Josephine Eaves Waites

On November 28, 2022, Josephine Eaves Waites graduated to heaven. She was born on December 24, 1933, to James Otis and Ava Lee Hardee Eaves. She lived in several south Mississippi communities as a child, graduating from high school in Waynesboro, MS. It was in Waynesboro that she met her future husband, James Chapman Waites. Jimmy and Jo continued their education at the University of Southern Mississippi and were married on December 28, 1954, as he began medical school at UMMC. In 1958 they moved to Laurel and made it their home. They were married for 52 years before he preceded her in death. Josephine taught her family many things by the way she lived her life. We learned about the importance of being involved and serving in our community through watching her participation and leadership in organizations including the Girl Scouts, the Junior Auxiliary of Laurel, her Garden Club, the advisory board of The First National Bank of the Pinebelt in Laurel, and the auxiliaries of the many medical associations in which Jimmy participated. She demonstrated her love and commitment to her Savior and Lord in many ways. We watched her care for preschoolers in the nursery ministry at FBC, lead young married adults, sing in the choir, teach GAs, volunteer with the WMU, pray for missionaries around the world, support Gideon’s International, and give her time on numerous committees at First Baptist Church, Laurel. Josephine is survived by her daughters, Cathy Moore (Jerry) of Brookhaven, MS, and Melinda Havard (Danny) of Houston, TX; her grandchildren Chris and Leah Moore, Chad and Whitney Moore, Brad and Zoe Haverstein, Brock Havard, Dr. Hallie and Andy Malone; seven great grandchildren; her brothers-in-law Tony Mason and Dr. Thad Waites (Gerri); and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. We are thankful for her strong spirit and the love and support she always gave us. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her grandson, Hunter Thomas Havard, her sister, Allene Eaves Mason and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Mary and Paul Lewey. A memorial service will be held in the chapel at Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel on Thursday, December 1, at 11:00 a.m., with Dr. Danny T. Havard officiating. A time of visitation with the family will precede the service at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be private. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the First Baptist Church of Laurel Endowment Fund, the Dr. James and Josephine Eaves Waites scholarship through the USM Foundation, or Gideons International. To sign the online guest book, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com.

Josephine Eaves Waites

December 24, 1933 - November 28, 2022