Sophie Thibeaux Hives

Born in a small community in Abbeville, Louisiana called “Rabbit Hill”, to a father, Joseph (Joe) Thibeaux, a carpenter and Mother, Natilia Primeaux Thibeaux, a midwife. Natilia worked for the meat market making and selling hog-head cheese. Joe Thibeaux made gumbo file’ and red pepper spices. Sophie was the youngest of six: Mary, Bertha, Elizabeth, Louise, Eldora and Joseph Elias. Sophie and her sisters walked to church daily with their mother and attended catholic school. Joe Thibeaux worked for the church as a carpenter for their tuition. They prayed the Rosary to the Blessed Mother daily. She loved her home in Abbeville.

Sophie was the first in her family to attend college. At Leland College this beautiful girl from Vermillion Parish met a handsome football player from Baker, Louisiana, Thomas Jefferson Hives Sr. ; “Bud”, as he was called by his friends. Thomas was drafted and served in WWII. After the war they were married in Abbeville and moved to Baton Rouge. They purchased a home in Jordan Terrace in Scotlandville. From this union four children were born: Thomas J. Hives Jr, (Patricia), Jimmie T. Hives (Wanesta), Brenda H. Smith (Lionel) and Marcus K. Hives (Irish). They enjoyed 35 years of marriage before his sudden death.

Sophie and Bud ensured that their children knew they were loved and provided every opportunity for them to become the best that they could be. Teaching them the importance of their Christian Catholic faith, family and community. Sophie made sure that all her children would learn to swim at Anna T. Jordan Recreational Center where she took them at 7:00am on hot summer mornings with other moms. “Sophie, learned to swim when she was in her 60’s.”

Sophie and Bud were very instrumental in the development of the Anna T. Jordan Recreation Center. They were original members of Anna T. Jordan Seasoned Citizen Group, parents of the community ensuring programs to improve the Scotlandville Community, focusing on the youth.

The Thomas Hives family was one of the original families in Scotlandville who worshipped at the Cooks Theater for mass. They were both very active in the groundbreaking and building of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. This journey of faith was important. Sophie, by serving the church, demonstrated to her children how to live like Christ by helping the less fortunate. She prepared the altar, assisted the priest during Mass, worked as the church kindergarten teacher, Eucharistic minister, member of the Blessed Lady Sodality, and Rosary group member. Additionally, she was an original member of the Lady’s Auxiliary Wilford B. Richard #116 of the Knights of Peter Claver, where she served as Inner and Outer Guard. Sophie was an active 4th Degree Lady of Grace, Constance Butler Chapter #9. Her actions spoke volumes. Every priest enjoyed her soup and deserts.

Through this journey Sophie was blessed with so many wonderful family and friends. She traveled with the Golden Girls (Bernice, Eula and Sophie). Sophie, Ms. Forbes and Wilma Jarrett celebrated and shared their families’ joy and sorrows. She enjoyed taking communion to Wilma every Sunday. The Scotlandville Ladies of Grace took care of each other as all the 90 year old plus Gracious Ladies would travel by car together to New Roads, Marinqouin, St. Francis Xavier Church and more. Many thanks to Mercedese Broussard, Sallie Newman and Catherine Flentroy, for keeping Sophie connected, even during dementia. God took care of them with “traveling Grace.”

Sophie Hives was outgoing and creative. She enjoyed life and had many interests: cooking, quilting, exercising, walking, dancing, arts and crafts, playing dominoes and traveling.

Sophie was an active member of the Scotlandville Chapter of the AARP #1828, a member of the Les Gayette Civic Club and a member and one time president of the Thelma Street Homeowners Association. For years she volunteered at the Bishop Ott Men’s Shelter and St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen. She believed in the voting process and worked as a Poll Worker.

Sophie appeared in the movie, “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman”. One of her recipes was submitted to the local newspaper, the Advocate, and selected as one of the “News Best Recipes”. The Advocate also featured an article in the People section on a Legacy Quilt which Sophie quilted for her granddaughters. The title of the quilt was, “Just us Girls.”

Sophie was a loving person who did not mind sharing. She opened her home to several family members who attended Southern University. She was an avid supporter of Southern University’s programs. She encouraged youth to pursue their education. She cooked meals for Southern students who were studying for Law exams, athletes trying to pass Anatomy and Physiology, and friends of her children wanting to eat a home cooked meal.

Her kindness was overtly displayed when she hosted a family, left homeless by hurricane Katrina. They lived with her for a year until they became self-sustaining. (These were strangers who she did not know!) What a display of Christian love and compassion! Sophie had an intimate relationship with her Father, Jesus Christ. She would often say, Father help me!

In addition to her dedication to her church and her community, she had a profound love for her family. She’d travel far and near to help a sick or incapacitated family member. She loved being “Aunt Sophie”, grandmother, grandma, momma and the matriarch of her family. She was godmother to Dorothy Davenport, Simon Comeaux Jr., and Betty Comeaux Lee.

She leaves to mourn: her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by: Thomas J. Hives Sr. (husband), Jimmie Hives (son), Mary Boudreaux, Bertha Henderson, Elizabeth Comeaux, Louise Wilson, and Eldora Davenport (sisters), Joseph “Elias” Johnson (brother), Faye Davenport, Dorothy Davenport, Julia Zeno, Elbertha Small, Alba Cole and Lucille Broussard (nieces), Simon Comeaux and Joseph Comeaux (nephews), Donald Henderson, Carl Henderson, Joseph Henderson, Raymond Henderson, Warren Henderson, Lawrence Henderson.

She loved being with her family and friends. She was certainly a “phenomenal woman” who will be sorely missed.