Okolona/Tupelo- Kathy Lynn Gregory Stuart made her way to the next realm on Thursday, April 10, 2025 from Shearer Richardson Nursing Center where she had resided the last 5 months. She was 77 years young. Kathy was the oldest child born to pioneer Chickasaw County families, the late Willie Gregory and Betty Sue Reifers Gregory. Kathy spent a pristine life growing up with her two brothers on Poverty Hill Farms, the Gregory family lands west of Okolona. She graduated from Okolona High School in 1965 and received her BA Degree in Education from Mississippi State College for Women (MUW) where she was a member of the Lockhart Social Club. She began her public school teaching career at Okolona and later received a MA Degree from her alma mater, MSCW, in Special Education. Kathy was a gifted and celebrated teacher for over 30 years in the public school where she was highly respected by Administration, fellow teachers and, most importantly, her students. Her career also included several years at Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville where she taught visually impaired student. She grew up as a member of the First United Methodist Church of Okolona where she was active in all Church activities. She first married Vic Etheridge and to this union was born two children, Jason Etheridge and Jenni Etheridge. On June 20, 1998, she married William Halsey “Bill” Stuart, a marriage of 26 years at her death. The Stuarts attended The Orchard in Tupelo until her health began to fail. Kathy loved socialization, a trait she received from her parents! She was always the life of the party, had a voracious smile and was independent minded and very secure in whatever circumstance befell her. While living in Columbus, she was a member of the Columbus Garden Club and loved sewing until she couldn’t. A great dancer and charming friend, Kathy struggled the last decade of her life with crippling arthritis yet she never yielded! A fighter and winner, Kathy’s legacy will be that of a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mom, grandmother, aunt, cousin and consummate friend to hundreds. She will be missed.

Visitation for Kathy will take place from 4 PM – 6 PM on Monday, April 14, 2025 at the Okolona Chapel of Holland Funeral Directors (300 West Main St.-Okolona) with a memorial service to follow at 6 PM with Bro. Jay Stanley officiating. The committal service at Poverty Hill Farms will be private to the family.

Kathy leaves behind her husband, Bill Stuart of Tupelo; her son, Jason Etheridge and his partner, Christie Stevens of Wheeler Lake, Alabama and his daughter, Jenni Ethridge and husband, Scotty of Corinth; his family through his marriage to Bill; Rachel Stuart Hayes (Mike) of Vestavia, Ala, Will Stuart (Whitney) and Todd Stuart (Jennifer) all of West Point; her 7 grandchildren, Loxley Ethridge, Lidden Ethridge, Laura Ellen Hayes, Parker Hayes, Bryson Stuart, Anna Presley Stuart and Lawson Mullins; her brothers, Bill Gregory and wife, Jeanine and Bob Gregory and wife, Patsy all of Okolona; several nieces, nephews, many cousins, and a host of friends everywhere.

Memorials may be made to the Arthritis Foundation of America, 1355 Peachtree St., Suite 600, Atlanta, Ga. 30309. Condolences to the family may be posted at hollandfuneraldirectors.com. Holland Funeral Directors-Okolona Chapel is honored to be serving their friends. (662 840 5000).