Cathy Belew McGraw

Cathy Belew McGraw was born July 21, 1954, to Edna Record Belew and Marion Wendell Belew, Sr. of Mt. Vernon, KY, and passed away on May 23, 2024, at the age of 69 in Bay Saint Louis, MS.

She is survived by her husband of 40 years, Robert Luther (Bob) McGraw, Jr., mother-in-law, Jimmie Cooper McGraw; daughter, Abigail McGraw Hode; son-in-law, Brett Hode grandson; Michael Alexander Hode, stepdaughter; Theresa McCall McGraw Pauli stepdaughter-in-law; Lisa Pauli, sister; Belle Marcia Belew brother; Marion Wendell Belew, Jr.; niece Ellena Belew Sarnoff; nephew-in-law, Dylan Michael Gray; and nephews, Isaac Belew Sarnoff, and Matthew Marion Belew.

Cathy attended Furman University, where she graduated with a degree in Elementary Education, and later received a Master of Education from the University of Georgia specializing in Gifted Education. She spent 30 years teaching at various schools around Georgia, including Elberton, Buena Vista, and Rome.

Her love of nature was profound, and could be seen in her work as an elementary school science teacher, a naturalist at Bobby Brown State Park, sponsorship of Adopt-a-Stream projects, and local conservation efforts. She was dedicated to her family and friends and will be dearly missed by all.

Visitation will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Pass Christian, MS on Sunday, June 2nd at 1:00 PM, with memorial services to follow at 2:00 PM. Graveside service to follow at Live Oak Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Side-By-Side Respite program of the First United Methodist Church of Long Beach, MS, or the St. Joseph Hospice Foundation of Gulfport, MS.