Mrs. Ina Gordon went to her heavenly home on December 21, 2023, to join her beloved husband of 72 years after a long illness since his passing.  Mrs. Ina was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Charles Gordon, Sr. and her parents, Purvis and Amy Smith Grice.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 23, 2023, from 9:00AM until 10:00AM at Bethlehem Baptist Church on 838 Reid Road, Laurel, MS. Funeral services will follow at 10:00AM at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Laurel, MS. The burial will then take place in Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery. Dr. Cary Kimbrell will officiate. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Laurel is in charge of arrangements. 601-649-3342.

She is survived by her son, C.W. (JoAnn) Gordon of Laurel, MS; Daughter, Beverly (Todd) Norman of Laurel, MS; two sisters, Anita Wood, and Reba Hess of Laurel, MS; grandchildren, Jeffrey (Dawn) Gordon, Amanda Doss, Allison Gordon, Brian, Matthew and Brandon Doyle, and Jonathan Norman; eight great grandchildren, and a host of nephews and nieces.

Ina attended Powers Elementary, Ellisville Agricultural High School, Jones Junior College, William Carey University, and Rutgers University, majoring in Comprehensive Business, and English, Grades 7-12.

She married Charles W. Gordon, Sr., in 1952. In the many churches Charles pastored, Ina developed the music programs, which included all ages and was an avid singer, too.  The highlight of her singing career was when she performed for the Volunteers of America Organization as the soloist for an audience of 3,000 people in Philadelphia, PA.

She continued to teach as they moved around in the ministry.  She taught at West Jones High School in its third year as part of the New County System. She taught at Prentiss High School, Prentiss, MS, Solanco High School in Quarryville, PA., then Elkton Christian High School in Elkton, MD, then Buena Regional High School in Buena, New Jersey. She was twice selected as Teacher of the Year in Buena Regional and then Star Teacher in Mississippi and one of one hundred teachers selected as a Teacher of Excellence by the Governor of New Jersey. This last honor involved a week of dialogue with the State Department of Education at Trenton State College. Teaching was second nature to her.

Mrs. Gordon traveled to many states teaching Baptist Sunday School Adult teachers for the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board. She always enjoyed meeting new students and people. Her motto was as Chaucer's student "Gladly would I learn and gladly teach".

Mrs. Gordon was active in the women's ministry of the local church, the association and state convention in whatever state she was located.  She co-authored the Ten-Year History of the State Baptist Association of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She wrote the State Mission Purpose for Pennsylvania and New Jersey for 1980 and for Mississippi in 2007.

Mrs. Gordon was a member and officer Alpha Delta Kappa, a teacher sorority for Alpha Chapter in New Jersey and Phi Chapter in Mississippi for more that 25 years.

Her favorite past times were reading and memorizing and sharing scripture. She loved her family and her Lord Jesus.