Denise Lauderdale Davis

Denise was born in Greenwood, MS on January 10, 1962 to Kay and Ken Lauderdale. She graduated from Canton Academy in 1980 and from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1985 where she was a Little Sister to the Kappa Alpha Fraternity. Denise loved her profession of teaching and taught at several schools during her life. Denise started her teaching career at Orange Grove Elementary in Gulfport, MS and next transferred to Pelahatchie High School in Rankin County. She then spent over 20 years teaching at various schools in the Madison County School District, including Rosa Scott School, and was most recently at Madison Central High School where she served as Department Chairperson for the Special Education Department. Most of all, Denise loved the kids she taught. The other joys in her life were her husband Jim and her two cats, Victor and Marble.

She was married to Jim Davis of Hattiesburg. Denise is preceded in death by her father, Ken Lauderdale. She is survived by her husband, Jim, her mother Kay Lauderdale, brothers Doug (Patti) Lauderdale and Keith (Allison) Lauderdale. Denise is also survived by 4 nephews, Reid Lauderdale, Ben Moss Lauderdale, Nicholas Lauderdale and Nash Lauderdale as well as 2 nieces, Mary Kathryn Lauderdale and Kendall Lauderdale.

Funeral Services will be held at Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home on Highland Colony Parkway in Ridgeland at 11:30 am on Saturday, August 23. Visitation for Denise Lauderdale Davis will be held at Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home at 10:00 am on Saturday, August 23. In lieu of flowers, Denise had requested donations be made in Denise Davis’ name to the Madison ARK or the MS Animal Rescue League. Thank you to all of Denise’s friends and colleagues who have reached out to her in her struggles over the recent months.