Audrey Mailande Walker

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1. Audrey Mailande Walker, a native of Lauderdale County, Miss., was born Aug. 20, 1921. She died at St. James Place on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011. In 1944, Mailande was recruited by Standard Oil of Louisiana to work as a lab technician in the Petroleum Products Lab. She finished her career with Exxon when she retired in October 1979 from the Research Labs. She made many lifelong friends in Baton Rouge, most notably the families of John and Aline Stirling, who always considered her a much-loved member of their family. Mailande had a number of health issues through the years which she handled with much grace, none more so than the diagnosis in 2001 of progressive dementia. With deep faith in God and the help of her friends she moved to St. James Place in October 2001 and continued enjoying her life and making new friends. Even as her memory deteriorated, she never lost her wonderful disposition or her beautiful smile which she was quick to bestow upon all. Mailande is survived by her Stirling family; her niece, Donna A. Goomas and family; her niece-in-law, Pam M. Allgood and family, all of Texas. She was predeceased by her mother, Alice Mae K. Walker, who died when Mailande was 6 years old; her father and stepmother, Luther and "Sweetie" Walker; her sister and brother-in-law, Hildred and Paul Allgood; and her nephew, Daniel K. Allgood. Special thanks are extended to the warm and caring St. James Place staff, especially those in Highland Court Nursing, who made her final months as comfortable and happy as possible. The family wishes to express sincere appreciation to Susan Boudinot and Karen with Hospice of Baton Rouge and her sitters, Brandy and LaToya, for all that they did for Mailande and her family. Services will be held Tuesday, Dec. 27, at Saint James Episcopal Church. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until religious services at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery. Rabenhorst Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. James Place Foundation Residency Fund, 333 Lee Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808 or to a charity of your choice.