Caroline Rosson Hewes

Caroline Rosson Hewes, 89, died Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at her home in Gulfport, following a brief illness. Mrs. Hewes was a member of one of the Coast’s oldest and most prominent families and was the widow of the late Judge Gaston Henderson Hewes, Sr., to whom she was married for 48 years until his death in 1988. She was a loving mother and grandmother and will be deeply missed. Visitation will be held in the Parish Hall of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Cowan/Lorraine Road in Gulfport from 11:00 a.m. until l:00 p.m. on Friday, January 9, 2009; funeral services will be held in the sanctuary at 1:00 p.m. with burial at Evergreen Cemetery following the service. Caroline Shepherd Rosson was born May 30, 1919, in Memphis, Tennessee and was the daughter of Colonel Horace G. Rosson and his wife, Amelia. She attended the University of Mississippi and was a member of Kappa Delta sorority. After her marriage to Gaston Hewes in 1940, she made the Coast her home and devotedly supported him in his 56-year political career in which he served first as Harrison County’s Prosecuting Attorney and then as its County Judge until his death. Together they raised four children, all of whom who survive her: Caroline Hewes Charbonnet of Jacksonville, Florida; Mary Hewes Mulherin (Walker) of Memphis, Tennessee; Judge Gaston Hewes, Jr. (Karen) of Gulfport; and Cynthia Hewes Speetjens (Joseph) of Madison, Mississippi. Mrs. Hewes was blessed with four grandchildren: Caroline Charbonnet Munzing of Raleigh, North Carolina; Loys Charbonnet IV of Miami, Florida; Bailey A. Hewes and Henderson A. Hewes of Gulfport; as well as six step-grandchildren, Karel Speetjens and Kris Speetjens, Caroline Speetjens, Andrew Speetjens, Jack Speetjens and Max Speetjens, all of Madison, Mississippi. She is also survived by her nephew, Porter Farrell II (Margaret) of Fort Worth, Texas; and by her beloved cat, Lucy. Mrs. Hewes was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her sister, Margaret Rosson Farrell (George) of Midland, Texas. During her very active life on the Coast, Mrs. Hewes was known for her wit and fun-loving sensibilities. She was named Queen of the Merry Maskers and was a member of the Revelers Social Club. She was president of the Broadwater’s Women’s Auxiliary and a member of the Junior Auxiliary of Gulfport. She played bridge with a vengeance until very nearly the end of her life and was known to be a worthy adversary both at the bridge table and on the tennis court. She was a highly competitive golfer, winning the Broadwater Women’s Golf Championship on numerous occasions, and occasionally beating her husband’s score, a bold move that she handled with grace and caution. She enjoyed life fully and was proud to be known as a “Queen Mum,” a designation conferred only upon those invited to membership in the “Used-To-Be’s,” or the mothers of the original Sweet Potato Queens. This affiliation provided her a much-coveted position in the lead convertible in the annual Million Queen March / St. Paddy’s Day Parade in Jackson, Mississippi where she regally exercised her well-practiced Queen’s wave with dignity and flair. Mrs. Hewes was a life-long, faithful Episcopalian, having served on the Vestry at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, and attended services regularly until her failing health prohibited it. Her family wishes to extend their deepest love and gratitude to her caregivers, Nell Horlock, Rosa Pearcey, Peggy Bond, James Bond, Diane Palmer, and her physician, Dr. David LaRosa, all of whom have earned forever our warmest affection for their care and devotion to our mother and grandmother during the last years of her life. Pallbearers for Mrs. Hewes will be Judge Gaston Hewes, Jr., Bailey A. Hewes, Henderson A. Hewes, Porter Farrell, Joseph Speetjens, Walker Mulherin, John B. Sneed, and James Bond. Honorary pallbearers will be Karel Speetjens and Kris Speetjens. Due to the remarkable services provided to the Coast community by the Salvation Army after both Hurricanes Camille and Katrina, and due to the love and affection she felt for and received from Lucy, a former resident of the Harrison County Humane Society, Mrs. Hewes requests that memorial donations be made to these associations. Salvation Army of Gulfport, P.O. Box 728, Gulfport, MS 39502 or Humane Society of South Mississippi, 2615 25th Avenue, Gulfport, MS, 39501. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com