Photography by Rudy Melancon Photography
Despite growing up in the same Gautier neighborhood, William and Ciji Rayburn didn’t find each other until decades later — after both had sustained unfathomable losses.
The pair’s brothers were best friends, and they attended the same schools, both graduating from Pascagoula High School. Afterward, they went their separate ways — attending college, starting families and pursuing careers.
Then the unthinkable happened: Ciji’s late husband died in an oilfield accident on May 15, 2021. On the same day, William’s late wife entered hospice care after a 10-month cancer battle; she passed nine days later.
“After I saw William share the news of her passing, I privately messaged him with condolences and offered my support as a widow in the same situation,” Ciji recalls.
Their connection grew gradually as they shared scripture passages, poems, songs and uplifting messages. The following year, Ciji invited him to join her and her family for Mardi Gras. They enjoyed each other’s company so much that whenever Ciji returned to the Coast, they made a point to see each other.
“One evening, it just clicked; we were both healed enough to inch into dating” she recalls. “It wasn’t until the summer of 2022 that I was ready to say the ‘L’ word.”
That blossoming bond became permanent on Nov. 16, 2024, when the pair exchanged vows at Hickory Hills Country Club. They chose the venue, in their hometown of Gautier, because it reflected their heritage and shared history.
“Our love story is a blessing from God …,” Ciji says. “Who would have thought two kids from Gautier would both be widowed before 50, and after 30-plus years of not seeing each other, end up falling in love?”
LETTING GO
Before their romance could unfold, William and Ciji had to relinquish the guilt that came with finding solace in each other. The couple faced many questions with no easy answers: How do you move on after spending your entire adult life with someone? Should you have those feelings again? Are you betraying your late spouse’s memory?
“There were two things that helped me get past that,” William explains. “First, my former spouse knew me to the core and made me promise to move on and live my life. She knew that would be one of the harder parts for me to process.”
He also had the example of his Uncle David, who lost his wife of over 50 years about three years before William was widowed but found love again. Knowing the complex emotions his nephew would be grappling with, David asked him a simple question: What were the final words of his wedding vows? William was struck silent when he remembered the last part of that promise: till death do us part.
“He then told me that I had faithfully upheld my vow to God and my former wife,” William says. “It was OK to live again and love Ciji.”
Today, the couple communicates openly about their late spouses.
“We both talk about them; we discuss sadness when (it’s) felt, and we still cherish the time we had with them and share stories with our families,” Ciji says. “There is no jealousy because we both understand each other.”
THE BIG DAY
On the day the couple said, “I do,” they were blessed with beautiful weather. The bride picked the music, and immediate family took their seats to the strains of Nat King Cole’s “L-O-V-E.” The groom and his party then entered in a “V” formation to ZZ Tops’ “Sharp-Dressed Man.” At the top of the aisle, the best man and groomsmen changed William from a black tux to a white tux jacket, styled his hair, gave him a spritz of breath spray and brushed him with a lint roller.
“Since our daughters are of adult age and (we have) no grandchildren, we decided to have ‘petal pushers’ and ‘ring security’ instead of flower girls and ring bearers,” Ciji says. “They danced down the aisle to Jagged Edge’s ‘Let’s Get Married’ — throwing white LED glow rings to the guests.”
Next, Ciji’s honorary bridesmaids from the Les Belle Fleurs Mardi Gras krewe danced out in pairs to Chris Brown’s “Forever,” followed by her side of the bridal party gliding down the aisle to a duet version of “From this Moment” by Matt Johnson and Bailey Rushlow. The final song was Christina Perri’s “You Are My Sunshine,” which Ciji chose because William calls her his “sunshine.”
The couple intentionally deviated from tradition with their wedding — wanting to share an entertaining, unconventional celebration with their loved ones.
“Exchanging vows next to the bayous we grew up on, surrounded by our loved ones framed with large oaks draped in Spanish moss; it was a picture-perfect southern Mississippi day,” she says. “We were surrounded by 120- plus family and friends that traveled from 16 states.”
‘IT’S NOT ABOUT THE DESTINATION’
While their love story started with grief, the couple has since formed a partnership defined by humor, respect and adventure. Ciji’s best advice for marital bliss? Put down the phones.
“When the kids are grown and work is done, don’t get caught looking up to a stranger,” she says. “Time is short, and if you don’t carve out regular focus time on each other, to continue to grow and develop with each other, it will lead to disconnects in your marriage.”
Describing his wife as a “perpetual motion machine,” William says his approach to life is a little more relaxed. He credits communication, emotional maturity and a foundation of friendship for making their union work.
“We both entered the relationship with a lifetime of experiences — successes, failures, good, bad (and) ugly …,” he says. “It’s always easier to sit down and talk your way through a topic than fly off the handle; we’re both willing to truly listen to what the other is saying and compromise or adjust.”
Experience also has taught them that sometimes, life just happens — and all they can control is how they react. During the hardest moments, it helps to have a positive attitude and to find something to laugh about — alongside a partner who truly understands.
“Sometimes love finds you, often at the most unexpected times,” William says. “Enjoy the journey of life; it’s not about the destination.”
VENDORS
- Ceremony venue: The River Oaks of Hickory Hills Country Club, Gautier
- Reception venue: The River Oaks of Hickory Hills Country Club, Gautier
- Officiant: Skip Robbins
- Wedding planner: Ciji, the bride
- Wedding gown: Bridal and Formal Boutique, Gulfport
- Tux/Groom’s clothing: House of Tux in Gulfport, MS
- Bridesmaids’ attire: Self-purchased to their preference
- Groomsmens’ attire: House of Tux, Gulfport
- Photographer: Rudy Melancon of Rudy Melancon Photography, Poplarville
- Videographer: Kristi Harris of Rudy Melancon Photography, Poplarville
- Caterer: The River Oaks of Hickory Hills, Gautier
- Cake/Desserts: Sue Le Nguyen- Torjusen of Le Bakery, Biloxi
- Florist: Danita Summers and Debbie Watts
- Invitations: XOXOKristen on Etsy
- Hair: Abbey Kuespert of Makeup by Abbey Elizabeth, Petal
- Makeup: Abbey Kuespert of Makeup by Abbey Elizabeth, Petal
- Event rentals: Photo Booth – Snaparazzi Photo, Biloxi; All Seasons Event Rental, D’Iberville
- Reception Entertainment: Chase Bigness and Stevie Williams of Salt Water Harmony, Ocean Springs