A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at St. Edmond Catholic Church for Emma Melancon Higginbotham, 89, who passed away on Friday, February 12, 2016 at 10:45 pm. Msgr. Jefferson Deblanc, Pastor of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, will be the Celebrant of the Mass. Burial will take place in St. Edmond Cemetery. Emma's brothers and sisters will serve as gift bearers and Gina Thibodeaux, Emily Berniard and Kaitlyn Higginbotham will serve as readers.

Emma was born on February 22, 1926 in Church Point. She was a lifelong resident of Church Point, LA. Emma peacefully passed away Friday, February 12, 2016, surrounded by members of her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ovey Melancon and the former Irma Thibodeaux; her husband, Paul Higginbotham, Sr.; her son, Paul Higginbotham, Jr. and her sister, Ruby Thibodeaux. She is survived by her eight brothers and sisters; Overton Melancon, Roy Melancon and his wife Elina, Margie and Wesley Duplechin, Fannie Miguez and husband Wallace, Eva Dale Duplechin and husband Ray, Nora Miller and husband Earlin, Nola Harmon and Mitt Melancon. Emma is also survived by three of her adoring children, James Higginbotham and his wife Julie of Sunset, LA, Charlotte Berniard and her husband Tom of Lafayette, LA and Marcus Higginbotham and his wife Kathy of Carencro, LA,; eight grandchildren, Toby Higginbotham and his wife Karen, Gina Thibodeaux and her husband Benjamin, Polo Higginbotham and his wife Yolanda, Brandon Higginbotham, Trey Berniard and his wife Ashley, Emily Berniard, Geoffrey Berniard and Kaitlyn Higginbotham and nine great-grandchildren, Zach, Brody, Aubrey, Ava, Elijah, Chase, Layla, Kylee and Beau. Maw-Maw will always be remembered for her kindness and loving spirit. All of her children and grandchildren knew that she would be there for anything that they needed and she would always be willing to help with whatever they asked. She did all that she could for those around her, not only her family and friends. At Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Emma served as housekeeper taking great care of all of the priests that passed through the rectory. She also had a very strong bond with all of her brothers and sisters. Every family gathering was full of laughter that could be heard from far away.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Guidry Funeral Home on Monday, February 15, 2016 from 1:00 pm until 8:00 pm and continue on Tuesday from 9:00 am until the time of service. A rosary will be recited Monday evening at 6:00 pm in the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Tom Berniard, Toby Higginbotham, Polo Higginbotham, Brandon Higginbotham, Trey Berniard and Geoffrey Berniard. The family would like to thank the Pelican Pointe Retirement Community staff for their assistance over the past two years. Their help is greatly appreciated by all of Emma's family and close friends. Also deserving of thanks are the Community Hospice team members whose guidance made the final part of Emma's life much more peaceful.
Personal condolences may be sent to the Higginbotham family at www.guidryfuneralhome.com. Guidry Funeral Home, 219 N. Broadway St., Church Point, LA is in charge of final arrangements.