Esther Cruthirds

Esther "Sweetsie" Cruthirds, our Mother and dear friend went home to Jesus on May 15th, 2008 at age 81. Sweetsie was born in Galveston, Texas where she met her late husband, Edgar Allen Cruthirds, Sr.; who was serving in the United States Coast Guard. They were married in 1941 and moved to Biloxi four years later to raise their four children. Allen and Esther were one of the founding families of the St. Martin community. Sweetsie had a sharp mind and a continuing thirst for knowledge. She loved to engage family and friends in conversations of current events, politics and history. She was never afraid to take the opposing view and stood strong in her convictions. She worked as an elementary school secretary at St. Martin East and St. Martin North for nearly twenty years. During that time, she reached out to many, many children in compassion and love. Her love of young people was ever strong and she always had encouraging words for struggling youth. Sweetsie loved her country with a passion and the brave military service members were ever close in her prayers. She was preceded in death by her late husband, Edgar Allen Cruthirds, Sr. and is survived by her four children, Edgar Allen Cruthirds, Jr. of Houston, TX, Dianna L. Chadick of Colorado Springs, CO, John D. Cruthirds of Opelousas, LA and Mark L. Cruthirds of St. Martin, MS; daughters in law, Marie Cruthirds and Mary Leblanc Cruthirds and her "favorite" son in law, Bill Chadick, as well as six grandchildren, three great grandchildren and her loving niece, Margie Allen. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 18, 2008 at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Homes. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 19, 2008 at the First Baptist Church of Ocean Springs. Interment to follow at Latimer Assembly of God Cemetery. Sweetsie came to know her Lord and Savior as a young child under the teachings of her grandmother "Snookie" Shutie. Sweetsie never doubted her personal walk with the Lord. "God be with you till we meet again".