Shawkat “Joe” Khalaf died Tuesday, April 19, 2022 surrounded by his wife and sons. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday April 26th at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Clinton with burial following at Parkway Memorial Cemetery on Highland Colony Parkway in Ridgeland. Visitation will be held both days on Monday April 25th from 5-7 p.m. and at 10 a.m. Tuesday prior to the funeral service at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church.
Joe was born on April 25, 1934, in Ramallah, Palestine to Mahyub and Tarafanda Khalaf. He left Ramallah and worked in Kuwait for several years. Joe then traveled to the United States in May 1955 and settled in Chicago. He had relatives in Mississippi, visited often, and decided to move to Jackson. In 1963, he met his future wife Katherine “Kitty” Rustom in Damascus, Syria. They married that same year and came back to the United States where they settled in Mississippi. Joe had a men’s and children’s clothing store in downtown Jackson which later moved to Westland Plaza: Joe’s High Fashion which he ran and Capitol Children’s Shop which was run by his wife Kitty. During his time in downtown Jackson, Joe’s store was a staple of downtown, serving the Jackson community for many years and also endured the Easter Flood of 1979. Joe retired from retail completely in 2009.
Joe was a member of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church. He enjoyed cooking, fishing, gardening, traveling, and spending time with family. Joe loved taking day trips and vacations with his loving wife and boys. He was an avid sports fan, loved watching football as well as old westerns. He had a passion for animals and had numerous pets throughout the years. Joe was a family man and his life centered around his family!
Joe is preceded in death by his parents Mahyub and Tarafanda Khalaf, brother Kustandi “Gus”, sister Widad, sister Fillat, sister Misada, and his son Bassam.
He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Kitty Rustom Khalaf ; children, Randy Khalaf of Ridgeland, Dr. Nader Khalaf (Toni) of Collierville, TN and grandchildren Noah and Erin of Collierville, TN; and siblings, brothers Jalal, Jameel, Jamal, and sisters Naheel and Laila.
Memorial donations can be made to Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, 414 East College Street, Clinton, MS 39056. May his memory be eternal!
