Mary Elizabeth "Sue" Newsom Papania

Mary Elizabeth “Sue” Newsom Papania of Gulfport, MS went home to be with the Lord on Monday, April 17, 2023 at the age of 94.

Sue was born in Tarboro, NC on September 29, 1928, the second of four children. At the age of 17, she met the love of her life, Luke Papania. Sue and Luke were married on December 22, 1945 in Tarboro, NC. Following their marriage, they settled on Papania Lane in Gulfport, MS where they built their home brick by brick, and started their family. 

Sue will be remembered as a very selfless woman who devoted her entire life to God and her family. She volunteered at St. John Catholic Church, St. John Elementary School, and enjoyed working the polls. 

Sue was preceded in death by her husband, Luke Papania; their infant, Suzanne Marie; her parents, Wiley and Louise Newsom; her sisters, Ruby Lilly and Bootsie Hathoway; her toddler brother, Wiley Newsom Jr.; and her son-in-law, Gary Dauro.

Survivors include Ken (Sharon) Papania, Leonard “Bro” (Linda) Papania, Judith Ann “Judy” Dauro, Susanne (Mike) Davis, John (Frances) Papania; 16 grandchildren, Regina Papania Bell, Donna Papania, Michael Davis Jr., Elizabeth “Sis” Davis, Luke Davis, Angela Dauro, John Vincent Dauro, Daniel Papania, Justin Papania, Meghan Papania, Nicholas Papania, Trent Papania, Santino Davis, Madalyn “Maddy” Davis Ancalade, Jacob Papania, and Hannah Papania; 23 great-grandchildren; two brothers in law, Eugene Papania and Bernard Papania; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends who she considered her family. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 21, 2023 at St. John Catholic Church in Gulfport, MS where friends may visit beginning at 9:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Gulfport, MS. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15^th Street, Gulfport is honored to serve the Papania family.