Blanche (Ferguson) Aldrich

Blanche Ferguson Aldrich, longtime resident of Michigan City, Mississippi, La Grange and Grand Junction areas, retired teacher and one of the area’s oldest residents departed this life on Friday afternoon, August 24, 2012 at the St. Peter Villa Nursing Center in Memphis. She was 104 years of age and died following a brief illness.

Services of Remembrance for Mrs. Aldrich were conducted at 2 P.M. Wednesday, August 29th at the Calvary Episcopal Church in Michigan City, Mississippi with Rev. Bindy Wright Snyder of Memphis officiating. Personal remarks were given by her nephew, Joe Edd Morris. Interment followed in the Hill Crest Cemetery in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes and Cremation Center — Main Chapel of Somerville.

Mrs. Aldrich was born January 1, 1908 in the Enterprise Community of Union County, Mississippi. She was preceded in death by her parents, John Gilliam Ferguson and Suzanne Belle Lamar Ferguson. She graduated from high school in New Albany, Mississippi and attended the Mississippi State College for Women. The first of many jobs in her career as an educator was at a one-room school in Center, Mississippi, from which she was dismissed for riding astride a horse. She met her husband, Treadwell Aldrich of Michigan City, MS, when she was working as a community organizer. After his death, she returned to her teaching career.

Miss Blanche had a long career in teaching in schools throughout the Mid-South, ending her career in the military overseas school system in Spain. When she returned to Michigan City in retirement, she worked diligently at organizing and sustaining her communities that included Michigan City, La Grange and Grand Junction. She enjoyed her last years at the Glenmary Retirement Community in Memphis.

Mrs. Aldrich is survived by her daughter Allison Jones of Colorado Springs, CO; her grandchildren, Jesse Jones IV of Weaverville, CA; Catherine Horton Cohen of Germantown, TN; Belle Jones Morgan of Wichita Falls, TX; Robert Horton Jr. of Germantown, TN; Michael Horton of Memphis, TN; Treadwell Jones of Prairie Village, KS; Patrick Horton of Memphis, TN; Thomas Jones of Dallas, TX; Elizabeth Jones Karkosky of Portland, OR; a multitude of great-grandchildren and a vast circle of friends. She loved her life, her family, her friends and her church.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Aldrich was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin Treadwell Aldrich, who died December 15, 1945; and three daughters, Lucy Horton, Hope Brooks and Elizabeth Anderson.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers were Larry Cohen, Robert Horton, Treadwell Jones, Michael Horton, Patrick Horton and Thomas Jones.

Honorary casketbearers were Walter Crenshaw, Ransom Crenshaw, Jack Kring, Michael Morgan and David Morris.

The family requests that memorials be directed to Calvary Episcopal Church, 655 Fleming Way, Michigan City, Missisippi 38647.