Ocean Springs MS Funeral Homes
$20 OFF
Heart-felt tributes to honor a dear friend or loved one who has passed away
4111 Bienville Boulevard
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
(228) 875-5522
911 Porter Avenue
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
(228) 875-1266
911 Porter Avenue
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
(228) 875-1266
Ocean Springs MS Obituaries and Death Notices
Monday, February 27, 2017Sandra Spencer (husband Ronnie) and Cynthia Young, both of Jefferson City, Mo.; two grandsons, Brit Boyce (wife Denise) of Jefferson City, Mo. and Ganon Boyce (wife Leigh) of Ocean Springs, Ms.; seven great-grandchildren, Kailee Boyce, Cole Boyce, Rachel Boyce, Hannah Boyce, Brooke Boyce, Kelsie Spears and Kiersten Spears. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, George; two sons-in-law, Darrell Boyce and Roderick Young; four brothers, Ray Thornberry, Eugene Thornberry, Thomas Edward “Buster” Thornberry, Jr. and Donnie Thornberry; and two sisters, Lela Boofer and Dorothy Thornberry.Visitation will be held at Freeman Mortuary from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 9, 2017.Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 9, 2017 in the Freeman Chapel with the Reverend Mark Towns and Chaplain Bart Larson officiating. Graveside services and interment will be held at Hawthorn Memorial Gardens.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Memorial Baptist Church or Concord Baptist Church.
Monday, September 05, 2016Maureen O’Keefe Ward, said. “I think all of us together won’t be able to fill it. We’ll do our best.”Never intimidatedO’Keefe’s father owned livery and funeral businesses, but the family lost their Ocean Springs mansion in the Great Depression and moved to Biloxi.O’Keefe would later build a business empire, but he never looked down on people who had less than he did. And because he was willing to take risks, he didn’t always know how he would manage to pay his bills even when others thought he had plenty of money.He taught his children that people should be treated with dignity regardless of their race, creed or station in life.“He demonstrated that by example over and over and over again,” Joe O’Keefe said. “He was just an absolute rock-solid believer in the common dignity.”Jerry O’Keefe married Annette Saxon before he left for the war. He joined his father’s funeral business after the war, then bought O’Keefe Funeral Home before his father died. In 1957, he bought the Bradford Funeral Home Co., merging the businesses as Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home.He and his wife also founded Gulf National Life Insurance Co., which eventually became the state’s largest provider of life and burial insurance policies through 200 affiliated funeral homes.In business dealings, he was impossible to intimidate, said his longtime attorney, Michael Cavanaugh.O’Keefe was no stranger to lawsuits. His pretrial testimony was sought in many a case. On one occasion, Cavanaugh said, O’Keefe was reluctant to testify. He wanted to know what would happen if he failed to show up in response to a summons.Well, Cavanaugh told O’Keefe, he could be hauled before the judge, fined and assessed court costs.“Can they shoot me?” O’Keefe asked. No, Cavanaugh told O’Keefe, they couldn’t shoot him. “I’m not going,” O’Keefe said. Cavanaugh managed to scuttle the testimony without repercussions.Always engagedAlways interested in politics, O’Keefe ran for his first elective office in 1959, beating an incumbent member of the state House of Representatives. He served through 1963.Ten years later, he was elected Biloxi’s mayor, serving eight years. O’Keefe also was a major donor to community causes, including the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, named in Annette O’Keefe’s honor after he contributed in her memory the project’s first major donation. He raised millions for the museum and for other charities.He also helped people down on their luck. Maureen Ward and his third child, Cecilia O’Keefe Neustrom, said he received four or five letters a week asking for help. While he did not offer assistance to all who asked, the women said he wrote a lot of checks.O’Keefe also helped shape modern-day Biloxi. As mayor, he carried out a previous plan to transform Vieux Marche downtown into a pedestr...
Monday, August 29, 2016Maureen O’Keefe Ward, said. “I think all of us together won’t be able to fill it. We’ll do our best.”Never intimidatedO’Keefe’s father owned livery and funeral businesses, but the family lost their Ocean Springs mansion in the Great Depression and moved to Biloxi.O’Keefe would later build a business empire, but he never looked down on people who had less than he did. And because he was willing to take risks, he didn’t always know how he would manage to pay his bills even when others thought he had plenty of money.He taught his children that people should be treated with dignity regardless of their race, creed or station in life.“He demonstrated that by example over and over and over again,” Joe O’Keefe said. “He was just an absolute rock-solid believer in the common dignity.”Jerry O’Keefe married Annette Saxon before he left for the war. He joined his father’s funeral business after the war, then bought O’Keefe Funeral Home before his father died. In 1957, he bought the Bradford Funeral Home Co., merging the businesses as Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home.He and his wife also founded Gulf National Life Insurance Co., which eventually became the state’s largest provider of life and burial insurance policies through 200 affiliated funeral homes.In business dealings, he was impossible to intimidate, said his longtime attorney, Michael Cavanaugh.O’Keefe was no stranger to lawsuits. His pretrial testimony was sought in many a case. On one occasion, Cavanaugh said, O’Keefe was reluctant to testify. He wanted to know what would happen if he failed to show up in response to a summons.Well, Cavanaugh told O’Keefe, he could be hauled before the judge, fined and assessed court costs.“Can they shoot me?” O’Keefe asked. No, Cavanaugh told O’Keefe, they couldn’t shoot him. “I’m not going,” O’Keefe said. Cavanaugh managed to scuttle the testimony without repercussions.Always engagedAlways interested in politics, O’Keefe ran for his first elective office in 1959, beating an incumbent member of the state House of Representatives. He served through 1963.Ten years later, he was elected Biloxi’s mayor, serving eight years. O’Keefe also was a major donor to community causes, including the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, named in Annette O’Keefe’s honor after he contributed in her memory the project’s first major donation. He raised millions for the museum and for other charities.He also helped people down on their luck. Maureen Ward and his third child, Cecilia O’Keefe Neustrom, said he received four or five letters a week asking for help. While he did not offer assistance to all who asked, the women said he wrote a lot of checks.O’Keefe also helped shape modern-day Biloxi. As mayor, he carried out a previous plan to transform Vieux Marche downtown into a pedestr...
Monday, August 29, 2016Friends and onlookers lined up under the canopy of oak trees on Porter Avenue in Ocean Springs hoping to catch a final glimpse of a Coast community leader.Services on Saturday morning honored the life of former Biloxi Mayor and philanthropist Jerry O’Keefe, who died Tuesday at 93.After the funeral Mass at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral in Biloxi, the procession headed east on U.S. 90 across the Biloxi Bay Bridge toward the family’s business, Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home in Ocean Springs.On Porter Avenue, in front of the funeral home, O’Keefe’s casket was transferred to a horse-drawn hearse that carried the celebrated World War II flying ace to his final resting place at Evergreen Cemetery.Although a thunderstorm momentarily sent people indoors, many returned to see the processional.“We knew Mr. O’Keefe,” Toni Bond of Ocean Springs said, “so we came out here to pay our respects.”Life of serviceBishop Roger P. Morin of the Biloxi Diocese celebrated the Mass attended by hundreds, including Biloxi Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich, Ocean Springs Mayor Conn...
Ocean Springs News
Monday, February 27, 2017Sandra Spencer (husband Ronnie) and Cynthia Young, both of Jefferson City, Mo.; two grandsons, Brit Boyce (wife Denise) of Jefferson City, Mo. and Ganon Boyce (wife Leigh) of Ocean Springs, Ms.; seven great-grandchildren, Kailee Boyce, Cole Boyce, Rachel Boyce, Hannah Boyce, Brooke Boyce, Kelsie Spears and Kiersten Spears. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, George; two sons-in-law, Darrell Boyce and Roderick Young; four brothers, Ray Thornberry, Eugene Thornberry, Thomas Edward “Buster” Thornberry, Jr. and Donnie Thornberry; and two sisters, Lela Boofer and Dorothy Thornberry.Visitation will be held at Freeman Mortuary from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 9, 2017.Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 9, 2017 in the Freeman Chapel with the Reverend Mark Towns and Chaplain Bart Larson officiating. Graveside services and interment will be held at Hawthorn Memorial Gardens.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Memorial Baptist Church or Concord Baptist Church.
Monday, September 05, 2016Maureen O’Keefe Ward, said. “I think all of us together won’t be able to fill it. We’ll do our best.”Never intimidatedO’Keefe’s father owned livery and funeral businesses, but the family lost their Ocean Springs mansion in the Great Depression and moved to Biloxi.O’Keefe would later build a business empire, but he never looked down on people who had less than he did. And because he was willing to take risks, he didn’t always know how he would manage to pay his bills even when others thought he had plenty of money.He taught his children that people should be treated with dignity regardless of their race, creed or station in life.“He demonstrated that by example over and over and over again,” Joe O’Keefe said. “He was just an absolute rock-solid believer in the common dignity.”Jerry O’Keefe married Annette Saxon before he left for the war. He joined his father’s funeral business after the war, then bought O’Keefe Funeral Home before his father died. In 1957, he bought the Bradford Funeral Home Co., merging the businesses as Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home.He and his wife also founded Gulf National Life Insurance Co., which eventually became the state’s largest provider of life and burial insurance policies through 200 affiliated funeral homes.In business dealings, he was impossible to intimidate, said his longtime attorney, Michael Cavanaugh.O’Keefe was no stranger to lawsuits. His pretrial testimony was sought in many a case. On one occasion, Cavanaugh said, O’Keefe was reluctant to testify. He wanted to know what would happen if he failed to show up in response to a summons.Well, Cavanaugh told O’Keefe, he could be hauled before the judge, fined and assessed court costs.“Can they shoot me?” O’Keefe asked. No, Cavanaugh told O’Keefe, they couldn’t shoot him. “I’m not going,” O’Keefe said. Cavanaugh managed to scuttle the testimony without repercussions.Always engagedAlways interested in politics, O’Keefe ran for his first elective office in 1959, beating an incumbent member of the state House of Representatives. He served through 1963.Ten years later, he was elected Biloxi’s mayor, serving eight years. O’Keefe also was a major donor to community causes, including the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, named in Annette O’Keefe’s honor after he contributed in her memory the project’s first major donation. He raised millions for the museum and for other charities.He also helped people down on their luck. Maureen Ward and his third child, Cecilia O’Keefe Neustrom, said he received four or five letters a week asking for help. While he did not offer assistance to all who asked, the women said he wrote a lot of checks.O’Keefe also helped shape modern-day Biloxi. As mayor, he carried out a previous plan to transform Vieux Marche downtown into a pedestr...
Monday, August 29, 2016Maureen O’Keefe Ward, said. “I think all of us together won’t be able to fill it. We’ll do our best.”Never intimidatedO’Keefe’s father owned livery and funeral businesses, but the family lost their Ocean Springs mansion in the Great Depression and moved to Biloxi.O’Keefe would later build a business empire, but he never looked down on people who had less than he did. And because he was willing to take risks, he didn’t always know how he would manage to pay his bills even when others thought he had plenty of money.He taught his children that people should be treated with dignity regardless of their race, creed or station in life.“He demonstrated that by example over and over and over again,” Joe O’Keefe said. “He was just an absolute rock-solid believer in the common dignity.”Jerry O’Keefe married Annette Saxon before he left for the war. He joined his father’s funeral business after the war, then bought O’Keefe Funeral Home before his father died. In 1957, he bought the Bradford Funeral Home Co., merging the businesses as Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home.He and his wife also founded Gulf National Life Insurance Co., which eventually became the state’s largest provider of life and burial insurance policies through 200 affiliated funeral homes.In business dealings, he was impossible to intimidate, said his longtime attorney, Michael Cavanaugh.O’Keefe was no stranger to lawsuits. His pretrial testimony was sought in many a case. On one occasion, Cavanaugh said, O’Keefe was reluctant to testify. He wanted to know what would happen if he failed to show up in response to a summons.Well, Cavanaugh told O’Keefe, he could be hauled before the judge, fined and assessed court costs.“Can they shoot me?” O’Keefe asked. No, Cavanaugh told O’Keefe, they couldn’t shoot him. “I’m not going,” O’Keefe said. Cavanaugh managed to scuttle the testimony without repercussions.Always engagedAlways interested in politics, O’Keefe ran for his first elective office in 1959, beating an incumbent member of the state House of Representatives. He served through 1963.Ten years later, he was elected Biloxi’s mayor, serving eight years. O’Keefe also was a major donor to community causes, including the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, named in Annette O’Keefe’s honor after he contributed in her memory the project’s first major donation. He raised millions for the museum and for other charities.He also helped people down on their luck. Maureen Ward and his third child, Cecilia O’Keefe Neustrom, said he received four or five letters a week asking for help. While he did not offer assistance to all who asked, the women said he wrote a lot of checks.O’Keefe also helped shape modern-day Biloxi. As mayor, he carried out a previous plan to transform Vieux Marche downtown into a pedestr...
Monday, August 29, 2016Friends and onlookers lined up under the canopy of oak trees on Porter Avenue in Ocean Springs hoping to catch a final glimpse of a Coast community leader.Services on Saturday morning honored the life of former Biloxi Mayor and philanthropist Jerry O’Keefe, who died Tuesday at 93.After the funeral Mass at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral in Biloxi, the procession headed east on U.S. 90 across the Biloxi Bay Bridge toward the family’s business, Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home in Ocean Springs.On Porter Avenue, in front of the funeral home, O’Keefe’s casket was transferred to a horse-drawn hearse that carried the celebrated World War II flying ace to his final resting place at Evergreen Cemetery.Although a thunderstorm momentarily sent people indoors, many returned to see the processional.“We knew Mr. O’Keefe,” Toni Bond of Ocean Springs said, “so we came out here to pay our respects.”Life of serviceBishop Roger P. Morin of the Biloxi Diocese celebrated the Mass attended by hundreds, including Biloxi Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich, Ocean Springs Mayor Conn...
