Individual Details

Death

Kathleen "Katie" Hughes Ainsworth

Jackson - Kathleen "Katie" Hughes Ainsworth, a long-time resident of Jackson, died May 12, 2017, at her home. Katie was a proud 97 years old.

Katie was born in 1920 in Pioneer, Louisiana, and grew up as a child of the Great Depression. She graduated from Forest High School in Forest, Louisiana. She is the author of Plaid Eggs and Flour Sack Panties, Growing up during the Depression Years.

Following high school, Katie worked at Catron's store in Forest, where she was working when she met Dozier "Deacon" Ainsworth from Oak Grove, a friend of her brother Ufa. She worked at Catron's until 1943 when she packed her belongings into a second-hand wardrobe trunk and boarded a train to La Jolla, California, to marry Deacon, who was stationed at Camp Callan. After World War II, they eventually settled in Jackson, MS, where they lived for the remainder of their lives.

For many years Broadmoor Baptist Church, which was then located on East Northside Drive in Jackson, was a centerpiece for the lives of Katie, Deacon, and their daughters. They worked tirelessly at Broadmoor, especially in the nursery, where the Nursery and Day Care Center was named in memory of Deacon. When Deacon died from leukemia in 1967, Katie took a job at the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, where she enjoyed working for a wonderful sixteen years, retiring in 1985.

After retirement, Katie focused on her fitness, walking through the GI Subdivision, where many people recognized her, admiring her efforts to continue her exercise. Some referred to her as the queen of her street because of her continuous presence in her immediate neighborhood. Working in her yard, she had a smile and a wave for everyone who passed by. Katie and Clyde Harrison, her beloved neighbor, were the last of the original residents on their street in this historic neighborhood.

Katie is survived by two daughters, Janet Ainsworth (Pippy Rogers) and Phyllis Toler (Woody), two granddaughters, Kate Ragsdale and Sloan Toler, and two great granddaughters, Ireland and Kairi Smith.

A graveside service will take place at 11:00 on Monday, May 15, 2017, at Lakewood Memorial Park, Reverend Julie Orr officiating. The Lakewood Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. Janet and Phyllis wish to express their deepest gratitude to Dr. Holland M. Addison, Katie's longtime physician, to all of her caregivers, and especially to Dorothy Jones, Bria Taylor, Geraldine Garrett, and Angela Stigger for making her final days as comfortable as possible.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Mississippi Chapter of the or to the Joyce Marie Butler Mother-Baby Room at the NICU at University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Published in Clarion Ledger on May 14, 2017