Kathryn Grantham

Kathryn (Kathy) Hellpenstell Grantham of Ocean Springs, passed away Wednesday, July 27, 2011, after a lengthy illness. She was 62. A graduate of Biloxi High School, she later returned as the Orchestral Strings Instructor for the Biloxi School District. She had served as adjunct faculty for the Strings Program at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Jackson County Campus and had a private strings studio for more than 30 years in which she taught not only her own children, but many children and adults from across the Gulf Coast. She retired from teaching in 2006. In 1971, Kathy earned a BS degree in Music Education (violin and voice) from the University of Southern Mississippi. After graduation she married Bruce Arnold Grantham of Pensacola, Florida and they settled in Hattiesburg for a few years before returning to the Gulf Coast. Throughout the years, she was an active member of the Pensacola Symphony, the Gulf Coast Symphony, the Port City Symphony in additon to the orchestras of the Gulf Coast Opera and the Messiah Chorous. Preceded in death by her parents, Carl A. Hellpenstell of Florida and Mrs. John I. "Kitten" Fountain of Biloxi; her sons, Matthew Bruce Grantham and Bruce Douglas Grantham. She leaves behind her husband, Bruce, daughter, and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick (Kate) Barrett; grandchildren, Madyson Bryon Grantham Carter and Jacob Matthew Barrett and many dear friends. Memorial services will be held Monday, August 1, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home in Ocean Springs with visitation from 4:30 p.m. until service time. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or to the Juvenile Diabetes Association 350 W. Woodrow Wilson Drive, Suite 2470, Jackson, MS 39213.