Curmis Broome

Mr. Curmis Broome, 78, well-known Ocean Springs businessman and benefactor, died Saturday, September 16, 2006. He is survived by his wife, Gloria, and four children. The owner of Broome's Grocery Stores since 1961, he had a long-time reputation for community service and helping those in need. Mr. Broome and his late wife, Aileen, founded, built and supported the Lord is My Help on their property in 1983. The charity organization, which first served 40 to 50 meals daily, continues today and now provides more than 225 meals daily, as well as other assistance, to the elderly and needy. Born June 20, 1928, in Marion County, MS, he moved with his family to Ocean Springs in 1941. As a youth, he worked at the former Gottsche's Grocery Store, located on Washington Avenue in Ocean Springs, where he began as a bag boy and worked his way up to butcher. He served in the U. S. Air Force from 1952 to 1956. Following his military service he worked for Emmitt Steelman's Grocery, located on Government Street in Ocean Springs. He purchased a small grocery store on Government Street, in the present location of Broom's #1, and expanded the business to include a deli, bakery, meat market, catering service and full grocery. He also owned and operated Broome's Feed and Seed Store, Broome's #2 on Old Highway 90, Broome's #3 at the Gulf Park Marina and Big B's Exxon Station on North Washington Avenue. With other businesses, Broome's Inc., as the Company is known, employs some 50 full and part-time workers in Ocean Springs. Mr. Broome attributed his success in business to hard work and service to his customers. In the early 1980's an elderly lady with whom he worked in the late 1940's called him because she was having trouble finding transportation to pick up groceries and other supplies she needed. Mr. Broome began taking orders from the Villa Maria retirement home where she lived in Ocean Springs. He hired an extra person to help out with the deliveries every Friday. Mr. Broome did their shopping and delivered the groceries to their residence, unpacked the groceries and put them away in reachable places. He didn't charge for the shopping and delivery service; he simply saw it as a community need which needed to be met. When Hurricane Camille hit the Gulf coast in 1969, Broome's was the only business open for the first two days following the storm. Without electrical power, Mr. Broome and his employees provided supplies for the U. S. Army, Army Reserve, National Guard, Salvation Army, American Red Cross, South Central Bell, Mississippi Power, Jackson County, the City of Ocean Springs and its Police Department, to assist victims along the Gulf Coast. He gave more than 50 tons of ice to individuals and organizations. The same service was extended during the aftermath of Hurricanes Frederick in 1979, Elena in 1985, and Georges in 1998. Following Hurricane Katrina, the stores opened the day after the storm with only limited generator power and served the public continuously. Mr. Broome is the only person to be honored twice as the Outstanding Citizen of Ocean Springs by the City's Volunteer Fire Department. He first received the award in 1973 and then again in 1987. He was also named 1983 Citizen of the Year by the Knights of Columbus, and was honored the same year by the Little League Association. In 1988 he was named Outstanding Businessman of the Year by the Elks Club, as well as Elks Citizen of the Year. He also received numerous honors from the Jaycees and VFW. He was Grand Marshall of the Elks Mardi Gras Parade in 1985, and the Fireman's Day Parade in 1994. On February 27, 2003, he was honored by the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce as Business Person of the Decade. Besides his guiding force in founding The Lord is My Help, he was cited for his support of civic affairs and youth sports. His businesses supported a Pee Wee Football team and Little League Baseball team for 30 years, and contributed to youth socceer and the Booster Club. He was a member of the 1699 Historical Committee, and for 10 years organized the indian cast of the celebration, built the indian villages and provided the indian costumes. He was also active in supporting the Homes of Grace. On behalf of Mr. Broome, the Broome Family would like to thank all their friends along the coast who supported the family over the years in business. As an organ donor, his legacy of service and compassion will live on after his lifetime in his personal donation, as well as continuing in the businesses he founded. Mr. Broome was a member of the First Baptist Church of Ocean Springs. He had also been a member of the Ocean Springs Yacht Club, Treasure Oaks Country Club, Ocean Springs Harbor Commission, Salvation Army, Chamber of Commerce, Jaycees and Rotary Club. Mr. Broome was the eldest son of eight children born to the late Ocean Springs Chief of Police, W. T. Broome, Sr., and Mrs. Dovie Broome. In addition to his first wife, the former Aileen Grady, who died in November 1987, three sisters, Mrs. Helen Lamas, Mrs. Nell Heffner and Mrs. Itaska Fountain, all of Ocean Springs, preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, the former Gloria Whitehead, and his four children, Elizabeth Aileen (Betsy) of Pensacola, FL; and Curmis, Jr. (known as Buddy), Barry and his wife, Cherie, Brantley and his wife, Roxanne, all of Ocean Springs. The three sons are principals in the family business. Mr. Broome also had six grandchildren, Curmis, III, Meagan, Kalynn Aileen, Michael, Brittany, and Shelby Broome, and two great grandchildren, Curmis, IV, and Emma. He is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Shirley Rivers of Ocean Springs and Mrs. Patricia Knecht of Pascagoula, and two brothers, W. T. Broome, Jr. and Scotty Broome, both of Ocean Springs. Visitation is Tuesday, September 19, 2006, from 5 until 9 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Ocean Springs. Funeral services will also be held at the church Wednesday at 11 a.m. where friends may visit one hour before service time. Interment will follow in Crestlawn Memorial Park. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Ocean Springs, MS, is in charge of arrangements.