Extracted from The McComb Enterprise-Journal (McComb, MS)
Monday, August 3, 2009

Opal C. Dawson

Opal E. Caston Dawson, 87, of Dallas, died Aug. 1, 2009, at home surrounded by family and friends.

Visitation with the family will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Brown Funeral Home in Gloster until memorial services there at 1 p.m. The Rev. Carlos Dawson II will officiate. Burial will follow in New Hope Methodist Protestant Church Cemetery in Gloster.

Mrs. Dawson was born Dec. 29, 1921, in Liberty, to Earnest R. and Hattie Neyland Caston.

Baptized as a young girl in the Amite River, she attended Graves Chapel in Amite County from its inception in 1939. Her family said she was a caring and loving soul.

She married Roddis H. Dawson on Dec. 21, 1941, in Amite County. They lived in Biloxi until Roddis' death in 1971. Mrs. Dawson worked for many years as a licensed beautician in Biloxi, where the family worshiped in the Church of the Nazarene. She enjoyed 15 years living in Chattanooga, Tenn., working with her flowers and garden, before moving to Dallas and becoming a much-loved member of First Baptist Church of Duncanville, Texas.

The family said, ``Those of us she has left behind will miss her as she continues her journey in God's care.''

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Roddis; and three sisters, Fairy H. Caston, Odie Caston Barkdull and recently deceased Amelie Caston Cobb.

Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Jerry D. and Judy Dawson of Hixson, Tenn., and Harold and Sherri Dawson of Sandersville, Ga.; a daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca J. and Jerome Beasley of Dallas; six grandchildren and spouses, Christopher M. and Samantha Dawson, David J. and Jennifer L. Beasley, Michele R. and Brian M. Thompson, Karen E. Beasley, Elizabeth C. Pittman and Alaina G. Dawson; two great-grandchildren, Isaiah J. Thompson and Alexis C. Beasley; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Jewel and Bette Caston of Lake Jackson, Texas, and Ernie and Janice Caston of Slaughter, La.; two close nieces, Fairy W. Day, Valeria B. Freeman; a nephew, Harry L. Barkdull; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.