Marshall Ann Heflin Bourgeois

She was born on July 7, 1927, at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge to Charles Marshall and Annie Laurie (Pemble) Heflin. She graduated from Baton Rouge High School in'1943 and while there, she met her future husband, Nelson A. Bourgeois. Their first date was in February 1942 for a Coke at Dalton's Department Store on Third Street.

After graduating from Baton Rouge High, she went to Louisiana State University and graduated in 1947. While at LSU, she was an active member of Pi Beta Phi sorority and served as president for one year. After graduation, she became a member of the Tarnished Arrows, the luncheon group.

In 1948, Marshall Ann went to work for the Department of Highways in the accounting department secretarial pool. Within 6 months, she was the supervisor of the secretarial pool and then went on to work for Mr. Himbert, her boss for many years. She retired after 30 years of service in 1978.

On July 7, 1951, Marshall Ann married Nelson at First Presbyterian Church. She and Nelson's first home was on South Eugene Street and eventually they settled on Sevenoaks Avenue in the 1960's.

Marshall Ann was a long-time member of Ikebana International, a worldwide organization dedicated to the enjoyment of ikebana (the art of Japanese floral arrangements). Her interest in the Orient led Nelson to build her a Japanese tea house at their Sevenoaks home. She was also a member of the Baton Rouge High School Lunch Bunch and a member of First Presbyterian Church since 1938, where she was active with the Presbyterian Women.

She loved to travel both inside the US and internationally and made trips to England, France, Switzerland, Italy and Japan accompanied by traveling companion, Ann Parnell.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Nelson A. Bourgeois and her parents, Charles Marshall and Annie Laurie (Pemble) Heflin.

She is survived by her cousins, Sterling Abernethy, Mark Abernethy (Janet), Benton Abernethy (Madeline) of Baton Rouge and her dear and devoted friends, Larry and Virginia Smith of Lakeland, Tennessee.

Visitation will be at First Presbyterian Church on June 12, 2026, from 10am to 11am followed by a religious service in the Dunham Chapel at 11am conducted by Pastor Scott Graham. A private interment will be at Greenoaks Mausoleum. Pallbearers are Denton Abernethy, Tate Parker, Tommy Pittenger, Tommy Lafargue and Pemble Davis. Honorary Pallbearers are Mike Cullen, Dr. Richard Hebert, Dr. Richard Atkins, Charles Calandro and Larry Smith.

The family extends their deepest thanks to Emer Turner and the staff of Quality Care for their loving care.

Memorial donations may be made to The First Presbyterian Church, 763 North Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA 70802; The Presbyterian Children's Home and Services, 4407 Bee Cave Road, Suite 250, Austin, TX 78746, Greater Baton Route Food Bank, 10600 Choctaw Dr. Baton Rouge, LA 70815 or Pinnacle Hospice, 5627 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd. Baton Rouge, LA 70816.