Obituary of Michael Latham

Michael Wayne Latham, 71, of Cleveland, MS, passed away on Sunday, March 8, 2020, at his home in Jacksonville, Florida. Memorial Services will be held at a later date. Mike was born on November 21, 1948, to Herbie Young Latham and Dorothy Dean Dykes Latham in Grenada, Mississippi. On October 17, 1975, he married Barbara Jane Coleman Latham in Grenada, MS. When he was just 3 years old, Mike was diagnosed with polio, and was soon transported to Memphis for care. During this time, he because a poster child for the March of Dimes and met the famous cowboy, Roy Rogers. This time in his life endowed Mike with an unrelenting spirit of perseverance, coupled with an empathetic heart for those in pain. Mike was a passionate and talented musician who shared his gifts of song with everyone whenever possible. He played trumpet, guitar, some piano, and was a member of the choir at First Baptist Church in Cleveland, MS for many years. In addition to music, Mike enjoyed hunting, fishing, taking long drives in the country, golfing, and was known among his friends and family for his scrumptious home-cooked meals. Mike worked in the cable television industry for over 35 years, working his way up from the bottom to management of multiple cable systems. Mike’s joy for life and good humor were infectious and felt by all those who knew him. He is preceded in death by his parents, Herbie Young Latham and Dorothy Dean Dykes Latham, and his wife, Barbara Jane Coleman Latham. Mr. Latham is survived by his son, Geoffrey Latham (Leigh) of Cleveland, MS, and daughter, Melody Latham Cohn (Jeremy) of Chicago, IL; siblings, Arthur Latham (Sandra) of Brandon, MS, Liz Bloodworth (Hollis) of Rosebloom, MS, and Carolyn Miles (Michael) of Grenada, MS, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends and loved ones.