Retired PHS teacher dies in Highway 19 crash
A retired Philadelphia High School mathematics teacher was fatally injured in a three-car crash on Highway 19 just south of Bethsaida Sunday evening, according to the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
Barbara Mowdy, 78, of Union died after her Ford passenger vehicle was struck from behind by two vehicles.
A visitation is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at McClain-Hays Funeral Home with a graveside service following at 1:30 p.m. at the Bethsaida Baptist Church Cemetery.
“I attribute much of my professional success in life to Ms. Barbara Mowdy,” said Philadelphia native David Bridges, associate professor of mechanical engineering at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. “She was an excellent teacher, and those courses prepared me well for all of the math I would later take at the college level.”
Many other former students were remembering her on Facebook on Monday.
“She taught ‘old school’ mathematics (Algebra, Trig, Geometry, Adv. Math) and the learning disciplines that were needed not only in math but in life,” said Philadelphia native the Rev. Hubert Yates, state director of Disaster Relief Ministries for Mississippi Baptists.
MHP Sgt. Travis Luck said that the two other vehicles were a Toyota Tacoma and a Cadillac passenger vehicle.
Bessie Killings, 72, of Meridian, the driver of the Cadillac, suffered moderate injuries.
Michael Greer, 18, of Ridgeland, the driver of the Tacoma, suffered no injuries, according to Luck.
“The case remains under investigation and there are no pending charges at this time,” Luck said.
The accident occurred near the intersection with Road 515 at 6:53 p.m.
Luck said that Mowdy was stopped in her Ford at the intersection of Road 515 and Highway 19 when she was struck from behind by Greer’s Tacoma.
Luck said that Moody’s Ford was struck again in the roadway by Killings in her Cadillac.
A helicopter and the Philadelphia Fire Department’s Rescue One responded, according to a witness in the area.
Neshoba County Sheriff’s Office deputies assisted the Mississippi Highway Patrol in responding to the wreck, Sheriff Eric Clark said.