Florence Ouzts

Dr. Florence Louise Ouzts, age 80, went to be with the Lord on March 29, 2024, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford, Mississippi. Florence was born on January 7, 1944, in Adrian, Michigan, to Frank Uguccioni and Helen Uguccioni (née Wilkins). 

Florence grew up in Onsted, Michigan and graduated from Onsted High School in May 1962. She furthered her education at Adrian College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in General Speech in August 1966. Florence chose The Ohio State University for her graduate studies where she earned a Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology in June 1968. During her time at Ohio State, she met the love of her life, James Wesley Ouzts (Jim). They became engaged and were married on December 30, 1967. They moved to Cleveland, Mississippi shortly thereafter to begin a beautiful life and create a loving family of four children. 

Florence later pursued a Ph.D. in Higher Education at the University of Mississippi while raising four teenagers. She earned her doctorate in May 1991. Her family has always appreciated her commitment to education and admired her ability to balance work, family, and advanced education.

Florence worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist for Bolivar County Head Start from 1978 until she accepted a faculty position with Delta State University where she became a full professor. She retired from Delta State in May 2004 with the title of Professor Emeritus. 

Florence is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Helen Uguccioni; her loving husband, James Ouzts (Jim); her mother-in-love, Geneva Hodges "Gran-Gran" Ouzts; and her father-in-love, Felix Donald "Grandaddy" Ouzts.

Florence is survived by her four children, James "Jay" Ouzts, Jr. (Lisa), Katherine Ouzts, Ruth Ouzts Moore (John), Mary Bragg (Dusty), and her grandson, Wesley Moore. She is also survived by her siblings, David Uguccioni (Alice) and Lenna Klug (Tom), and numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews. She is also blessed to have so many friends who have loved her dearly.

Florence was a woman of strong faith. She was a member of St. Francis the Assisi Catholic Church in Shaw, Mississippi where she served as Lay Pastoral Minister from 2004 until 2011. When she moved to Oxford, Mississippi in 2012, she became a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. She served the church in various ministries, including serving as a lay reader.
Florence was an avid gardener and a talented cake decorator. She loved animals, and she loved people. Those that knew her will attest that she radiated love, thoughtfulness, and kindness.

Funeral services will be provided by Ray Funeral Home in Cleveland, MS. A visitation will be held Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at Ray Funeral Home from 5:00-7:00pm. A celebration of life service will be held at Ray Funeral Home from 7:00-8:00pm. Friends and family are invited to share their memories during this time. A second visitation will be held at 10:00am with a Mass of Christian Burial following at 11:00am on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Shaw, Mississippi. Burial at the North Cleveland Cemetery will follow the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Pegasus Riding Academy of Savannah, Georgia (https://prasav.org/), the National Alliance of Mental Illness (www.nami.org), and The American Cancer Society (donate.cancer.org).