Walterine Redding

Walterine “Sis” V. Redding (1923-2005) expired on September 19, 2005 at her residence at 608 Cleveland Avenue in Ocean Springs. She and Oliver Osborn Redding (1904-1982), her spouse of forty years, had lived here since June 1954. Sis Redding graduated from the Ocean Springs Public School in May 1941 and then married Osborn Redding in September 1941. She went to work for Ferson Optical in 1951, as a penta prism inspector when the fledgling company was situated above Lovelace Drugs on Washington Avenue. With encouragement and the support of Janet Ferson Green, a loyal friend of many years, Mrs. Redding learned to program computers in the early 1960s, when this industry was very primitive by today’s standard. She later received an associate’s degree in data processing and went to work in 1975, as the data processing coordinator for the City of Pascagoula. Sis retired in 1991, but worked part time for the City of Pascagoula until 1998. Mrs. Redding led an active life. She learned to play golf from Anthony “Tony” F. Catchot (1907-1996) and went on to become a twelve handicapper. In 1960, she won her flight in the Deep South Women’s Golf Association at Gulf Hills. Sis made her first hole-in-one on the 10th hole also at Gulf Hills. In the 1950s, Mrs. Redding enthusiastically pursued art and specialized in paint-ing portraits in watercolor, a difficult medium. Sis never wanted or received remunera-tion for her portraits. Those fortunate to receive them deeply treasure her paintings and friendship. Mrs. Redding was an enthusiastic housekeeper and gardener and her home and property were always immaculate. Sis Redding had great neighbors and was especially thankful for the kindness and generosity of Donise Dunnaway, Michael and Sherry Pol, Brenda Lee Uhls, Dr. Ben and Lynn Cheney, and Dr. John Godsey. Sis had some very special friends. Among them were: Gay Catchot Lemien, Shannon F. Moran, and Janet F. Green of Ocean Springs and Laurine Lynn and Anna of Mobile. Dr. Marion Wainwright was her primary care physician and as always Dr. Wainwright performed above and beyond her duty call. Sis Verner Redding was preceded in death by Osborn Redding, her husband; Enid Redding Hutchenson (1945-1981), her only child, and the spouse of E. Nelson Hutcheson; parents, Thomas Eugene Verner (1898-1989) and Anne Costley Verner (1901-1990); and siblings, Laura Louise Verner (1922-1960), and Eugene J. Verner (1924-1924). Mrs. Redding was reared on Cox Avenue and Buehler Street in Ocean Springs by Louise Emma Hoffman Costley Buehler (1879-1965) and Christian Buehler (1865-1936), her grandparents, and Frank Christian Buehler (1909-1985), her uncle. Mrs. Redding is survived by three siblings, Frank L. Verner of Ocean Springs, Dr. Buck Costley of Memphis, and Anita Costley. Her surviving grandchildren are: Natalie Hutcheson Harris and spouse, John Harris, of Dayton, Ohio and Eric Hutcheson and spouse, Michelle Beauchamp Hutcheson, of Birmingham, Alabama. Mrs. Redding had one great grandchild, Jordan Hutcheson. A memorial service for Sis Redding will be held on September 26, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Homes. Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m. Interment is to follow at the Bellande Cemetery on Dewey Avenue.