Lucy Donna Scruggs LaBorde

Lucy passed away peacefully on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2008, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. She was a native of Memphis, Tenn., born to Donald Grant Scruggs and Pearl Elizabeth Clark Scruggs. She grew up in New Orleans, was raised by her uncle, Josiah Higgason Scruggs, and his wife, Elsie Daly Scruggs, and attended Ursuline Academy. She was a resident of Baton Rouge for more than 60 years. She worked her way up from an entry-level clerical position to eventually head the School Lunch Employees Retirement System for the entire state of Louisiana. She always recalled fondly her earliest childhood memory of holding her father's hand in the early morning dew of the Tennessee mountains and picking blueberries with him. She participated in several political campaigns and was an active member of Zonta Club for many years. Her favorite hobby was reading, but she was also an avid stamp and coin collector. She loved to play poker with her friends, work crossword puzzles and enjoyed china painting. She was known throughout the area as "the best cook in town" and could make anything taste like a gourmet meal. Her love for animals was unmatched. Any creature that wandered into her life could count on love, food and protection forever. They were treated like royalty and were often the recipients of her gourmet cooking. She loved music, loved to sing and most of all loved to laugh. Once she got started, it was not unusual for the entire room to fill with laughter. Her greatest quality, however, was her capacity to love and her unending desire to give to others. She simply wasn't happy unless she was giving to someone else. She loved, above all things, God and her family and this was exemplified every day in the way she lived her life. With her extreme intelligence and quick wit, there was never a dull moment around her. She faced life's challenges with a steadfast faith in Christ and an inner strength which served as a beautiful example to so many others. She always found the good in other people even when most could not. Her love for her grandchildren was unsurpassed and gave her many years of joy and delight. She is survived by her daughter, Lura L. Wight, M.D., her son-in-law, Robert John Wight, and two grandchildren, Britton Robert Wight and Kristin Lucy Wight, all of Baton Rouge; six stepgrandchildren, Myron A. "Chip" LaBorde, of Tallahassee, Fla., Randy LaBorde, of Los Angeles, Michael LaBorde, of Alexandria, Tammy LaBorde Anderson, of Leesville, and Robert A. Wight and Stephen E. Wight, both of Minnesota; and two nephews, Douglas Crockett, of North Carolina, and David Crockett, of South Carolina. Preceded in death by her husband, L.W. LaBorde; stepson, Rayworth James LaBorde; sister, Frances Anna Crockett; and brother, Donald Scruggs Jr. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., on Friday, Feb. 20, was from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visitation resumes at the funeral home on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m., when a Catholic service will be said. Interment in Greenoaks Memorial Park immediately following the service. We would like to give special thanks to Dr. Bryan Griffith for taking a great risk in operating on Lucy when nobody else would. It resulted in her freedom from severe arthritic pain and made the last 10 years of her life completely pain-free. She could not have made it without you, Bryan. Special thanks to Lucille Butler for caring for Lucy tirelessly for so many years; also thanks to Betty Richardson for the special care you gave. A very special thanks to Dr. Stephen Hosea and Dr. Ron Fields for giving us that precious time we needed to say goodbye. Last, but not least, we would like to thank the physicians and staff of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center Emergency Department and MSCC. Your care, as always, was excellent and superb, but we are humbled and overwhelmed by the love we were shown and the protective wings placed around one of your own who was wounded. God bless each and every one of you. In particular we would like to thank Melissa Pulliam, R.N., Susan Chapman, R.N., April, R.N., and Maggie Finley, APRN, as well as Dr. Rohit Adi, Dr. Shannon Alwood, Dr. Derrick Brooks, Dr. Stephen Hosea, Dr. Shammi Kataria and Dr. Jim Rhorer. You guys have given the greatest gift of all. Lucy loved St. Jude's and the work they do. In lieu of flowers, please make charitable donations in her name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Published February 21, 2009 Morning Advocate