Church Point, La.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, February 7, 2008 at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Church Point, La. for Mrs. Ernest 'Neg" Smith, the former Lelia Higginbotham, who died at 2:35 A.M. Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at Acadia-St. Landry Guest Home; Church Point. She was a native of Church Point. Monsignor Jefferson J. DeBlanc will conduct the services with interment following in the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery; Church Point.
Survivors include six sons: Norbort Mark Smith of Opelousas, La.; Harry J. Smith and wife Ethel and Joseph Linus Smith and wife Ginger- all of Sunset, La. and Gerald Lynn Smith and wife Diane, James Allen Smith and Douglas Edward Smith and wife Debra- all of Church Point- and a sister, Louisiana H. Lyons and a sister-in-law, Emmanine Burleigh and husband Willie-all of Church Point. She is also survived by 24 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Eloise Bellard Higginbotham; her husband, Ernest "Neg" Smith; two sons, Huby J. Smith and infant Leander Smith; two daughters, Eula Mae S. Gentry and infant Wilma Smith; a granddaughter and a grandson, Patricia Smith and Wayne Gentry; one great-great-grandchild, Daniel P. Istre; three brothers: Berchman, Iram and Abraham Higginbotham; four sisters: Bertha H. LeJeune, Alice H. Roger and Lydia H. Menard and Elizabeth H. Menard; a Godchild, Calton Higginbotham and a son- and daughter-in-law, Gordon Gentry and Shirley B. Smith.
The family requested that visiting hours be observed from 10:00 A.M. until 10:00 P.M. on Wednesday and continue on Thursday from 8:00 A.M. until time of services.
A recitation of the Rosary will be held on Wednesday at 7:00 P.M.