Christine Dedeaux

Christine Louise Dedeaux, 87, passed away on Friday, March 5, 2021 in Gulfport.
Mrs. Dedeaux was well known and loved by many in Gulfport from the time she moved here from Picayune, MS. After marrying the love of her life, W.A. "Ike" Dedeaux, she founded Chris' Beauty College in 1961, which remains an icon in the cosmetology industry. Through her vision and heart for giving, the College has touched countless lives here on the Gulf Coast. She also pioneered the first "New York" style salon in Gulfport later in the 1960's when she opened the Hair Fashions Beauty Salon in the Hardy Court Shopping Center. She was loved and respected by her family and friends as having a big heart and being extremely generous. She was truly grateful to her husband and the many others in the community who helped her and her family fulfill their dreams. Her family will remember her as gracious and giving - the epitome of classic southern hospitality. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her family feels her spirit is best captured in Acts Chapter 20 Verse 35, "In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, 'it is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dot Dedeaux, Cathy Lundy, and the medical professionals with Southern Care Hospice Services, all of whom ensured her care and quality of life in her last days.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Mr. Warren Alvin "Ike" Dedeaux, her first daughter, Denise Diane Dedeaux "Dede" Hudson, her beloved mother Ethel Lott Williams, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Otis Williams "Otis and Jesse" of Gulfport, and her beloved sister Betty Jean Smith.
She is survived by her daughters, Betsy Dedeaux Martin of New Orleans, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lehmann "Pat and Bob" of Las Vegas, Nevada and Mr. and Mrs. David R. Sweet "Paula and David" of Gulfport; Grandchildren, Mr. and Mrs. Warren Hudson Dedeaux "Warren and Jessica" of Gulfport, Justin Maurice Stewart, Samuel Harrington Stewart, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Smith "Storey and Doug" of Port Allen, Louisiana, and Mr. and Mrs. Ike Alexander Martin "Ike and Morgan" of Gulfport; Great Grandchildren, Riley, Malin and Juliet Dedeaux of Gulfport and Douglas Spencer Smith III of Port Allen, Louisiana. She is also survived by step-siblings and many loved Smith and Dedeaux nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Friday, March 12, 2021, from 12:00pm until 2:00pm at the Riemann Family Funeral Home, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport. The funeral service will be at 2:00pm in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow in Floral Hills Memorial Gardens.
Memorials may be made to the "Chris' Beauty College Chris Dedeaux Scholarship Fund" via Paypal to chrisbeautyc@aol.com OR to the Home of Grace in Vancleave, MS.