Mrs. Hathorn was born November 16, 1923 in Hickory Flat, MS, to Dewitt and Rethie Taylor Whiteside. She graduated from Blue Mountain College prepared to teach English, which she did in Hickory Flat, Myrtle, Calhoun City, and Okolona following graduation and again later in Houston. While working in Hispanic outreach during the summers of her college years, she believed that she was called into ministry and planned to pursue international mission work. When she married her husband, Rev. Howard Hathorn, on December 22, 1950, she accepted a different calling and found her ministry serving alongside him in Methodist congregations while living in Derma, Egypt, Verona, Inverness, Macon, Houston, Aberdeen, and Louisville, where they retired.
Her love for music and for children were the significant influences in her ministry, but in no way was the limit to the ways she gave herself to the people and the churches she and Howard faithfully served. After the passing of her husband, she continued living in Louisville, MS until moving to Avonlea Assisted Living in Tupelo, MS, where the people of St. Luke United Methodist Church made it possible for her to be in relationship with them through worship, Sunday School and senior adult events. At the time of her death, she remained a member of First United Methodist Church in Louisville.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Rev. Howard Hathorn, her parents; and her three sisters, Vivian Whiteside, Earline Moorehead, and Marjorie Simmons. She is survived by her daughter, Dana Leigh (Wallace) Norman of Houston, MS; her son, Rev. Dale (Jean) Hathorn of Shannon, MS; five grandchildren, Johnna Garner (Andy), Blair Lukasik (Adam), Samuel Hathorn (Kate), Michael Hathorn (Bailee), and Hannah Hathorn; 9 great grandchildren; and one brother, Jimmy Whiteside (Lavern).
Pallbearers will be Samuel Hathorn, Michael Hathorn, Andy Garner, Adam Lukasik, Blake Peterson, and Hugh Hathorn.
