Betty Sue Gatlin Mardis

Betty Sue Gatlin Mardis peacefully passed from this world on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at the age of 93.

Betty was born on April 16, 1930 in Hattiesburg, MS to George and Mattie Gatlin. She was the third oldest child in a family of nine children.  With their daddy’s job as a lumber inspector, they moved to various lumber mill towns across Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida during Betty’s childhood.  Growing up in the Great Depression years, her daddy worked hard to keep food on the table, but the riches of the family’s love were abundant, and they never knew they were poor.

When Betty was a fair young woman of 17, she caught the eye of a handsome young soldier, fresh home from World War II, named Melvin Mardis. They both lived in De Kalb, MS, and it wasn’t long that they tied the knot on November 22, 1947. They welcomed four children to their lives – Larry, Brenda, Susan, and John. After a short time of living in Columbia, SC when Uncle Sam called again, Betty and Melvin then moved to Meridian, MS, where she lived out her life as a homemaker and mother. As her own children grew older, she cared for numerous children, first in her own home, then for years at Highland Child Development Center.  As her grandchildren came along, she filled their lives with the magic and wonder of time spent with her, and numerous memories made!

Betty lost both her firstborn son, Larry, and her beloved husband, Melvin, in 2011.  She is survived by her daughters, Brenda Green (Mike) and Susan Lippincott (John), and son, John Mardis (Coral); grandchildren, Nate Rolison (Wendy), Kallie Gore (Brian), Jacob Mardis, Justin Mardis, Katie Owen (Russell), Zac Lippincott, Sarah Dickason (Brent), Ginny Schwab (Jonathan), Evan Lippincott (Jamie), and Brock Mardis (Taylor); and seven great-grandchildren, with three more expected to join the family she was excited to welcome. Betty is also survived by two sisters – Dolly Murph, of Pensacola, Florida and Syble Parten, of Saraland, Alabama; two sisters-in-law – Mary Alice Gatlin (Mickey) and Donna Gatlin (Ronnie), both of Satsuma, Alabama.

Services will be held on Monday, October 23, 2023 at Webb & Stephens Funeral Home North at 7774 Highway 39 North, Meridian. Visitation will be held from 12 to 1 o’clock p.m., with the service starting at 1 p.m. and graveside service following.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Highland Child Development Center.