Shirley Marie LaVergne

Published 5:32 pm Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Shirley Marie LaVergne age 74 yrs. was born in Ville Platte, Louisiana on June  22, 1945 to the parents of  Mr. and Mrs. Jules “Joe” and Mary Milstead, Sr.

On March 28, 2020 Shirley was called  home to be with our Heavenly Father.

At the age of 6, Shirley and her family moved from Louisiana to Port Arthur, Texas.

Shirley attended Port Arthur public schools and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1963.

After high school she attended Wiley College in Marshall, TX for 2 years.

She moved to Oakland, CA and attended Laney College. While in Oakland, Shirley was a very active member of Amos Temple CME Church.

In 1976, Shirley married the love of her life Joseph LaVergne.

In 2003, Shirley and her husband returned to Port Arthur, TX where they joined Shirley’s childhood church, Carter’s Chapel CME Church and remained faithful members until their death.

As a member of Carter’s Chapel Shirley sang in the choir, was president of the women’s missionary and developed  a scholarship program for high school seniors.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Joseph LaVergne, a son Brent LaVergne, her parents Jules “Joe”  and Mary Milstead, Sr., three sisters Ida Mae Sowers, Evelina Guillory and Rosa Lee Williams and one brother Jules Milstead, Jr.

She leaves to cherish her memory a daughter Crystal LaVergne-Hendrix (Stefan), grandchildren, Javari, Kaelum and Europe Hendrix, Nicolas and Brianna LaVergne and daughter in law Nikki LaVergne, sister Annie Mae Guillory, brother Dreyfus Milstead (Diane), brother Irby Augustine (Bettye), sister in laws Patricia Milstead and Maudrey Stenson (George), brother in law Steven Lavone (Catheline), aunt Dorothy Milstead, godchildren Reginald Tyrone Williams, Dreyfus R. Milstead, Antoinette Reed, Harshell Edwards, Michelle  “Sister” Jackson, Felicia Spencer and Derik Tills, special niece Shonda Milstead- McClendon (Sean), best friend Thelma Thelfor and a host of nieces, nephews, other family members  and friends.

Her viewing will be held on April 11th at Hannah Funeral Home, 3727 Lewis Drive, Port Arthur, Texas 77642 at 9:30 am.

Social distancing will be enforced, please remain in your car until instructed to line up for entry.