HESTER SOILEAU STAGG

On December 24, 2010, Christmas Eve at 6:42 p.m., at the age of 102 years, Hester Soileau Stagg was called to the Life Eternal. She passed away in the Athens-Limestone Hospital, Athens, Alabama. She was the first child born to Alexander and Amy Reed Soileau on September 14, 1908 in old Grand Prairie, LA. She was an obedient child, a devout Christian lady, a loving and devoted wife, a beloved mother, a proud grandmother and great-grandmother, a respected sister, a proud native of the state of Louisiana, and a distinguished citizen of St. Landry Parish, LA. Mrs. Stagg was not only born, but reared, educated, and married in lovely Louisiana where her ancestors settled long before the Louisiana Territory Purchase.
Mrs. Stagg is descended from Louis St. Denis, French Founder and Explorer, who was with the Lemoyne brothers, d'Iberville and Bienville, when they founded Mobile, AL in 1702. Louis St. Denis founded Natchitoches, LA in 1714 which is the oldest permanent settlement west of the Mississippi River. Another ancestor, Captain Noel Soileau was a patriot in the American Revolution. He served with General Galvez to prevent the British from taking Baton Rouge, LA. Noel Soileau was the commandant of Opelousas Post and Natchez Post during the American Revolution. Hester Soileau Stagg was a member of the Avoyelles Chapter (Louisiana) Daughters of the American Revolution until it disbanded and is now a member of the Huntsville Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.
There is a destiny that is in all of our lives. It is God's destiny. There was a destiny in Hester Stagg's life also. Her husband, children, grandchildren, kinsmen, and friends were all part of Hester's destiny. Her life was a long road that stretched for over 10 decades with its end at the holy city of God, the New Jerusalem. She was loveable, sincere, caring, dependable, honest, trustworthy, polite, courteous, cooperative, congenial, and well-mannered. She was a gracious lady with a brilliant mind. Her character was solid gold. Hester Stagg was a lady of quality, strength and dignity, with no fear of old age. When she spoke, her words were wise, and kindness was the rule for everything she said. Her children and grandchildren stand and bless her; so did her husband. As the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, Hester Stagg can also say: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."
Miss Hester Soileau married Daniel Philip Stagg, Sr., a well known land owner and planter of St. Landry Parish, LA on November 15, 1930 in Opelousas, LA. Mrs. Stagg is survived by her daughter, Mary Stagg Johnston and her husband James Elwyn Johnson of Athens, AL (formerly of Huntsville), son, Daniel Philip Stagg, Jr. and his wife Sheila Giddings Stagg of Opelousas, LA: grandchildren, Dr. Daniel Philip Stagg, III and his wife Tami Keyes Stagg of Beaumont, TX, Alan David Stagg of Opelousas, LA, Susan Stagg Soileau and her husband Michael of Rayne, LA; great grandchildren, Joshua Stagg, Hannah Stagg, Lane Stagg, and Daniel Stagg, IV; sisters, Carrie Singleton and Laura Lou Duplechain of Lafayette, LA: brother, Huey P. Soileau of Angleton, TX.
Mrs. Stagg was a gourmet cook. She learned to cook under the schooling of her mother-in-law, Molly Sandefur Stagg. Her children could invite friends to spend the night at the Stagg home and their mother always had plenty of delicious sweets. Today, people all over the country have her candied fruit cake recipe. Even today at 102 plus, Mrs. Stagg still enjoyed cooking and entertaining just as she did from the 1930's until prior to her death.
Mrs. Stagg was a lady with a variety of interests. She loved her Lord, her children, grandchildren, family and friends. She possessed a deep faith. She and her husband were very generous people. She was a faithful member of the Bennett Waites Sunday school class and the Thursday morning Bible study class at First United Methodist Church. Prayer was a priority in her Life and she started each day with prayer. She never started her automobile without repeating the prayer from Dr. Norman Vincent Peale on safety. She enjoyed genealogy, history, theology, reading, music, cooking, and LSU football. Being a true LSU fan, she went to the campus three times to see the new Tiger (Mike VI) in 2007.
Her body will be taken to Hixson-Ducote Funeral Home, Bunkie, LA. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday, December 28, 2010. A rosary will be recited at the funeral home at 11:30 a.m. The church funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic with the Rev. Austin Leger officiating. Mrs. Stagg will be laid to rest in the Stagg Plot of Pythian Cemetery, Bunkie, LA, next to her beloved husband and his three sisters and two brothers. The service are under the direction of Hixson-Ducote Funeral Home of Bunkie. Grandsons and nephews on both sides of the family will serve as pallbearers.
Mrs. Stagg was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Daniel Philip Stagg, Sr. and brothers, George, Clifton, and Harry Soileau.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to your church or a favorite charity. Online condolences may be sent to www.hixson-ducote.com