Rose Josey Dykes

Published 12:00 am Thursday, August 10, 2017

VICKSBURG — Services for Rose Marie Josey Dykes, 72, of Vicksburg, who died on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017, at her residence with her family, will be at noon Friday at Riles Funeral Home in Vicksburg.

Burial will follow at Greenlawn Gardens under the direction of Riles Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time Friday at the funeral home.

Mrs. Dykes was born on May 24, 1945 in Memphis, Tenn., the daughter of Lloyd Josey and Opal Josey.

Mrs. Dykes was raised in Natchez. She attended Natchez Adams County High School where she was Rebelette and graduated in 1963. She attended Copiah-Lincoln Community College where she served as Head Collette. Mrs. Dykes went on to attend Mississippi College for Women where she was a Mam’selle and graduated with a degree in English.

She married Thomas E. Dykes in 1968, and moved to Vicksburg, where she spent the rest of her life. In their 33 years of marriage, they had five children, Amy, James, Eugene, Ann Marie and Thomas Jr.

Mrs. Dykes taught at Warren Central High School as an English teacher and later worked at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a writer and editor for 25 years, retiring in 2014.

Mrs. Dykes was a devoted and dedicated mother, grandmother, mother-in-law and friend, attending all activities and sporting events for her grandsons. She was involved in the Vicksburg Jaycettes, the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary, Crawford Street United Methodist Church and served as a Miss Mississippi Pageant hostess. She enjoyed bridge club, play group, dancing, getting together with friends and entertaining.

She is preceded in death by her infant sons, James and Eugene; her son Thomas Jr.; and her parents.

Survivors include two daughters, Amy Dykes McMahon and husband, Michael, and Ann Marie Smith and husband, Carter; sister, Gaynell Josey Whitney and husband, Richard; and five grandchildren, Michael William McMahon Jr., Matthew Thomas McMahon, Christopher Dykes McMahon, Thomas Cole Smith and Hayes Carter Smith.

Pallbearers will be Michael William McMahon Sr., Heidle Carter Smith, Michael William McMahon Jr., Matthew Thomas McMahon, Christopher Dykes McMahon and Richard Malcolm Whitney.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Mrs. Dykes name to the Thomas Dykes Jr. Scholarship Fund, Vicksburg Catholic Schools, 1900 Grove Street, Vicksburg, MS 39183, with checks payable to Vicksburg Catholic Schools and a note on memo line for Thomas Dykes Jr. Scholarship Fund.