‘She guided me’: Flaggs honors late educator with proclamation

The Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen during its regular meeting Thursday honored the life of a late Warren County educator with a proclamation declaring July 27th Dorothy Mae Owens Pickett Day..

Pickett, a well-known teacher who served the Vicksburg Warren School District for 36 years, passed away this week and will be laid to rest in funeral services over the weekend.

During Thursday’s meeting, a visibly emotional Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said Pickett made a profound impact on the lives of countless children, including his own.

“I don’t know who impacted me the most,” Flaggs said. “Miss Ann Sturgis or Miss Dorothy Pickett, or my mother. But, I can tell you this, is that this lady really kept up with me. She guided me.”

Pickett was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and a charter member of the Vicksburg chapter of Links, Inc., in addition to numerous other clubs and organizations.

She began her journey in education by earning a bachelor’s degree from Alcorn State University in 1961 and a master’s degree in education from Mississippi College in 1973.

“(Teachers) have you most of the day. They work with you. They inspire you,” Flaggs said. “They guide you and I can assure you that I don’t know of anybody that doesn’t remember a teacher that impacted them.”

Pickett was married to the late Robert E. Pickett and is survived by children, Deborah Sanders and Ritchie (Belinda) Pickett; grandchildren, Melanie Sanders, Ryan (Ashlee) Pickett, Rashad (Bryanah) Sanders, Kiana Sanders and Evan Pickett; great-grandchildren, Ava’Rose, Jade and Layla; and a host of siblings, nieces, nephews and cousins across the country.

Pickett was preceded in death by her husband; sister, Christine Shaffer; brothers, Fred, McKinley and John Owens; and parents, W.T. Owens and Beatrice Ellis Owens.

A public viewing will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, followed by a Wake/Rosary, which will be held at 6 at Lakeview Funeral Home.

A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.