Bennie Lynn VanCourt

Mrs. Bennie VanCourt, born on August 4, 1942, in Biloxi, MS, passed away March 31, 2008, in Ocean Springs, MS. She married Gerald VanCourt on August 25, 1968 and would have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in August of this year. She graduated from Perkinston Junior College and University of Southern Mississippi with a Major of Architectural Design. She was one of only four women in Submarine Engineering at Ingalls Shipbuilding. She was a Designer in Naval Architecture section. In 1971 Bennie left Ingalls and went to the Jackson County Campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College as a Drafting Design Instructor. In 1979 and 1985 she was named Instructor of the Year at Jackson County Campus. In 1982 she was named American Vocational Association, AVA Region IV, Outstanding Educator. Bennie was active at the local, state, and national levels of the Association of Vocational Education, and held offices at each level over the years. Bennie later moved into administration at the Jackson County Campus as Assistant Vocational Dean for Evening Studies. In the classroom and in the halls of life Bennie touched many young people and after retirement she touched the lives of people of all ages. Bennie was an active member of the Downtown St. Paul United Methodist Church in Ocean Springs. She was responsible for the flowers in the sanctuary every Sunday morning. She was active in professional as well as civic and social organizations. In 1977 she became a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Alpha Lambda Chapter and was an active member for 31 years, holding all offices. Bennie was on the Jackson County Republican Women's Committee as well as the Jackson County Republican Executive Committee. She was also a member of the Gulf Hills garden club, and former member of the Ocean Springs Daylily Garden Club. She was one of the few female members of the Poor Man's Yacht Club in Ocean Springs. Bennie joined Southern Living at Home on March 5, 2002, and was promoted to Director in August, 2006. Also in August, 2006, she was 15th in sales for the entire Southern Living at Home Company. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bennie B. Taylor. Survivors include her husband, Gerald VanCourt, son, Jay VanCourt and his wife, Nicole, a sister, Connie Galle' and husband Jules, niece, Jennifer Galle' and nephew Gage Brossard. Visitation will be on Friday, April 4, 2008, from 9-11 AM, with an 11 AM chapel service, all at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials be sent to the Downtown St. Paul United Methodist Church, 800 Porter St., Ocean Springs, MS. 39564, for the Parlor and Lighting Fund.