Mr. George Anthony Trebotich

George Anthony Trebotich passed away Wednesday morning in the Jackson VA Medical Center. He was 94. George was the fourth of 8 children of George and Michelina Trebotich. He was the last survivor of that nuclear family. George grew up during the depression in Biloxi, MS. His father died at a young age and so he and two of his brothers had to spend some of their adolescent years at the Catholic orphanage in Natchez, MS because their mother couldn’t provide for all of them. He returned to Biloxi where he picked up a trade in the jewelry business as an apprentice to Mr. John Beggs. He also was an avid sailor during that time with the Biloxi Yacht Club and raced the Sir Thomas Lipton Cup Races. World War II hit and he enlisted into the National Guard and served with 5 of his brothers as part of the Army’s Dixie Division and then the Army Air Corps. George was stationed in England and France. All amazingly returned after the war. George attended Bradley Polytechnic Institute (now Bradley University) in Peoria, IL. George met and married Lucy (Sue) Catherine Filipich, the love of his life, in 1954 at St. Michaels Church. He moved to Jackson in 1947 where he started his jewelry business, George Trebotich Jewelers, briefly on Farish Street and then Capitol Street. During that time George was very involved in the Jackson Rotary Club, served as an honorary commissioner of the MS highway patrol and even had a record label, Trebco Records. He eventually opened two more jewelry stores, Diamond Jewelers, one in Pearl and one in South Jackson. George was an avid golfer and was known to have given a lesson to many at Shady Oaks Country Club. George played in the Yugoslav Open Golf Tournament every year until he could no longer and won an award for his participation. George and his wife Sue have been charter members of St. Therese Catholic Church since 1954 where George served as an usher. He loved his country and he loved his church. He was a friendly man with an outgoing spirit and a thirst for life. He put his best foot forward in life, cutting his own swathe in this world, having come from nothing. George is survived by his faithful and devoted wife of almost 60 years, Lucy “Sue” Filipich of Biloxi. They had 7 children 4 boys and 3 girls: George, Jr. (dec.), Lucy, Michele, Cynthia, Mark, Thomas and David. He is also survived by 8 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. The family requests in lieu of flowers, to have donations made to the Mustard Seed, in Brandon, MS. Visitation will be Friday, April 11, 2014 from 5-7:30pm at Chancellor Funeral Home in Byram. Funeral Mass will be Saturday, April 12, 2014 at 11am at St. Therese Catholic Church, with a one hour visitation prior to service time at the church. Interment will follow at Lakewood Memorial Park. On line guest book available at www.chancellorfunealhome.com.