Andrew Francis Alesich Jr.
72, of Brooklyn
Andrew “Boudreaux” Francis Alesich Jr., formerly of Buras, La., died Dec. 19 at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg. Services were Dec. 23 at St Frances Xavier Catholic Church in Wiggins with burial in the Wiggins City Cemetery.
Mr. Alesich was born Oct. 13, 1947, in Buras La. He worked as a diesel mechanic in the oil field industry.
Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Marie Ann Alesich; sons, Andrew Alesich III of Biloxi, Daniel Alesich of Wiggins, MS; daughters, Andrea Kay Alesich of Long Beach and Crystal Ann Herring of Hattiesburg; two sisters, Roselyn Severa and Donea Benandi; two brothers, Raymond Alesich and Donnie Alesich; six grandchildren.
Earl Bernhardt
80, of Petal
Earl Bernhardt died Dec. 6, 2019. A service was held Dec. 16 in the Omni Royal Orleans in New Orleans. A second service was held Dec. 17at First Baptist Church of Petal with burial in Hillcrest Cemetery.
Mr. Bernhardt was born in Jackson to Herman August and Janie Bernhardt. He was a 1957 graduate of Hattiesburg High School and studied journalism at the University of Southern Mississippi. He was the owner of Tropical Isle Inc. and was known as the co-inventor of the world-famous Hand Grenade. Prior to his career in New Orleans, he was a country music radio personality known as “Earl Hart” in Hattiesburg for 27 years. He was also a member of Petal First Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Martha Overstreet Bernhardt; three daughters, Lisa Conroy, Emily West, and Jennifer Scott; one sister, Frances Sudduth; his business partner, Pamela Fortner; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Petal First Baptist Church, 992 Hwy 42 Petal, MS 39465; Holy Cross Angelican School, P.O.Box 59 San Pedro Ambergis Cage, Belize, Central America.
Gus Hall Bowering
71, of Hattiesburg
Gus Hall Bowering died Dec. 13, 2019. A memorial service was held Dec. 21 at Trinity Episcopal Church.
Mr. Bowering was the son of Maurice Joseph Bowering and Bessie Lee McInnis, born October 13, 1948 in Canton. He graduated from Hattiesburg High School and the University of Southern Mississippi with a BS in Special Education and Elementary Education and a Masters of Education degree in Special Education Administration and Emotionally Handicapped.
He played first chair trombone at HHS, was selected for the Lion's All State Band and won the coveted John Phillip Sousa Award. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout in Troop 91, Bay St. Presbyterian Church. He began his lifelong volunteer work in1966 with Civitan Camp for Retarded Children. In 1969, Bowering and three other volunteers started the Special Olympics program in Mississippi. He helped to establish a statewide program for Special Olympics and served as regional and state director for seven years. He assisted in developing the Mississippi Arts for the Handicapped, was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of Hattiesburg, and recognized by Eunice Shriver for his endeavors for the handicapped.
As Special Education Program director he implemented “mainstreaming” throughout the district and expanded special education from 12 programs to 84, including Speech Therapy, Gifted Education, Specific Learning Disabilities, Emotionally Handicapped, and mentally retarded. He served on the Hattiesburg Jaycees Board and as president, directed the March of Dimes Walk-A-Thon, and assisted in the Miss Hattiesburg Pageant for three years. He joined the Mississippi Department of Education as Division Director of Special Projects computer/data management, later transferring to the Office of Educational Technology and helped the state write the State of Mississippi Technology Plan, implementing a program to provide a computer in every classroom and internet access to all school campuses. While working for Compass Learning Educational Software Corporation he organized replacing lost computer technology in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
He served on the Board of Directors of the Jackson (Livingston) Zoo. In retirement he earned recognition for Keep Hattiesburg Beautiful and Pinehaven Yard of the Month. He was active in performing arts and served on Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera Board of Directors, performed in numerous plays and musicals, working on and off stage for HCLO and Just Over The Rainbow theatrical organizations and was JORT president. He provided mass care for the American Red Cross, was an accomplished photographer for Southern Pines Animal Shelter, a volunteer for Aids Service Coalition and served as a counselor and phlebotomist.
Survivors include his sister, Sandra Bowering Booker; his sister-in-law, Sherry Bowering.
Mary Judith Carr
89, of Prentiss
Mary Judith “Judy” Hathorn Carr died Dec. 11, 2019, in Ridgeland. Services were Dec. 14 with burial in the St. James Cemetery.
Mrs. Carr was born July 14, 1952, in Prentiss to Willie Hathorn and Lucy Hanegan Hathorn. She retired after 39 years as a personnel officer with the Human Resources Division of the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services. She began her career in 1972 with the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services in Prentiss before transferring to Hattiesburg, Jackson and Madison. She was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church in Flowood.
Survivors include her husband, Chuck Carr of Flowood; one son, Zach Carr of Flowood; six sisters, Glenda McRaney, Beverly Jackson, and Martha Daley, all of Bassfield, Denise Dyess of Sumrall, Susan Hathorn of Hattiesburg, and Clarissa Ann Hathorn of Ellisville; four brothers, Richard Frank Hathorn and Jeff Hathorn, both of Bassfield, Wayne Hathorn of Prentiss, and Billy Hathorn of Petal.
Bryan C. Glisson
56, of McLaurin
Bryan C. Glisson died Dec. 14, 2019, at his home. Services were Dec. 18 with burial in McLaurin Cemetery.
Survivors include his mother, Kathleen Yawn Jones of Petal; step-mother, Felecia Yarbrough of Taylorsville,; caregiver, Charles E. White of McLaurin; one brother, Michael Glisson of Petal and half-brother, Joe R. Woodard of Pass Christian.
Harvey Lee Kelly
89, of Hattiesburg
Harvey Lee Kelly died Dec. 16, 2019, at his home. Services were Dec. 21 at New Bethel Baptist Church.
Mr. Kelly as born Sept. 29, 1930, to Robert and Anna Kelly in Laurel. He retired from United States Air Force and the state of New Jersey Highway Department.
Survivors include his wife, Ollie Kelly; three children, Shelia Robinson, Harvey Wayne Kelly and Darry Kelly; seven grandchildren; nine great grandchildren.
Roger W. Lowe
89, of Purvis
Roger W. Lowe died Dec. 17, 2019. Services were Dec. 20 at Corinth Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery.
Mr. Lowe retired from the U.S. Army and was a longtime member of Corinth Baptist Church.
Survivors include three sons, Don Lowe and Terry Lowe, both of Hattiesburg, and Michael Lowe of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; four sisters, Christine Cagle of Purvis, Ellen Thompson and Bobbie Simmons, both of Baxterville, Sharon Lowe of Mobile, Ala.; one brother, Baylis Lowe of Purvis; 10 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
Patrick Lamar McAdams
86, of Hattiesburg
Patrick Lamar McAdams died Dec. 19, 2019, at Merit Health Wesley. Visitation will be from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 27, at Moore Funeral Home in Hattiesburg with services immediately following at 11:30 a.m. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. in Wilmer Cemetery in Wilmer, Ala.
Mr. McAdams was a member of Magnolia Baptist Church. He began his career at GM&O Railroad in Mobile, Ala. He then went into the paper mill industry working in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. He retired from Georgia Pacific in Hattiesburg in 2003.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Louise McAdams of Hattiesburg; one daughter, Anita Karraker of Hattiesburg; 5 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren.
Audrey McDermit
83, of Petal
Audrey McDermit died Dec. 20, 2019, at Asbury Hospice House. Services were Dec. 23 with burial in Hillcrest Cemetery.
Mrs. McDermit was of the Christian faith.
Survivors include two daughters, Sandy Nobles of Petal and Janet Knight of Runnelstown; one brother, Danny Blackledge of Petal; four grandchildren; three great grandchildren.
Raiben Patel
79, of Hattiesburg
Raiben Patel died Dec. 21, 2019 at Forrest General Hospital. Services were Dec. 24.
Survivors include her husband, Natvarlal Patel; one daughter, Lata Patel; one son, Utpal Patel ; and six grandchildren.
Larry C. Petersen
79, of Petal
Larry C. Petersen died Dec. 17, 2019. Services were Dec. 21 with burial in Tallowah Cemetery.
Mr. Petersen retired after 30 years from Forrest General Hospital as a mechanical engineer and was a professional photographer.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Petersen of Petal,; one son, Frank Chadwick Petersen of Arizona; one daughter, Melissa Lyon of Petal; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Shirley Holcomb Riley
81, of Hattiesburg
Shirley Holcomb Riley died Dec. 17, 2019, at Provision Living. Graveside services were Dec. 23 at Bellevue Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mrs. Riley was a cheerleader at Pearl River Community College and went on to receive her bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. She was a school teacher for the Department of Defense School System in Puerto Rico for more than 20 years.
Survivors include two sons, Ralph P. “Rusty” Riley Jr. of Jackson and Steve M. Riley of Hattiesburg; one daughter, Stephanie Riley of Atlanta; one sister, Donna Blackmon of Texas; four grandchildren.
