Rosemary Wright

Rosemary Gatewood Golden Wright, 84, passed away peacefully January 20, 2024, at UMMC in Jackson, MS, surrounded by her beloved three children. She was born September 11, 1939, to Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Gatewood of Linn, MS. While growing up in Linn, she began playing piano at the age of 12 for her much loved Linn United Methodist Church.

Rosemary graduated as Salutatorian of her class at Linn High School in 1957. She continued her studies at Millsaps College and University of Southern MS, where she was a member of Phi Mu Fraternity (sorority).  She earned a bachelor’s degree in history, with a minor in music, from USM. She furthered her studies at Tulane Law School in New Orleans, LA, the University of MS, and earned her Master’s in Education degree from Delta State College.  Following her education, she began teaching at Cleveland High School and then Rosedale High School, where she had the annual dedicated to her. She began a 32-year teaching career at MS Delta Community College in 1970 as instructor of business law, American Government and American History, where she also had the annual dedicated to her and was inducted to the MDCC Who’s Who of American Teachers.

Rosemary married Robert E. Golden in 1961, the father of her three beloved children, and was married until his death in 1984.  She married John Wright in 1990 and was married until his death in 2022. She and John made their home in Ruleville. Upon his death, she made her home in Cleveland, MS.

Her students throughout the years admired, loved and respected her immensely, and she was once voted as the teacher they liked and enjoyed most at an MDCC class reunion years ago. She was known for opening the minds of and challenging her students, while remaining sensitive to the freedom to voice their own opinions.

Her colleagues always appreciated and loved her dry wit and sense of humor. All agree that she could say the funniest things. They also admired her great intellect, honesty and integrity and say that you always knew her opinion on things, whether it was politics or other matters. She wasn’t timid in giving her opinions and was considered a “straight shooter.” Most agree that she would have made an incredible lawyer if times had been different, but God had other plans for her. She definitely left her mark on her profession and in thousands of lives throughout her career. Also noted and admired was that she never missed class, no matter what she was going through or whatever was happing in her life.  Even while battling cancer in 1984, she made it to class as much as she physically could.

Prior to retirement, she began an antique and estate sale business in Ruleville and then eventually in Drew and had various antique booths throughout those years in Cleveland, Grenada, Oakland and Natchez. Her years in the antique and estate sale business were some of the happiest in her life and some of her most treasured memories afterward. More than anything, she loved meeting and interacting with new customers and creating lasting relationships with them.

Friends and family admired and appreciated her generosity in helping people in need throughout her life. Even through her recent physical hardships, she continued to reach out and check on close friends and church members of Ruleville Methodist Church and continued to support her church through her gifts and her service. She is remembered as a strong, intelligent, generous Christian soul.  She made it no secret that she was most proud of her three children and their accomplishments in their three respective fields. Also evident to anyone who knew her was her fierce loyalty  and devotion to her entire family, which included her lifelong bond with her only sibling and brother, Alex Owen Gatewood.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands and her nephew, Michael Atkinson of Benton, AR.

She is survived by her two daughters, Leigh Ann Reynolds and  husband Bret (Indianola, MS), Lisa Melek and  husband Hasan (Mandeville, LA) her son, Robert Owen Golden and wife Sarah (Southaven, MS), her brother, Alex Owen Gatewood and wife Carol (Tuscaloosa, AL),   grandchildren, Tristan McKnatt (Bartlett, TN), Selin Melek and Kaan Melek (Mandeville, LA),  four step-children, Cliff Wright (Ruleville, MS), Tina Garza and husband Danny (Baton Rouge, LA), Mark Wright (Baton Rouge, LA) and Timmy Wright (Merigold, MS), two nephews, Mark Gatewood and wife Suzie (Tuscaloosa, AL), Buster Atkinson and wife Kim (Bentonv, AR), two nieces, Tracy Gatewood (Fairhope, AL), Lynda Lee Golden (Greenville, MS) and several great nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at Ruleville United Methodist Church Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., with services to follow at 2:00 p.m. in the church sanctuary. The graveside service will follow in the Linn Methodist Church Cemetery in Linn, MS.

The family is forever grateful for the thoughtful love, care and devotion provided by Fabian Parker of Indianola, MS. Fabian became her daily companion, transportation and tour guide, and bird and TV-watching buddy throughout her final seven months of life.

Donations may be made to Ruleville United Methodist Church, 100 S. Chester Ave., Ruleville MS 38771 or to the Linn Methodist Church Cemetery Fund in C/O Angela Cooper, 12 Carmelita Cove, Shaw, MS 38773.