Services for Gracie Ruth Castilaw Applewhite of Hazlehurst were4 p.m., Thursday, June 3, 2004 at Stringer Family Funeral Servicesin Hazlehurst with burial in New Providence Cemetery.

Visitation was Wednesday from 6-9 p.m. and Thursday from 2-4p.m. at the funeral home.

Mrs. Applewhite, 79, died May 31, 2004, at New Dawn RetirementCenter in Lincoln County. She was born on Jan. 22, 1925, to Leonand Laura Castilaw.

She graduated from Brookhaven High School in 1943. She worked asa secretary for the Mississippi Forestry Commission before going tonursing school at the University of Tennessee. She graduated fromnursing school Sept. 27, 1948. She was married to Hugh Applewhitefor 45 years. She was a member of New Providence Baptist Church.She served as church clerk, song director and Sunday schoolteacher. She did research of the church’s history and presentedhistorical minutes every year at New Providence’s homecomingservices. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in the late1980s.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband; one son,Mark Applewhite; one sister, Annie Mae Ables Durr; and twobrothers, James and Jesse.

Survivors are her daughters, Amy Allen, and Candi Case; herbrother, Proby Castilaw; and her five grandchildren.