Eleanor Pope Simmons Benard

Eleanor Pope Simmons Benard died Friday, Dec. 18, 2009. She was born Sept. 11, 1916, in Tylertown, Miss. She was a resident of Baton Rouge, a former resident of Watson and most recently a resident of Flannery Oaks Guest House. She was the daughter of Lewis Laney Pope and Lois Martina Ellzey Pope. She was preceded in death by husbands, Ellison McKay, Bonnie Brown Simmons and Albert Benard; two children, Paula Antionette Simmons and Paul Randolph Simmons; a grandson, Webster Delry Seguin Jr.; a sister, Maxine Boyd, wife of Bobby Boyd (also deceased); brothers, Nelson Pope, husband of Sybil M. Pope, and Everette Pope; and son-in-law, Ronald R. Ruegg. She is survived by sisters, Zelma P. Roberts, wife of Lloyd Roberts (deceased), of Summit, Miss., and Wilda P. Rhodus, wife of Eugene Rhodus (deceased), of Magnolia, Miss.; brothers, Hansford Pope and his wife, Sadie R. Pope, and Clayton Pope and his wife, Catherine W. Pope, all of Jackson, Miss.; daughters, Sherra McKay S. Ruegg, of Baton Rouge, Joyce S. Bourgeois and her husband, Harold Bourgeois, of Dutchtown, Mavis S. Beard and her husband, Warren Beard, of Baton Rouge; sons, William "Bill" Simmons and his wife, Jeanne W. Simmons, of Baton Rouge, and Cory Simmons, of Pineville; 13 grandchildren, Eric Seguin, Toby Seguin and his wife, Cindy, Aniece S. and her husband, Will Galloway, Alana S. Granados, Clayton Seguin and his wife, Holly, Daniel Ruegg and his wife, Kathy, Kathy B. and her husband, Russell Taylor, Natalie B. and her husband, Daniel Rhodes, Donna S. and her husband, Duane Armstrong, Mark Simmons and his wife, Jill, Darryl Beard and his wife, Sherry, and Hardy and Marshall Simmons; 28 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren. Visiting at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., on Sunday, Dec. 20, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visiting at Bluff Springs Baptist Church, Magnolia, Miss., from 1 p.m. until service at 2 p.m. Interment in the William Allen Cemetery. Mrs. Benard opened the first licensed child care center in Baton Rouge in the early 1950s where she lovingly cared for many children. She also was a state licensed insurance agent for many years. She was a member of Live Oak Methodist Church in Watson where she enjoyed cooking often for her prayer and share group. She also got a great deal of pleasure from preparing meals for her family and friends. She was a very generous, self-sacrificing, loving person who had many friends because she was a devoted friend to others. She lived for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and had a special love for all children. The family would like to express special thanks to Cindy at Flannery Oaks Guest House for her devotion. In addition, the family also wishes to express their appreciation to the staff of The Carpenter House of St. Joseph Hospice for their loving care of our mother during her final days.