Funeral services were held Friday, April 13, 2018 at 11 a.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, in Bassfield for Ms. Mary Helen Miller Kirby, 89, of Columbia, who died Tuesday, April 10, 2018, at her daughter’s home, in Bassfield, after a short battle with cancer.

Visitation was Thursday, April 12, 2018, from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., with Rosary at 7 p.m. at the parish hall. Also, 9 a.m. – 10:30a.m., Friday morning, prior to the funeral service.

Burial followed at St. James Cemetery in Bassfield. Saulters Funeral Home of Prentiss was in charge of all arrangements. Fr. Peter Kmiecik was the celebrant at her Mass of Christian Burial.
Pallbearers were her grandsons, Cory Applewhite, Stefan Doucett, Alex Smith, Josh Miller, Derek Miller, Dylan Miller, Lee Kirby, Jeremy Miller and Tyler Kirby.
Her other grandsons Keith Applewhite, Cagney Applewhite, Wyatt Miller, Chris Miller, Kyle Miller, Paul Miller and Dustin Miller served as honorary pallbearers. Mary Helen Miller Kirby was born on Jan. 1, 1929, to Jack and Era Cavanaugh.

She was married to Hulon Miller, from Columbia, and together they had seven children. After his demise, she was married to James Earl Kirby of Bassfield.

He came into the marriage with three children and they had two children of their own. She lived in Marion County, near the Bunker Hill community. She was retired from Forrest General Hospital,  where she worked as a unit clerk in surgery.

She was a faithful member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Bassfield.

Mary Helen’s faith in God and family was of utmost importance in her life. She lived her life with a great amount of grace, even in facing many trials. It is that grace and strength, with her loving heart, that will forever be remembered by her family and friends.

She is survived by her children; Dianne Smith (Hal) of Freeport, Florida, David Miller (Leone) of Ovett, Mark Miller (Lisa) of Gulfport, Janet Applewhite (Ted) of Bassfield, Stephen Miller (Karen) of White, Georgia, Rodney Kirby (Karen) of Wiggins, and Patrick Miller (Jennifer) of Pass Christian; 30 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren and one sister, Minnie Jo Howell. She was preceded in death by her parents Jack and Era Cavanaugh; her husband Hulon Miller; her husband James Earl Kirby; her sons Kevin Miller, Roger Kirby, John Paul Kirby and Joseph Kirby; her daughter, Pam Kirby and grandson, Colby Kirby.