THERESA MAE PITRE HENSLEY

Her Journey

I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the Righteousness Judge, shall give me at that last day.—II Timothy 4:7-8.

On the evening of July 20, 2020, at Landmark Nursing Home, God called down from Heaven and Theresa Mae Pitre Hensley, at the age of 91, graciously and peacefully accepted God's call.

Theresa Mae was born on November 4, 1928, in Welsh, Louisiana to the late Rovina and Louis Pitre.  She was born second to the last of 11 children.  They later moved to Grand Gateau, Louisiana and then relocating to Lake Charles.

After moving to Lake Charles, Theresa United with the Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church where she was baptized in 1955 by the late Pastor C. S. Keyes.  She served faithfully under his pastoral care and also under the pastoral care of the late Pastor Harvey Lawson continuing her membership under Pastor Freddie G. Brown and now under Pastor Ellis Kemper—all former and current pastors of the Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church.  Her ministry included that of Sunday School teacher, Senior Choir member, a Women Missionary leader and deaconess until her failed health did allow her the ability to continue her ministry and fellowship with her brothers and sisters in Christ.

Mama T, as she was called by some, was no stranger to work.  During her younger years, she  worked as a maid for the Hixon's owners of Hixon's Funeral Home. Later she advanced to working for the Greyhound Bus Station when it was located downtown.  From there, she worked tirelessly as a cook for Ray D. Molo Middle School and retiring after years of service.  Because she would not let her age keep her down and had a need to stay busy, she became a volunteer foster grandparent for Big Brothers and Big Sisters through the Calcasieu Parish School Board until, again, her health kept her from continuing what she loved doing so much.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Rovina and Louis Pitre, her one and only brother, William "Bill"; eight sisters, Pauline, Rose, Mary, Gertie, Mabel, Lela, Melinda and Fabiola; four sons, Ronald, Eddie, Kenneth and Michael; one granddaughter, Thelisha; and one great-great-granddaughter, Crystal.

Celebrating her home going are: one sister, Elizabeth; eight daughters, Delores, Betty, Doris (Marvin),  Mary "Liz", Brenda (Carlton), Alnetta (Larry), Renella, and Debra; two sons, Frederick and Larry (Gwendolyn), a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren as well as a host of nieces, nephews, friends and acquaintances.

Her favorite Scripture was " Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.". —Proverbs 22:6. Her second favorite Scripture was "Honor  thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth the". —Exodus 20:12.

Her favorite sayings were: As long as there is an earth I will have a seed on the earth.  Also, I brought you in this world, I'll take you out.

Her favorite prayer was to ask God's blessings on her seeds.

She will truly be missed by family and those who came in contact with her.