Lori Sneed died on Wednesday, July 12, 2017, from liver cancer at her home in Gulfport, with her devoted mother, father and brother at her side.

Lori was born in Jackson, on Oct. 21, 1972, but grew up and was educated in Gulfport. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from the University of Mississippi in 1997, where she was a Campus Favorite, a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority, a member of the University of Mississippi Committee on Disabilities, and a two-time winner of the Most Beautiful Eyes on Campus contest, before and after her accident. She has enthusiastically lived as a quadriplegic since suffering a spinal cord injury in a tragic automobile accident in 1991, her freshman year.

Following rehabilitation at Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia, she came back to the Coast where she attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College for a year before returning to Ole Miss. After graduation, she moved to Atlanta, working in Public Information for CNN from 1997 to 2006. She left CNN after suffering a ruptured intestine, which led to sepsis, resulting in a 77-day coma in Intensive Care, ultimately leading to brain surgery in 2008. While in Atlanta, she performed both “stand-up” and improvisational comedy.

She had a marvelous sense of humor and made everyone around her feel better. She loved art, poetry, music, and animals, especially cats. She returned to the Coast in 2015, living in Gulfport, as a self-employed artist. Lori was a Member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.

She was predeceased by her maternal grandparents, Dr. B.W. Henry and Loramarie (Lorie) M. Henry, her namesake, and her paternal grandfather Torrence H. Sneed, all of Gulfport.

Lori is survived by and missed already by her mother and father, Patti and Shorty Sneed of Gulfport, her brother Johnny, of Los Angeles, California, and her last cat, Maxie. She is also survived by her paternal grandmother, Mary M. Sneed of Atlanta, Georgia, formerly of Gulfport. Additionally, Lori is survived by her aunts and uncles, Dr. Bill and Alison Henry of Gulfport, James and Mary Beth Barnett of Gulfport, Dan and Mary Hinkel of Atlanta, Tim Sneed of Augusta, Georgia, and Harry and Barbel Sneed of Munich, Germany, and her respective cousins. She was also predeceased by her uncles Dave and Jim Henry.

The visitation and services were held in Gulfport with interment at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th St. Gulfport was in charge of the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church; Memorial Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 940, Gulfport, MS 39502; or to Doctors Without Borders (website www.doctorswithoutborders.org).

Patti, Shorty, and Johnny want to especially thank Dr. Bill Henry for his countless hours of assistance with Lori since 1991. His knowledge and expertise has assisted the medical personnel in Memphis, TN, Atlanta, GA, and Gulfport, MS. Without his continuous help, this 26-year journey would not have been as successful as it was. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com.