Marianne Rankin
72, Hattiesburg
The services were at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church for Marianne Rankin, 72, of Hattiesburg, who passed away on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Gulfport. Burial followed in Woodlawn Cemetery. Rev Stan Fornea officiated at the services. Visitation was held from 10 a.m. until the time of services on Thursday, May 23, at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church.
She was born on Dec. 9, 1951, on Craig Air Force Base in Alabama and was the eldest of four children.
She had a profound love for genealogy and was a lifetime member of several genealogical organizations, the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, The National Society of Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims, United Daughters of the Confederacy, a Charter Member of the Cameo Society of the Mississippi State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, The Jamestown Society, The Order of First Families of Mississippi, First Families of Texas, The National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, National Society Southern Dames of America, The Dames of the Court of Honor, Descendants of Ancient Planters, The National Society Magna Charta Dames, the General Society of Mayflower Descendants and The National Society of the Washington Family Descendants. Her dedication to preserving family history was evident in her active involvement in these societies.
Several of her formative years were spent living in Japan where her father had been stationed. Upon returning to the states, the family moved to Columbia where she grew up. She was a lifelong Episcopalian. She made her home in Gulfport until she suffered an aneurysm in 2001. In 2005, she moved to Alden Pointe Assisted Living in Hattiesburg, where she resided until her passing.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry L. “Dick” Rankin Jr. and Olive Elizabeth Clower Rankin Beach; stepfather, W. D. Beach; grandparents, Harry L. Rankin Sr. and Tommye B. Rankin of Columbia and T. S. Clower and Olive Barrett Clower of Gulfport.
Survivors include her son, Benjamin Newton (Amy) of Kansas City, Mo.; two granddaughters, Kaleia Newton and Aveline Newton; brothers, Steve Rankin (Linda) of Gun Barrel City, Texas and Chris Rankin (Jane) of College Station, Texas; sister, Carolyn Arinder (Lanny) of Columbia; stepbrothers, W. D. Beach Jr. (Dorothy) of Nicholasville, Kent., Tom A. Beach of Jackson; stepsister, Susan Hutchinson (John) of Tallahassee, Fla.; nephew, Charles Arinder (Carol Saville) of Baltimore, Md.; and nieces, Barrett Cooper (Jeremy) of Columbia and Olivia Collins (Morgan) of Theodore, Ala.
The pallbearers were Charles Arinder, Jeremy Cooper, Morgan Collins, Barry Briscoe, Drew Foxworth and Barry Cottrell.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a genealogical society of your choice or to Saint Stephens Episcopal Church in Marianne’s memory.
Arrangements were handled by Hathorn Funeral Home.
