Olive Denise (Kirby) Wainwright

(Gautier, MS.) Denise Wainwright departed this world peacefully in her sleep, on November 30th, 2018. We are comforted knowing that once she fell at the feet of her Savior, she ran into her husband, Albert’s, arms.

Denise was many things to different people. A mother, a daughter, a sister, a wife, a grandmother, and a friend. She loved to cook and enjoyed eating good food as much as she enjoyed making it. If you live in Gautier, there is a good chance she has fed you, as she welcomed anyone to her table. It did not matter the time of day, she kept a pot of coffee brewing 24 hours. Not only would she feed you, she would take in anyone who needed help. She has invited so many people to live in her home over the years. It would be friends of hers, family members, or friends of her children. If you needed a place, her light was on! She drove a school bus for PSD many years ago. She enjoyed doing this, as she had some of her closest friends working with her.

Denise wasn’t interested in the “pomp and circumstance” of life. She didn’t come from money and didn’t care about the material stuff it could bring. She kept things that had no meaning, just because she liked it. She had a home, food, and the necessities needed to live, and, although there were hard times, she rolled with it. She loved watching wrestling, TWD, and a good margarita.  

Denise was the oldest of six children. Growing up, she helped take care of the younger ones. She was beautiful, outgoing, and not at all shy. Her mispronunciation of words and southern drawl would make you laugh. The hearts in her life were her children, but the beat in that heart was her grandkids. They were her everything, and she let each of them know how much they were loved. She will be missed greatly by the ones who loved her most.

Denise is preceded in death by her beloved husband Albert J. Wainwright, Sr.; Father, Joe Kirby; Stepfather, William Ed Irwin; Stepmother, Pat Kirby; and Stepdaughter, Heather Balius.

She is survived by her Mother, Betty Harper; Her children, Shelli Register Hofheinz (Bill) David Register (Adelle) Betsy Register Moreno (Marco) Vanessa Wainwright, and Joseph Wainwright.  Her grandchildren, Rachel Roth, Kaylee Scott, Reagan Hofheinz, Kyndall Hofheinz, Ryleigh Register, Josi Moreno, and Lily Wainwright.

She also leaves behind her siblings, Deborah Necaise, Liz Hutchens (Danny) Diane Irwin, Ray Irwin, and Cathie Gardner (Carl) .

Memorial service and visitation will be held on Saturday, December 8th, at O’Bryant -O’Keefe Funeral Home in Gautier, MS., from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Brother James Sprayberry will be presiding. Graveside service will follow

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