Verdois Alexander Savoy

Verdois Alexander Savoy, 89, of Lumberton, died Saturday, November 4, 2017, shortly after 5:00 p.m., at Mid-Jefferson Extended Care, Nederland. She was born on June 18, 1928, in Bel, Louisiana, to Lilly Mae Fontenot Alexander and Cody James Alexander.

Verdois is survived by her daughter, Karen Hughes and her husband, Carlos; granddaughter, Amber Kaye Landry and her husband, Shane; and great-grandchildren, Eva Calista Landry and Colt Silas Landry, all of Lumberton; and sister, Audrey Alexander, of Kinder, Louisiana.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Presley Savoy; and sister, Evelyn Alexander.

Verdois was raised on a farm and grew up working the fields with her family. She grew up as a little country girl and rode a horse to the store to get groceries and other necessities. Life in the country was good – She was raised during the Great Depression.  They didn’t have much money but they always had food on the table – the fruits and vegetables from the family fields were plentiful.  One day she got lost in the woods while headed to the store on the horse.  Verdois was singing and not paying attention and before she knew it, she was way off of the beaten path.  Her Dad always told her if you get lost on a horse, give him the reins and he will take you home.  So she did just that – the horse took her through briars and creeks and ditches, but they made it home in one piece for the most part. 

She met the love of her life, Presley Savoy, in 1947 on a blind date and they were married three months later on December 7, 1947.  They celebrated over 64 years of marriage before Presley’s death in July of 2012.  They bought their first home in DeQuincy, Louisiana and fixed it up as they were able to afford it.  Verdois said when they bought it, the porch was falling in and parts of it were not in the best of shape.  They worked on it together and made it a lovely home – It is still standing today.  She and Presley were members of the First Pentecostal church of DeQuincy for many years before they moved to Lumberton in 1983.  They were not just church members; they were people of great faith who instilled strong beliefs in their family and lived by example.  Even when health issues kept her from attending church, her faith remained strong and her prayer life intact. Verdois was a powerful praying woman – praying daily over her family and even praying for the distant future of the little ones. 

She had a great love for sewing and was an incredible seamstress.  Verdois handcrafted most of her own clothes, Karen’s clothes, and Amber’s clothes for many years.  She even made Barbie clothes for them!  Verdois was a homemaker for many years while raising her Karen and later on became a professional seamstress.  Her work was impeccable there was nothing she couldn’t do on a sewing machine.  

Family was so important to Verdois. She was an incredible wife, mother, mother in law, grandmother and great grandmother.  Her love always shone brightly for her family.  Verdois was always concerned if people had enough to eat when they were over, and she was always offering them second helpings, even when they couldn’t eat another bite because they were so full.  She loved cooking for those she loved and was famous to many people for her jambalaya and spaghetti – it was always gone almost immediately when she brought it to any function.  She loved to have a good laugh with her immediate family and friends while enjoying a good meal and some rich desserts.  She had a huge sweet tooth and loved all things pie and the cake – her favorite was when someone brought her a turtle cheesecake from the Cheesecake factory.  It always brought out a huge smile.  Anytime she had pie or cake around, you had to eat it with her or she would badger you until you did.  She wanted you to enjoy it just as much as she did.  You could find her caring for her granddaughter as she grew up, and even later in life caring for her great grandkids.  If she hadn’t babysat in a few days, she was calling and asking for “her babies” to come over so she could see them.  Two days before she passed, she was reminiscing that she wished she was still able to babysit the great grandkids because they were so special to her.  On the day that she passed, she was looking at pictures of her great grandkids from Halloween and smiling, laughing and telling the nurse how cute, smart and funny they are.  They were equally fond of her -they always wanted to go to Mawmaw’s house and play.  She spoiled them rotten with anything they wanted to eat, with all the love they could handle, with toys and with clothes.  Some of her last words to Amber less than an hour before entered Heaven’s gates were, “I love you baby.  Take care of the babies for me.”   She ended almost every visit with those words.

There is not enough paper in the world to write all the good things about this lovely lady.  Verdois was a strong woman, and she was strong willed.  After a heart attack in the 1990’s, she lived with 50% of her heart muscle or less for over twenty years.  She was a walking miracle that God allowed us to keep for a long while.  All memories are good ones. Verdois was funny, she was sweet, she was smart and she was loved so much.  She will live on in all of us who love her until we meet again.  

A gathering of Mrs. Savoy’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 7, 2017, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. Her funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 8, 2017, at The Apostolic Church, 3333 Eastex Freeway, Beaumont, with her graveside service to follow at 3:00 p.m., at Creel Memorial Gardens, Reeves, Louisiana.

2 Timothy 4: 6-8

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.