Cora Lee Thibodeaux

Cora Lee Thibodeaux, 87 of Cheneyville, Louisiana died in Houston, Texas on September 14, 2024. She was born on October 20, 1936, to Willie Granvle and Emily Holton. Following her mother’s untimely death, she was reared by her father with the help of his parents, Willie Granvle Sr. and Frances Granvle. She came of age in both Oakdale and Alexandria, Louisiana before migrating to Galveston and then to Houston in the early 1950s. Shortly after she arrived in the new city, she met and married Houston Thibodeaux. She birthed and raised all six of her children in her newly adopted city. Additionally, she spent ten years as an employee of the Blackburn Family business, and she dedicated more than fifteen years at Allen House Property Management in Houston. She was one of the only Houston employees honored at a company gala in Boston, MA in the early 1990s because of her impeccable work and loyalty to Allen House. She was always proud of the work she did and often bragged about her stellar attendance record!

For many years, she was a devoted member of Houston Christian Fellowship Church, giving a great deal of her time and resources to the church’s hospital and homelessness outreach ministries. Under the leadership of Rev. Edson Weithers, she grew in her faith and spent countless hours learning and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with friends, family, and even strangers.

She was an excellent cook and made some of the best jelly cakes and mustard greens known to mankind. She enjoyed traveling, fine dining, and playing cards with friends and family. She also dabbled in fashion and was known to have always had a fresh manicure and a stylish ensemble to match. She had a fantastic sense of humor and a deep, infectious laugh. She loved her family, pets, and those who provided care and assistance as she aged. And most importantly, she loved the Lord. We could not have asked for a better mother, sister, and grandmother. We will miss her tremendously every day of our lives. And thankfully, she left each of us with a lifetime of memories and countless, invaluable lessons. Surely, her memory and legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of all those who loved and cherished her.

Cora was preceded in death by her late husband, H. L. Thibodeaux, her sister, Rose Richard, her sister-in-law, First Lady Charlott Granvle, her youngest brother, Willie “Chris” Granvle, and her oldest daughter, Yuanda “Wanda” Manning. Cora is survived by her five children: Barbara Leakes Thibodeaux, Debra Ann Thibodeaux, Joseph Jackson, June Holmes, and Carolyn Jackson (Cedric Jackson)—all of Houston, Texas. She also leaves behind two brothers, Rev. Jesse R. Granvle and Michael Granvle of Oakdale, LA, a nephew, Anthony Granvle, and nieces, Angela Richard-McCullon and Matilda Granvle-Gray. She leaves to cherish her memories a host of grandchildren: Undray “Ray-Ray” Thibodeaux, LaWanda Hughes (Cedric Hughes), Angela Thibodeaux (Jesse Jones), NaKisha Walker, Patricia Carter, Michael Thibodeaux (Erika Carriere Thibodeaux), LaMont Thibodeaux (Julia Thibodeaux), Jermaine Thibodeaux, Calvin Thibodeaux (Terrika Warren Thibodeaux), Tamika Thibodeaux, Nichole Thibodeaux, and Ivery Maxey. She was also a doting great-grandmother to Christina Hughes, Cedric Hughes, Jamarcus Harden, Jeremiah Perry, Courtlhynn Green, Caleb Pickens- Thibodeaux, Joshua Williams, Jonathan Green, Quionton Scott, NaKia Hutchins, Xavier Vaughn, Cameron Vaughn, Camar Thibodeaux, Kamiah Thibodeaux, Camsen Thibodeaux, Jay Maxey and Ashton Maxey. She also leaves behind several great-great grandchildren: Skyler and Tyler Hutchins, A’niyah and Noah Hughes, DrayShawn Thibodeaux, NaLiyah Thibodeaux, Alexandria and K’Undray Thibodeaux, Katie Thibodeaux and Heaven Thibodeaux.

A visitation for Cora will be held Friday, September 27, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Paradise Funeral Home, Inc, 10401 West Montgomery, Houston, TX 77088. The funeral services will immediately follow from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 10401 West Montgomery, Houston, TX 77088. The committal will follow from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM at Paradise North Cemetery, 10401 W Montgomery Rd, Houston, TX 77088.