Anita Marie Ward Hendon

Anita Marie Ward Hendon, age 79, of Gulfport died Thursday, March 16, 2006 in Gulfport. She was born April 13, 1926 in McComb, MS. She was an instructor at Hot Springs Vocational Rehabilitation Center in Hot Springs, AR, where she was named Instructor of the Year in 1991 for the state of Arkansas. She retired in 1997 and moved back to Gulfport where she was a volunteer at Garden Park Hospital with over 950 hours. She was an active member of Michael Memorial Baptist Church, Gulfport. Mrs. Hendon was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Grayson Hendon; a daughter, Cheryl Castiglia; and brothers, John Ward and Douglas Ward. She is survived by her daughter, Laura, granddaughter, Shannon Marie Hixson, and great-grandson, her "precious" Zachary Tyler Hixson; two sisters, Doris Rushing and her husband, Jewel of McComb and Glenda Bullock and her husband, Bobby of Tuscaloosa, AL; brother Bill Ward and his wife, Pat, of Clinton; and a sister-in-law, Nashie Ward of Long Beach; and many nieces and nephews. The memorial service will be Monday, March 20, 2006 at 1:00 p.m.at Michael Memorial Baptist Church, Gulfport, where friends may visit thirty minutes before the service. The family prefers memorials to Hope Haven, P. O. Box 3777, Bay St. Louis, MS 39521, or the Keep Mississippi Beautiful, Avenues of Magnolias, P.O. Box 1609, Jackson, MS 39215. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, O'Neal Road, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. ...