Rue Marie Mahaffey Lewis

Rue Marie Mahaffey Lewis passed away on Monday, April 18, 2022, three days before her 96th birthday, at Plantation Manor Nursing Home in Winnsboro, Louisiana.

Rue was born in Mittie, Louisiana, April 21, 1926, the youngest of 11 children, to the late James Harrison Mahaffey and Orilliann Lanier Mahaffey.

After high school, Rue attended business college in Lake Charles, Louisiana, before moving to Port Arthur, Texas, where she was employed by Gulf Oil. She met her husband at Memorial Baptist Church where they attended and served until moving to St. Joseph, Louisiana, in 1963.

Rue was a member of St. Joseph Baptist Church and the Cosmopolitan Club. She and her three closest friends were known throughout Tensas Parish as the “Golden Girls”.

Rue is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Kenneth C. Lewis; all her siblings; and all her in-laws.

Rue is survived by her daughter, Tonya Lewis Blanche and son-in-law Richard Blanche; one grandson, Cole Lewis Blanche and wife Gretchen Blanche; three great-grandchildren, McKenna Grace Blanche, Turner Lewis Blanche, and Jaxson Cole Blanche, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her good friend and last remaining “Golden Girl”, Dona Mae James.

Bro. Glen Roberts will officiate at the graveside service held at Legion Memorial Cemetery in Newellton, Louisiana, at 2:00 PM, Thursday, April 21, 2022, under the direction of Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home in Tallulah, Louisiana. Britt Keahey will deliver the eulogy. Pallbearers will be Daryl Head, Britt Keahey, Winn Blanche, Ricky Jones, Dickie Smith, and Brian Kifer.

The family would like to thank the staff at Plantation Manor for the loving care they gave Rue in the three years she resided there.

Any donations made in memory of Rue may be sent to St. Joseph Baptist Church, Tensas Academy, or Camp Sunshine in memory of her great-nephew Hunter Webb Barfield.

St. Joseph Baptist Church; P.O. Box 167; St. Joseph, LA 71366

Tensas Academy; P.O. Box 555; St. Joseph, LA 71366

Camp Sunshine; 1850 Clairmont Road; Decatur, GA 30033

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