Jackie LaBrie

Jackie Marie (Carr) Brister LaBrie, 88, of Beaumont, Texas, and for the past nine years, West Columbia, Texas, was born on January 1, 1935, in Beaumont, to Ova and Rea Carr. She quietly slipped into the presence of her Savior in the early evening hours of Sunday, July 30, 2023. Jackie, also known as “MawMaw,” was a lady with many great qualities. To her family, she was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, yes, even great-great-grandmother, sister, and aunt. Next to God, her family was the most important thing in the world to her. She was known as a “prayer warrior.” Prayer meetings just won’t be the same without her. Her family, her church family, and her pastor and wife are going to miss those anointed prayers. She faithfully served God and the church for over sixty-two years. Her favorite book was the Bible, which she faithfully read, cover to cover, over sixty times. Traveling to special services and camp meetings, church trips, vacations, visiting foreign mission fields, and especially visiting the Holy Land were some of the exciting things that she and her late husband, Maxie LaBrie, enjoyed together. Their love for the work of God is a memorial of their lives.

Jackie loved children, and many adults were influenced as a child by her ministry of working in the church nursery for years! Even as the years went on, she never lost her love for children.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ova and Rea Carr; her first husband, H. L. Brister; her second husband, Maxie J. LaBrie; her beloved daughter, Rea Bass; and her sister, Virgie Burt.

Left to cherish the beautiful memories of Jackie are her sons, Don Brister (Debbie); Reverend Mike Brister (Sissy); Reverend Michael G. LaBrie (Michelle); stepchildren Jimmy LaBrie, Tommy LaBrie, Cindy LeJune, and Cheryl Lemaire; other “adopted” children much loved by Jackie — Eric Whitmire, who lived with them for a while as a child, Gary Armagh, Henry LaBrie, and Cathy LaBrie Brister. She also leaves behind her sister, Billie Adams, whom she loved so much. She was blessed with ten grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, eight great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.

Others that will deeply miss Jackie are Pastor Mike and Michelle LaBrie and the Gospel Tabernacle Church Family of Beaumont, and Pastor Danny and Barbara Johnson and The Lighthouse Church Family of West Columbia. She was an active, faithful member of Gospel Tabernacle Church for several years before she moved to West Columbia in November, 2014. After her move, as she was known to do, she quickly became a vital part of The Lighthouse Church and Lighthouse Christian Academy. She was the “Lunch Lady” for several years—warming lunches for the church school students each day. The ladies’ Thursday morning “Prayer & Share” group will especially miss her wisdom, anointed prayers, and lunch at one of their favorite spots.

A special thank you goes to Mike and Sissy Brister. Your constant love and care of MawMaw for the past nine years has not gone unnoticed by MawMaw and by the Lord. Sissy, you were not just a “daughter-in-law”—you were like her daughter, and you certainly were her best friend. She loved sitting outside in the chair or on the swing with you, eating banana popsicles and watching the birds. Mike, she looked forward to and loved drinking coffee with you every morning, and loved it when you would take her grocery shopping and get some Popeye’s chicken! Shauna, Terri, and Gabby, she loved all the things you did just to make life happier for her every day. She was so grateful for all you did to continually show your deep love for her.

Pallbearers caring for MawMaw are Billy Bass, Jr., Cade Brister, Cory Brister, Matt Brister, Shane Dubois, and Justin Frazier. Junior pallbearers are Titus Foster, Hayden Hart, Lawson Thompson, and Lincoln Thompson.

A gathering of Ms. LaBrie’s family and friends will begin at 10:00 a.m., with her funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 5, 2023, at Gospel Tabernacle, Beaumont. Her interment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park, Vidor, under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.