Josephine Griefield Pratt died Monday, Jan. 6, 2020, at Merit Health River Region Medical Center. She was 85.

Mrs. Pratt was a native of Vicksburg and the daughter of the late Elmer Vincent Griefield and Angelina Morrissey Griefield, and is the last surviving grandchild of Tom and Josephine Morrissey.

She was a graduate of St. Francis Xavier Academy and Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.

She lived in Memphis for a short period of time. While there, she was a founding member and principal of Memphis Oral School for the Deaf. After returning to Vicksburg, she taught special education at St. Francis. She was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church.

Mrs. Pratt was a very civic-minded individual, active in Keep America Beautiful-Vicksburg Chapter, a strong supporter of public education and the Leader In Me program.

Historic preservation, community development, and public health and welfare were her passions in the community.  As a business owner, she restored and renovated many homes in Vicksburg, including Belle of the Bends, which she owned and operated. An avid gardener, Mrs. Pratt was a long time member of Green Hills Garden Club.

Mrs. Pratt is survived by three sons, Wayne Pratt (Paige) of Madison; Thad Pratt (Wyn) and Bryan Pratt (Vickie), both of Vicksburg; two foster daughters, Kim Anh Do (Pat) of Portland, Ore., and MyAnh Stenson (James) of Mount Juliet, Tenn.; and seven grandchildren, Lauren Pratt Wallis (Trent), Ashton Pratt, William Pratt, Mallory Pratt, Brandon Pratt, Cameron Pratt and Sara Pratt.

Visitation will be 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, at Riles Funeral Home.  A funeral Mass will follow at 11 a.m. at St. Michael Catholic Church. Interment will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be William Pratt, Brandon Pratt, Cameron Pratt, Ashton Pratt, Trent Wallis, and Percy Shorter.

Honorary pallbearers will be Wayne McMaster, Skippy Tuminello and Wallace Pratt.  Memorials may be made to Memphis Oral School for the Deaf, 7901 Poplar Avenue, Germantown, TN  38138 or to St. Michael Catholic Church, 100 St. Michael Place, Vicksburg, MS  39180.