By Rita Howell

Funeral services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Batesville Civic Center for South Panola High teacher Katina Kitchens-Lloyd, 36.

Kitchens-Lloyd died Monday at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis after a brief illness.

She had been stricken suddenly while at work April 23.

Last year she was one of four finalists for the Mississippi Teacher of the Year Award, representing the South Panola School District. This year she was serving on the Mississippi Department of Education’s task force to study underperforming schools.

On Thursday, SPHS principal Dr. Gearl Loden cited Kitchens-Lloyd as “one of the best teachers I’ve ever been around.”

“She’s always here for the kids,” he said. “She does summer school and after-school tutoring. She’s always full speed ahead.”

Lately her focus had been on preparing her students for the state subject area tests.

“It’s been a challenging week,” Loden said. “The students were as focused as you could ask for today’s algebra test.”

Kitchens-Lloyd  had taught math for 13 years, starting her career at North Panola High School. She joined the faculty at SPHS in 2003.

“I guess you could say I was destined to be a teacher the day I was born,” Kitchens-Lloyd said last year in an interview with The Panolian. She was the daughter of longtime South Panola school teachers Norva and Roosevelt Kitchens.

A National Board Certified Teacher, she was the wife of Marvin Lloyd. She leaves five daughters, Halle, Haley, Bianca, Brandyce and Domonique.

For complete obituary, see page A2.