Cathy Jean Hellums Waldrop, 70, passed away Thursday, March 19, 2026, at her home after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on November 3, 1955, to H.L. “Slim” and Mary Faye Patterson Hellums. She was a member of West Heights Baptist Church, where she enjoyed great friendships with the members of her Sunday school class. She married David Hugh Waldrop on March 15, 1976. Cathy graduated from Falkner High School in 1973 and earned her nursing degree from Northeast Mississippi Community College, before later receiving her Master of Science in Nursing from the Mississippi University for Women. She spent 45 years caring for others in various roles in healthcare.
Cathy is survived by her husband of 50 years, David Waldrop, her son, Matt Waldrop and wife, Kim, daughter, Emily Fields and husband D.J., her sister, Paula Coker, and husband Larry of Blue Springs, her brother, Herb Hellums and wife, Kim of Ripley, her four grandchildren, Noah and Wyatt Waldrop and Leah and Jonah Fields, father-in-law, Collins Waldrop, two sisters-in-law, Pat Russell and husband, Ronnie of Tupelo and Ladean Goodrich and husband, Ken of Troy, her brother-in-law, Joe Waldrop and wife, Sondra of Ecru, as well as numerous beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her mother-in-law, Wilma Waldrop, and her two nephews, Jason Russell and Ben Brown.
Funeral Services will be held on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 3PM at Tutor Memorial Funeral Home in Pontotoc with Dr. David Hamilton officiating. Visitation will begin at 1PM and continue to service time. Burial will follow in Oak Forest Cemetery. Tutor Memorial Funeral Home in Pontotoc is handling the arrangements.
Pallbearers will be Ben Hellums, Wes Hellums, Gary Russell, and Brad Waldrop.
