Eunice Meadows

Eunice Meadows, widow of the late R. B. (Billy) Meadows, long time Mayor of Gulfport, died Thursday, July 12, 2007, at Lane Memorial Hospital in Zachary, La. She had been living with her daughter in St. Francisville, La., since Hurricane Katrina. Mrs. Meadows was born on April 5, 1914 in Biloxi to Mae McCleland and her husband, Charles J. Foretich. The Foretich family moved to Gulfport in 1930. Mrs. Meadows' people were early French and Dalmatian/Croatian settlers of the Gulf Coast, the first having been Sieur Jean Baptiste Baudreau, dit Graveline, who arrived in 1699 from Canada with D'Iberville. Mrs. Meadows worked at Gulfport Memorial Hospital for over 20 years in various capacities, retiring as Patient Ombudsman in 1986. She was active in many civic, social and cultural organizations throughout her life. She is survived by her daughter, Regina Meadows and son-in-law, Dr. Harvey Rifkin of New Orleans and St. Francisville, La.; her grandson, Phil Schmidt, Jr. and great grandchildren, Phillip Schmidt, III and Jenna Schmidt of Hoover, Alabama; her sisters, Katherine Rahrer of Chappells, SC and Rosemary Rice of Spring, Tx; her sister-in-law and dear friend, Mary Foretich of Gulfport; her brother, John McCleland Foretich, also of Gulfport; and a host of nieces and nephews and their families on the Coast and throughout the United States. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations to the Salvation Army, 2019 22nd Street, Gulfport, MS 39501, or to a charity of your choice. The funeral service will be Monday, July 16, 2007, at 5:00 p.m. at the Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home Chapel, O'Neal Road, Gulfport, where friends may visit from 3:00 p.m. until service time. A private graveside service will be Tuesday in Evergreen Cemetery, Gulfport.