March 10, 1925 – Nov. 21, 2016

NATCHEZ — Memorial services for Michael Joseph “Mike” Fields Sr., 91, of Natchez, who died Monday, Nov. 21, 2016, at his residence, will be 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mary Basilica with the Rev. David O’Connor officiating.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time Friday at the church.
Mr. Fields was born March 10, 1925, the son of Luther James and Blanche Brown Fields.
He was a lifelong resident of Natchez.
As part of the greatest generation, Michael proudly served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1947, serving in the Pacific Theater, in Western Australia and Midway Island. Keeping a promise to his mother, he returned home to complete his high school education. It was there he met the love of his life, Theresa Francis Licata. They both graduated in 1948 from St. Joseph Catholic High School and married in 1949.
Mr. Fields retired from Missouri Pacific Railroad.
He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; six brothers, Thomas Adrian (Sam), Louis Emmett, Carl Vincent (Teeny), Charles Robert, Luther James Jr. (Bubba) and Augustine; and two sisters, Mary Ellen Fritz and Mary Claire (Sis) Eberhardt.
Survivors include one sister; Catherine (Sallie) Flowers of Natchez; six children, Connie Fields Felter and husband, Lamar, of McComb, Mary Ann Fields Whitehead, Charles P. (Chuck) Fields and wife, Mary Ann, and Theresa Fields Mullins, all of Natchez, Michael J. Fields Jr. and wife, Diane, of Flowood and Lillian R. Fields of Alexandria, Va.; seven grandchildren, Catherine Felter Andrews and husband, Charles, and Treyce Felter of McComb, Christopher Lane Whitehead and wife, Ginny, of Baltimore, Md., Adrienne Mullins Whittington and husband, Cory, of Hattiesburg, Elizabeth (Betsy) Mullins of Jackson, Amanda Dee Fields and Sarah Fields Schear and husband, Tim, of Flowood; four great-grandchildren, Stella Grace and Carter Easton Schear, Liam and Campbell Whittington; a number of nieces and nephews; and special friends, Moses Belton and Shirley Knight.
Honorary pallbearers will be all local veterans who have served in any branch of the armed services, in the defense of the country.
Memorials may be made in his honor to Cathedral School or Holy Family Church.
The Fields family expresses their heartfelt thanks to Compassus Hospice for their care and support during his recent illness.