Mary Catherine Riddle Bennett

Mary Catherine Riddle Bennett of Biloxi passed away May 4 at age 88. She was born in Brent, Alabama, on January 11, 1921, to Sarah Ella nee Wheeler and James Davis Riddle. Mrs. Bennett's life centered around her home and family; trips with her husband, a Delta Airlines pilot; and the church. She was a faithful member of First United Methodist Church of Biloxi, having taught Sunday School for many years. She is preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Paul W. Bennett; her parents; three brothers, Leonard, J.D., and Rudyard Riddle; and a niece, Sara Riddle Braun. She is survived by four daughters: Cathie Milner of Gulfport, Mary Carolyn (M.C.) Drake of Biloxi, Debbie Bennett of Biloxi and Leslie Murphy and her husband, Mike of Germantown, TN; three grandchildren: Paul B. Milner and his wife, Melanie, of Jackson, MS, Bess Olmsted and her husband, Chris, of Portland, OR, and Loren Murphy of Nashville, TN. Mrs. Bennett's great-grandchildren are Bennett, Molly and Margaret Milner and Olivia Catherine and Lilah Grace Olmsted; her nieces, Norma Tallo of Villa Ridge, IL, Carolyn Head of Biloxi, Fredna Stewart of Ocean Springs and Sue Ellen Riddle of Gatlinburg, TN; her nephew, Davis Riddle of Russellville, AR. The daughters especially want to express gratitude for the loving, faithful care given to their mother by Violetta Hall Alexander, Sherrell Green, and Lakeesha Hill. We also want to thank the doctors and staff of Gulfport Memorial Hospital, Select Specialty Hospital, and Gulf Coast Medical Center, Kare-in-Home, Deaconess and Apria. In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials to First United Methodist Church of Biloxi, 14220 Hwy. 67 N, Biloxi, MS 39532. Visitation will be Saturday, May 9, 2009, at the Pass Road Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, West Biloxi where friends may visit from 12:00 until 2:00 pm with chapel service beginning at 2:00 pm. Private graveside services will follow in Southern Memorial Park in Biloxi. View and sign register book @www.bradfordokeefe.com