Mary Theresa Lacy Hendershot

"Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart." Psalm 119:1-2. Marie Theresa Lacy Hendershot was born in Baton Rouge on March 24, 1921. She passed from this Earthly world Monday, June 7, 2010, at Ollie Steele Burden Manor, surrounded by her family. Theresa was valedictorian of the 1938 graduating class of St. Joseph's Academy and received her bachelor of business administration from LSU in 1942. She married Dr. Paul T. Hendershot, a graduate of Henderson State Teachers College, MBA and Ph.D. from LSU, on New Year's Day 1943. Upon his return from World War II assignments in the South Pacific, they resided in Ruston for 19 years. In addition to rearing six children, she was a member of the Louisiana Tech Faculty Wives Club, Cosmos Club, Girl Scout Council, Ladies Altar and Rosary Society, Louisiana Tech Concert Association, patroness of Sigma Kappa sorority and enjoyed playing bridge with many groups. The family moved to Greenville, N.C., in 1964; Oxford, Miss., in 1968; Murfreesboro, Tenn., in 1974; and Arkadelphia, Ark., in 1981 - as her husband's educational and administrative positions with colleges and universities changed. She became active in numerous religious, campus and social organizations in each city. In 1985, the Hendershots returned to Baton Rouge to make their home. She became active in LSU Campus Club, Baton Rouge Woman's Club, East Baton Rouge Lions Club, Baton Rouge Eye Bank Auxiliary, St. Joseph Cathedral Millennium Founders, and numerous bridge groups. She was elected as the first woman to serve on the board of directors of the East Baton Rouge Lions Club. In 1986, the Dr. Paul T. and Theresa Lacy Hendershot Scholarship Funds were endowed through the LSU Foundation and through the Henderson State University Foundation, to provide assistance to students in the field of marketing. An excerpt from an article in the State Times, Baton Rouge, dated June 1, 1956, states: "Mrs. Hendershot's beauty, charm, industry and desire to aid worthy causes and people in all walks of life have endeared her to all her friends and associates. A chairman of a large civic organization has said, 'If you ever need something done, and done right, just turn it over to Tessie Hendershot and you can rest assured it will be taken care of properly.' " She was a loving mother, and each of her children claimed the title "Favorite Child." Theresa was a loyal friend, a giving family member, an eternal optimist and a gentle peacemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Paul T. Hendershot; parents, Sidney J. Lacy Sr. and Myrtle Doiron Lacy; daughter, Mary Theresa Hendershot Paul; son, Claude Allan Hendershot; sister, Beverly Marie Lacy; brother, Sidney John Lacy Jr.; and brother, Thomas Harold Lacy. Survived by her daughter, Anne Hendershot Bowen and Sit Wong, of Baton Rouge; son, John Lacy Hendershot and Kimberly Hendershot, of Franklin, Tenn.; son, David Lee Hendershot and Gloria Mizutani, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; daughter, Ellen Hendershot Adams and A. Wayne Major, of White Oak, Texas; daughter-in-law, Rose Ann Duncan-Charnley, of Austin, Texas; six grandchildren: Paul McLean Hendershot and his wife, Rebecca Hendershot, of Chesapeake, Va., Robin Marie Hendershot, of Austin, Lacy Dodd Adams and Benjamin David Adams, of White Oak, Caroline Catherine Hendershot and John Caldwell Hendershot, of Franklin, Tenn.; sister, Joyce Lacy Jolissaint, of Baton Rouge; sisters-in-law, Bettie Sue Ruiz Lambert, Beverly Grass Lacy and Lowry Andrews Griffon; brother-in-law, John M. Jolissaint; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews who appreciated her love and spirit. Visitation will be Thursday, June 10, at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Visitation will resume Friday at St. Joseph Cathedral, fourth and Main streets, from 9 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m., with the Rev. Paul Counce, celebrant. It was at St. Joseph Cathedral that Theresa received the sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation. Burial will be Saturday, June 12, at Greenwood Cemetery, Ruston, at 9 a.m. Pallbearers include her two godsons, Timothy M. Lacy and Walter R. Krousel III, and Sidney J. Lacy III, John M. Jolissaint Jr., Stephen L. Jolissaint, J. Gregory Jolissaint, Paul M. Hendershot, A. Wayne Major, Benjamin D. Adams, Joe David Adams and John C. Hendershot. Honorary pallbearers are members of the East Baton Rouge Lions Club. Memorial donations may be made to your favorite charity or St. Joseph Cathedral, 412 North St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802; St. Joseph's Academy Foundation, 3015 Broussard St., Baton Rouge, LA 70808; Louisiana Lions Camp, P.O. Box 171, Leesville, LA 71496; The Hendershot Scholarship Fund at LSU Foundation, 3838 W. Lakeshore Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808; or The Hendershot Scholarship Fund at HSU Foundation, P.O. Box 7550, Arkadelphia, AR 71999. Sincere thanks and appreciation to her longtime caregivers: Jane Prejean, Colleen Morgan-Hobbs, Janice Ramirez, and the late Virginia Brown, for their loyalty and love; Life Source Services of Baton Rouge; St. Joseph Hospice of Baton Rouge; and the staff and residents at Williamsburg Senior Living Community. "Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come." Proverbs 31:25.