Ritha Darr Lindsay

On March 18, 1944, she married the love of her life, Charles Rowan Lindsay Sr., in Clarksdale. They spent the next 52 years of their lives together enjoying their collective large family and many shared hobbies. They began their married years in the U.S. Air Force, while Rowan was a flight instructor in World War II. It was during this time that Ritha enjoyed extensive travel by air for the young couple had made the decision to own an airplane before purchasing a car.

Before becoming a homemaker, she worked at the Rural Electric Association in Clarksdale. The Lindsays lived first in Clarksdale, and then in Greenwood before moving to Northeast Jackson in 1970 where she lived for the next 32 years before moving to St. Catherine’s Village.

Ritha thoroughly enjoyed many outdoor activities including fishing, camping, cutting flowers and harvesting vegetables from her lovely gardens. She also delighted in cooking for her family, canning, baking cakes, playing bingo, and winning the horse races at St. Catherine’s.

Ritha stayed involved in the Catholic community of Jackson and enjoyed the company of men in white collars and women in habits. She rarely missed a day of attending mass and saying her rosary. She was active at St. Richard Catholic Church for 32 years before becoming involved in the St. Catherine’s community. In addition to serving as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Catherine’s, she organized closet sales, tended flowers, cared for the sick and enjoyed many cups of coffee with her friends. Her family is grateful to the staff at St. Catherine’s for providing Ritha with those10 fruitful and happy years

In addition to her beloved husband, Ritha is preceded in death by her parents Maymie Ackerman Darr and Lamar Michael Darr, and her brother Lamar Darr.

She is survived by sons Charles (Virgi) of Jackson and Michael (Kelly) of Ridgeland and her two grandchildren Chaz of New York City and Mary-Michael of Chicago. In addition, Ritha cherished and cared for a host of nieces and nephews as well as her large extended family.

Visitation will be held Sunday, August 4, 5-7 p.m., followed by prayer service at Wright and Ferguson on Highland Colony Parkway. Funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, August 5, 2013 at St. Richard Catholic Church, with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m.

With grateful hearts, the family respectfully requests that memorials be made to the St. Catherine’s Village Chapel Fund, 200 Dominican Drive Madison, Mississippi, 39110.