Lillie Mae Russell (Devare) Obituary (1935 - 2020)

On April 20, 1935, in Welham, Louisiana, the Lord blessed the late Rayfield Devare, Sr. and the late Beatrice Steward Devare with their second bundle of joy that they named Lillie Mae. She was educated in the St. James Parish educational system, graduating from Cypress Grove High School in 1955. It was during her high school years her love of cooking and sewing began. Realizing the importance of and the need for a Savior, Lillie and her sisters, Beatrice and Elouise were baptized by the late Dr. Rev. Samuel Jones in 1953 at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, where she remained a faithful member until her death. She was a devoted member and deaconesses under her current spiritual leader, Pastor Oscar Nelson, where she loved participating in the Sunday School classes and weekly Bible studies. Even with all that this year brought, she was very hopeful that her church would once again be meeting in their church house. Lillie Mae was united in matrimony to Raymond Russell on March 19, 1958. To this union was born two daughters, Tilda Alesia and Regina Marie. The girls shared a very strong bond with their mother. They conversed nearly every day. She was employed at St. James Parish Hospital in their Dietary Department until her retirement in the late 1990s. She remained the go-to person for anyone in the family who wanted to know how to prepare many types of cooked items. Being able to prepare items and share them with her family members and neighborhood friends provided her with endless joy. She loved making and sharing homemade bread and pralines among other things. Lillie Mae became affectionately known as "Nana" to her three adoring grandchildren, Devin Christopher Gaines, Taylor Elyse Chevalier, and Tyler Christian Chevalier. Her love for each of them was beyond measure. Those who will forever remember her loving kindness are her children and their spouses, Tilda and Darrel Gaines, and Regina and Joseph Chevalier; her grandchildren, Devin, Taylor, and Tyler; her siblings, Beatrice D. Fluence, Elouise, Dave, Ida M., and Joyce M. Devare; sisters-in-law, Dorothy R. Kirklin, and Henrietta Russell; brother-in-law, Louis Russell, Sr.; and a host of nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. She enjoyed a special relationship with her longtime friends, Emmaline K. Washington, Almeda D. Duperclay, Marion D. Scott, and Edna M. Anderson. Lillie Mae was called home to rest on Thursday, December 10, 2020, at 5:30 p.m. at St. James Parish Hospital in Lutcher, Louisiana. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her siblings Evelyn Devare, David Devare, Alma D. Brown, and Rayfield Devare Jr. Funeral Services will be held at Treasures of Life Funeral Services, 315 E. Airline Hwy, Gramercy, LA 70052, at 11:00am on Wednesday, December 16, 2020. There will be a public walk-through viewing beginning at 10am. Interment to follow at Antioch Cemetery in Paulina, LA. Final care entrusted to Treasures Of Life Funeral Services, 315 E. Airline Hwy Gramercy, La. 70052. "When someone you love becomes a memory, that memory becomes a TREASURE!" To share condolences and thoughts, and to sign guest book, please visit: www.treasurefunerals.com Due to CDC (COVID-19) guidelines and restrictions, Seating is Limited, Masks and Social Distancing are required!