christine Stewart, both of Madison; and a host of other nieces, nephews, and other loving relatives and friends.

Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 13, 2018, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 127 Church Rd. in Gluckstadt where a Mass of the Resurrection will begin at 11:00 a.m., Father Kevin Slattery, Celebrant.  Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Sebrell Funeral Home of Ridgeland is handling arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Friends of Alcoholics (FOA), 1298 FOA Rd, Jackson, MS.  39209

If you wish you can send Ivan a card to 326 Hoy Road, Madison, MS  39110

Classmates Wife Dies

I received word today that our classmate, Ivan Cunningham's wife, Dot (Bootsie) died at 3:45 this morning.  They had no children.  Ivan is in our prayers and may he be comforted by God's Grace at this time.   Will post Obituary as soon as I receive it.