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Kenneth Versiga was born in Mobile, Alabama on February
10, 1932 to Andrew and Mildred Versiga. The Versiga family moved to the Pascagoula area while Kenneth was still a little fellow.
Kenneth went to school and graduated from Pascagoula High School in 1950. After high school he joined the Mississippi National
Guard and was deployed active duty during the Korean Conflict. Kenneth was stationed in Germany during the two plus years
he served active duty.
Once Kenneth returned, he decided to further his education by attending Perkinston Jr.
College. After graduating in 1956, he spent a couple of semesters at LSU. Kenneth also during this time married Betty Flowers
and went to work at the then Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula. Kenneth was assigned to the Engineer Department where at
times he was the program director and then was assigned to the Submarine program until that program ended. Kenneth and Betty
had four sons, Donnie, David, Darren, and Mike and nine grandchildren, Donny, Michelle, B.J., Heidi, Keith, Keleigh, Manuel,
Kyla, and Drew.
Kenneth worked for total of 35 years at Ingalls before his retiring in 1995. After his retirement,
Kenneth and Betty bought a piece of property in Vancleave, MS where he built their dream home. Once the home was completed,
Kenneth had nothing else to do but be retired, which he had grown tired of, so he decided to go back to work at the now Northrop
Grumman in September 2002. Shortly after become employed he was diagnosed with two types of cancer, one that he could beat
and one he could not. Kenneth Versiga passed away August 20th, 2003.
My father was one of the funniest people
you would ever meet. He would have some funny statement to say about most things that would certainly keep you laughing. Kenneth
had a very serious side as well. He believed in taking care of family no matter what and he saw to it. My Father, while he
was dying, asked me to get on the internet and find him a coffin at a reasonable price. He told me that he didn’t have much
time and wanted everything to be in order so that my mother didn’t have to do anything. I ordered the coffin and probably
spent more than he wanted me to and told him when it was complete. He made me assure him that everything was in order. When
I told him that everything was taken care of and mom didn’t have to do anything, He passed away. That was my father, family
came first and he saw to it.
Written by: Betty and Darren Versiga
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Chester VanDevender was born December 11th, 1943
to Oliver Odell and Alice Louise VanDevender in Bentonia, MS. Chester graduated from Vicksburg High School in 1962. He served
in the Armed Forces (Navy) and left with an Honorable Discharge. Chester settled on the Coast in 1969. He worked at many
jobs before beginning to work with the State of MS in 1976. There, Chester found his “niech.” He became a law enforcement
officer and worked through the Bureau of Marine Resources, the Department of Wildlife, the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries
and Parks, and finally the last six(6) years before he retired, he was a Boat and Safety Instructor where he came in contact
with a lot of children.
Chester married Mary Johnson on October 9th, 1982 and was not able to have any children
of his own, but through the years, he became a very important person in a lot of kids lives and hearts.
Chester
was a very active member at Church on the Rock for many, many years and was a “Jack of All Trades.” If anything needed to
be done then they would call on Chester. Now, if Chester couldn’t do it, he maybe would know someone who could. His passion
and heart were for the kids.
Chester’s smiles, hugs, and “Jolly Ranchers” was his trademark for the kids and he
became known as the “Candy man” to an entire generation of children at Church on the Rock.
Chester was very active
with the MS Gulf Coast Youth for Christ. He became known as, “Mr. Chester, You the Man,” to a group of kids that became very
special to him.
It was only fitting that when he retired in 2004, he would build a SnoBall truck for the kids.
His heart was for the kids!!!!!!!!. We gave away SnoBalls at several events that the church had as well as a child that had
“no money.” Chester would always give them a smile and a SnoBall. A kind word went a long way when he opened his mouth.
When
the Lord took him home on April 28th, 2005, he left some mighty big shoes to fill, but his legacy will live on for the kids
through “Guardian Angels.”
I believe when he looks down and sees his name on this organization, he will be very
pleased that you have chosen to honor him with this memorial.
Written by Mary VanDevender
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