Mollie McDuffie Gratz of Tupelo, Mississippi, passed away August 29, 2024 at home. She was born December 30, 1975 in Tupelo, Mississippi to Michael B. Gratz, Sr. and Margaret McDuffie Gratz. Mollie was a prep school graduate of Salem Academy, Winston Salem, North Carolina. She attended Mary Baldwin College, Staunton, Virginia and Presbyterian College, Clinton, South Carolina where she graduated in 1997. She was a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority at P.C. After graduation, Mollie was employed as The Director of Christian Education at J.J. White Presbyterian Church in McComb, Mississippi and later relocated in the same position to Pawleys Island Presbyterian Church, Pawleys Island, South Carolina for several years.
Later, Mollie continued her education receiving a master’s degree in education from Belhaven College, Jackson, Mississippi and was employed as a beloved teacher in the Tupelo Schools teaching many children in the fourth and fifth grades at Rankin School. She was a lifelong recreational tennis player in Tupelo and was the charm of everyone she met. She was a member of the Tupelo Junior Auxiliary and a lifetime member of First Presbyterian Church where she served in many capacities and cultivated a world of lifelong friends.
Mollie is survived by her brother, Michael Gratz, Jr. (Mary Margaret) and her parents, Mike and Margaret “Babe” Gratz, all of Tupelo. Further, Mollie leaves behind her three dearly beloved nephews and niece, Charlie Gratz, Michael B. Gratz, III and Lucy Gratz. Also surviving Mollie are her uncles, Richard McDuffie of Nettleton and Jim Gratz (Melissa) of Fairhope, Alabama and her cousins, Brett Gratz (Anne) of Ball Ground, Georgia, Raphael Gratz of Gulfport, Sam McDuffie (Katie) of Amory and Jason McDuffie (Melissa) of Tupelo.
Mollie was preceded in death by her grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. S. Jay McDuffie of Nettleton and Jim and Elizabeth Gratz, formerly of Grenada and her aunt, Kay McDuffie of Nettleton.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, the 31 day of August, 2024 at First Presbyterian Church, Jefferson Street, Tupelo with the Rev. John Brock and the Rev. Mary Howard King officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in McFadden Hall of the Church. Following the service, inurnment will be in the Stuart Garden Columbarium on the Church grounds. Holland Funeral Directors is honored to be serving their friends.
The family would like to give special thanks to Mollie’s many teaching associates and the many friends who shared the cancer journey with her. The family also gives thanks to Mollie’s caregivers and to Sanctuary Home Hospice for its superb love and care shown to Mollie and our families during this time. Also, a special thanks to Kelli Neal Smith, RN and Nathan Plunk, RN.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Mollie’s memory to First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 1725, Tupelo, MS 38802 or Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. Box 2127, Tupelo, MS 38802.
