Family History
Edward “Ned” O’Keefe, born in 1815, immigrated from Ireland to New Orleans and later made his way to Ocean Springs, Mississippi. In 1859, Edward bought property on Porter Avenue and started a livery business and boarding house to serve the tourists. He enlisted with the Confederate Army in 1861. At the end of the Civil War, Edward returned to work the land. He was called upon with his drayage to carry those who had died to the local cemetery. Edward and his wife Mary had two children, Jeremiah Joseph O’Keefe and Mary Helen. When Edward died in 1874, Mary and their son, Jeremiah, carried on the livery service and boarding house.
Jeremiah Joseph O’Keefe I married Alice Cahill in 1888. It was four years later, 1892, that Jeremiah established the “O’Keefe Funeral Service” in Ocean Springs. His wife, Alice, ran the O’Keefe Boarding House. Jeremiah and Alice had five children. When Jeremiah died in 1911, his sons carried on the business.