Elaine Vinci Sullivan

Elaine Vinci Sullivan was born December 15th, 1940in Centreville, MS to Frank and Rose Vinci. Elaine attended school in Saint Francisville until attending Ole Miss, where she was a member of Alpha Delta Pi and was a Campus Favorite. She studied elementary education, which led her to Natchez, MS where she met the love of her life, Leonard Sullivan. After marrying on June 4th, 1964, they made their home in Jackson, MS while Leonard was in pharmacology school at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. After completing his degree, they moved to Zachary, LA where she taught at St. James Episcopal, and then at Silliman and Zachary Elementary. Elaine and Leonard remodeled her grandparent's house which is located 50 yards from the home in which she grew up. Elaine had literally come home. She quickly became involved in everything in Saint Francisville including Feliciana Country Gardeners, Southern Garden Symposium, numerous social clubs, and most important to her, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. Elaine was Chairman of the Audubon Pilgrimage and together with Leonard, hosted the Annual Speakers Gala for the Symposium. In 2002, her first grandchildren were born, with two more the next year, and another one following two years later. She was soon renamed "Lala" and is affectionately called Lala by most everyone who knows her. She was the light of their world and never came to visit without bringing her famous chocolate cake. Lala had two other passions in life: gardening and entertaining. Being a Master Gardener, she loved to gather seeds and grow plants and flowers for her English garden. Also, she adored her Garden Club and its members. The day before she passed away, she told Leonard she could not go to the hospital until she assembled the flowers for the Garden Club Valentine meeting, as it was "her job." She is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Rose Vinci; and her brother, Dr. Sam Vinci. She leaves her loving husband of 51 years, Dr. Leonard J. Sullivan; daughter, Susan Thomas (Sanford Thomas) of Memphis; and son, Dr. Frank Sullivan (Dr. Candice Sullivan) of Saint Francisville; five grandchildren: Anna Rose, Betty Jane and Leonard Tolbert Thomas of Memphis, and Daniel and Elle Sullivan of Saint Francisville; her brother, Dr. Richard Vinci; and her sister-in-law, Nancy Vinci. Visitation will be at her home, Wyoming Plantation, 5335 Commerce Street, Saint Francisville, on Sunday, February 14, 2016 from 4pm until 7pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, February 15, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 11485 Ferdinand Street, at 10am, celebrated by Rev. Cary Bani. Burial will follow at Wyoming Plantation Cemetery. Serving as Pallbearers will be Harbert Mulherin, John Fabre, E.J. Cop, Joe McGuffee, Jody Vidrine, Jason Jackson, Mark Sigler, and Dr. Chaillie P. Daniel. Honorary Pallbearers are Bo, Steve, Rex, and Pat Sullivan, Andy Record, Clay Pinson, and David Ray. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church or the West Feliciana Parish Hospital, 5266 Commerce Street, Saint Francisville, LA 70775.