Regina Hines Ellison

Regina Hines Ellison, age 67, completed her life on Monday, May 16th 2005 in Ocean Springs. Mrs. Ellison was a sweet wife and patient mother, a certified Genealogical Researcher, an author, and also loved her career as a journalist on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The first edition of her book “Ocean Springs, 1892” was published in 1979, the second in 1991. Other works for family distribution detail the family histories of the Del Buono, Fusco, Pizza, Hines, and Faire families. These books span nearly a thousand pages and include historical family photos and documents. Mrs. Ellison served three years as vice-president of the board of the Jackson-George County Regional Library, sat on the Ocean Springs Centennial Commission, and was a founding member of the Ocean Springs Genealogical Society. Also among the numerous organizations which benefited from her dedication were the 1699 Historical Committee, the first Ocean Springs Historical Preservation Commission, the Mary C. O’Keefe Arts and Cultural Center, and the Council of Genealogy Columnists for which she served a five year term as President. She was born Regina Marie DelBuono in Norristown, PA on April 12th, 1938 to her loving parents Florence and Joseph. She graduated from Norristown High School in 1956 and then earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dietetics and Institutional Administration from Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA in 1960. While studying at Drexel, Regina met fellow student and future husband Raymond Oliver Hines of Carnegie, PA. They were married June 14th, 1960 at her parent’s home in Norristown. The couple immediately moved to the coast and soon built a home in Ocean Springs. Regina was employed as Chief Dietician with Howard Memorial Hospital and as a nutrition instructor for Gulf Coast Junior College before first venturing into journalism as a part-time correspondent for Biloxi based newspaper The Daily Herald, in 1968. After working as a staff writer, she was promoted to Jackson County Bureau Chief in 1973 and worked for the paper as it became The Sun Herald. The Mississippi Press hired her in 1987 and she rose to the position of City Editor before her “retirement” in 2003. Her genealogy column, “Branches & Twigs” continued to appear in both the Sun Herald and the Mississippi Press until the Sunday editions published the day before her death. Regina was widowed in 1977 and married her beloved Bernerd Jackie Coogan Ellison on Valentine’s Day in 1981. Mrs. Ellison was raised in the Catholic faith. She attended St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, and then worshipped at the newly established St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church before returning to St. Alphonsus. Upon her re-marriage, Regina also began attending Sunday School at First Baptist Church in Ocean Springs. Mrs. Ellison is preceded in death by her father, Joseph DelBuono, her first husband Raymond O. Hines, by precious aunts Ernestine Cavalier, Gioconda (Reds) DeSante, Margaret Mirabile, and Mike Fusco, and also by dear uncles Emilio (Melo) Fusco, Salvatore (Teddy) Fusco, Alfred Fioravanti, and Bernard (Buddy) Brode. Survivors include her mother, Florence DelBuono, her husband of 24 years, Bernerd Ellison, his son, Bernerd Ellison, her two sons, Randall J. and Raymond W. Hines, and her much treasured granddaughter, Brittney Lynn Hines. Also surviving are aunts Sally (Chee-Chee) Pergine and her husband Danny, Rena Fioravanti and Philomena (Mena) Brode, plus her uncle Tony DeSante. Regina’s numerous cousins were her childhood playmates and confidants. They brought her great joy. She also took pleasure in her galaxy of close friends in Mississippi, across the nation and the world. Visitation will from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Friday, May 20th , 2005 at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home, 911 Porter Ave. Ocean Springs. Funeral Services will be Saturday, May 21st beginning at 10:00 AM at the funeral home with interment at Evergreen Cemetery in Ocean Springs. A memorial mass is also being planned in Norristown, PA.