Prayers Request...RIP

[Ducks be us]

John was a standup fella, and, will be missed greatly...Gods speed brotha:

Artist succumbs to injuries after being struck by car
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com


OCEAN SPRINGS --A popular Ocean Springs artist has died and a 19-year-old faces felony charges for driving under the influence.

Ocean Springs Police confirmed late Monday afternoon what had already traveled throughout the city earlier in the day. John Whitehouse, 46, died at Ocean Springs Hospital at about 2 p.m. from the injuries he received Wednesday, Jan. 23, in the parking lot of the Julep Room Lounge on Washington Avenue.

Ryan Odom, also of Ocean Springs, was in police custody and charges were being upgraded to felony DUI and leaving the scene of an accident.

Whitehouse was hit by a 2001 Nissan Maxima and was lying on the pavement when police arrived at the scene at 2:45 a.m. They arrested Odom and charged him with DUI with injuries.

Whitehouse never regained consciousness. His sister, Donna Whitehouse, said his many friends lined up to see him at the hospital's intensive care unit over the weekend before his life support was removed Monday afternoon. He died shortly after, with his daughter and two sons from Virginia among the family with him.

"We're all in shock right now," said Adam Flinchum, owner of Coffee Fusion in Ocean Springs and D'Iberville. Whitehouse made ceramic coffee mugs sold at the shop and "every single one was different," Flinchum said. Whitehouse worked at Shearwater Pottery for a few years and sold his own brand of Gyp Z Sol pottery at the Peter Anderson Festival and other Coast events. He was about to sell his pottery and ceramic drums on the Internet, his friends said.

Since Whitehouse was injured, his friends kept up on the condition of "Big John" by text messages, said Donn Hupp.

He was raised in Ocean Springs and returned after retiring from military service to help his sister care for their grandmother. Tall, about 6 feet, 4 inches, and lanky with curly dark hair and a deep voice, Whitehouse was known as a "gentle giant."

He was a big supporter of local musicians, including Rochelle Harper, who wrote a poem, "The Journeyman," about Whitehouse shortly before he died. "Your soul shines now and it forever will," she wrote, "no matter where your journey takes you."

Whitehouse was one of the founders of the Kids 1st Festival to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs and also started the Guitars Not Guns charity in Mississippi.

Whitehouse



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Memorials for Whitehouse

Funeral arrangements were incomplete at press time.

An open microphone tribute and benefit for the family will be today at 7 p.m. at Coffee Fusion on Bienville Boulevard in Ocean Springs.

A celebration of his life is being planned for Feb. 17 from noon to 9 p.m. at The Shed on Mississippi 57 in Ocean Springs.


Prayers sent

[cwink]

Prayers sent

[chevy01234]

Sent!

[tb]

Prayers on the way

[MallardMauler]

sent...God bless!

[weimhunter]

Wow, thats sad. I have donated some guitars for Guitars Not Guns charity in Mississippi.

[go24]

We had a similar situation in Starkville last week. But they have a harder time getting blood alcohol levels checked up here.

[Woodduckdawg]

Sad situation.
Sent

[mudsucker]

Prayers sent. I know of those places on Washington! Will be down there spring break as we have a house rented a block or two away! I will look for one of his cups at the coffee shop. Just a sad, sad deal.