R.C. "Cotton" Baronich

R. C. “Cotton” Baronich, age 90, of Madison, MS passed away on Tuesday, June 30, 2020. Cotton was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, on December 1, 1929. He worked in the food and beverage business until his retirement at the age of 82. Cotton started his career in 1950 at Baricev’s in Biloxi, and continued as a professional mixologist at the Ebb Tide. In 1960 he moved to Jackson where he continued his love of storytelling and serving people at the Sun & Sand, George Street Grocery, Hal & Mal’s and Edison Walthall. Baronich is known for his mantra “everything is beautiful” and has been known to many of his long-time “patients” as “The Doctor” while he served several generations of locals and dignitaries. “In the business, I had a lot of patients. I call them patients, you know,” Baronich says of his bar patrons. He was chosen for the Best of Jackson 2003: Who’s Who- Best Bartender, honored by Jackson Free Press as Best Bartender, and even mentioned in a 2004 edition of Go World Travel Magazine. Cotton met his wife, always referred to lovingly as “Miss Jean” and the longtime owner of Jean’s School of Dance, in Jackson and they were married in 1971 until her death in 2008. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Shamburger Baronich; parents, Martin Baronich Sr. and Antonia Jelusich Baronich; and seven brothers, Martin, Leopold “Poley”, Harold, Jessie, Victor “Mitt”, Burnett "Sookie", and Robert "Bobby". Survivors include his step-granddaughter, Britney Meeks Mangum of Texas; and countless nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, Howard Avenue in Biloxi, on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. A graveside service will follow in Biloxi City Cemetery. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve this family.