Cartledge, Sara Jean

Submitted by Rebecca Cartledge Taylor

Clarion Ledger, Jackson, MS; Sun Herald, Biloxi, MS; Winona Times, Winona, MS; Enterprise-Tocsin, Indianola, MS

Sara Jean Applewhite Cartledge, 81, of Biloxi, formerly of Drew, passed away on February 20, 2004 at Biloxi Regional Hospital in Biloxi, Mississippi.  Grave side services will be held in the Drew Cemetery in Drew, Mississippi at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2004.

Her husband of fifty-five years, Reginald D. Cartledge, Jr. preceded her in death by forty days.  She was also preceded in death by her son-in-law Robert E. “Robby” Taylor, Jr. of Wiggins and her parents Walter Ralph Applewhite and Ruth Mitchell Applewhite of Winona.

Survivors include her daughter, Rebecca Cartledge Taylor of Wiggins; two grandsons, Ralph Liston Taylor and Daniel Hudson Taylor, both of Wiggins; her sister, Ruth Mitchell Billingsley and her husband Charles of Winona; her brother, Joe Applewhite and his wife Mary Beth of Texas; nephews Dave M. Billingsley, Ralph M. Billingsley, William D. Billingsley, John Hudson Billingsley, Robert Applewhite, Joe Applewhite and James Applewhite.

Mrs. Cartledge was born on September 17, 1922 in Winona to Ralph and Ruth Applewhite.  She was a graduate of Winona High School and graduated with honors from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi in 1944, where she was a member of Beta Sigma Omicron Sorority.  During World War II, she had the unique experience of residing in the Pi Kappa Alpha house when the womens’ dormitories were emptied of civilian students in order that servicemen attending college might reside there.
 
On June 3, 1948, she was married to Reginald D. Cartledge, Jr. in Winona, Mississippi; they resided in Starkville while he attended Mississippi State University after his service in the U. S. Army Air Corps during World War II was concluded.  She was a resident of Drew from 1950 until July 1994 when the couple moved to Seashore Methodist Retirement Center in Biloxi, Mississippi.  She taught school in Canton, Gulfport, Winona and Drew, Mississippi until her retirement in 1983.  She was a member of the Drew United Methodist Church where she served as President of the United Methodist Women, taught Sunday School and served on other committees and boards of the Church; a member of the Drew Culture Club, serving as President; active in the Parent Teacher Association as a teacher and was a Girl Scout leader for many years.  Teaching school was her life; she did not teach for money but for love of teaching and love of her students.  She gave of herself unstintingly both to her students and to other teachers.  She was selected Star Teacher several years and was thrilled each time.

In lieu of flowers, her family requests that memorials be made to the Drew United Methodist Church in Drew, Mississippi or the First United Methodist Church of Wiggins, Mississippi, Nehemiah Building Fund, P. O. Box 278, Wiggins, Mississippi 39577

Clarion Ledger; Jackson, Mississippi
Enterprise Tocsin; Indianola, Mississippi
Sun Herald; Biloxi, Mississippi
Winona Times; Winona, Mississippi