2025 Pierre Robert Family Association Reunion Dates

Our president Andrea Williams McCoy has reserved the rooms at Hotel Bentley in Alexandria, LA for our next reunion. Hold these dates:

June 6-7, 2025

Hope to see you then!

Obituary - Betty Jo Cook Williams (December 20, 1943 – May 12, 2024)

Betty Jo Cook Williams, a servant leader, purveyor of history, and self-appointed community beautifier, passed away at home on Mother’s Day, May 12, 2024, surrounded by her family.

A World War II era baby, Betty was born on December 20, 1943, at the Station Hospital at Eglin Airforce Base in Florida, during her father’s tour of duty.

Betty grew up on a small family farm in Henderson County, Texas, blessed with the care and nurture of a loving family. This childhood experience helped cultivate Betty’s passion for horticulture, conservation, and the values of self-reliance, and civic and personal responsibility. She remained close with many of her childhood friends throughout her life, a trait she is well-known for - if you were Betty’s friend, you were her friend for life.

Betty, a teacher, graduated with honors from East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas with both her Bachelor of Art and Masters of Education. It was at East Texas State University that she met her husband of 58 years, Doug Williams. She taught 32 of her 33 years in a Texas public classroom, and 20 of those years with the Texarkana Independent School District (TISD). A lifelong learner, Betty regularly participated in professional development workshops and lectures, including training with the Hatton W. Sumner Institute. After retiring from TISD, she remained active as a regular volunteer with Highland Park Elementary and with new teacher training programs.

Quiet and unassuming, Betty preferred to affect change behind the scenes, with little or no recognition. Often described as generous, kind, hardworking, astute, and humble, Betty was most happy when she was spending time with her family and serving others, as evidenced by her long record of civic involvement.

Betty is the Past Chairperson, Board Member & Tutor for the Bowie & Miller County Literacy Council, a Texas Legislative Committee Member for Delta Kappa Gamma, District 8 Director, and Local Treasurer & Member of Texas Classroom Teachers’ Association (TCTA). She was also selected as the “Retired Teacher of the Year” for the State of Texas by TCTA in 2003.

Betty was a Member, Officer and Past Regent of the Lone Star Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, the Reverend Pierre Robert (Huguenot) Association as well as a Member of the District 1 Grievance Committee for the State Bar of Texas. She served as a Bowie County Election Judge for more than 2 decades as well as a Republican Precinct Chairperson and a Delegate to County and State GOP Conventions.

Betty is a Past Member of the Building & Standards Commission for the City of Texarkana, Texas and served as the Texarkana, Texas City Councilperson for Ward 3 from 2016 until her passing.

Betty is survived by her husband Doug, two children - Andrea Williams McCoy (Pat) and Alton Williams (Trinh), 4 grandchildren - John Landen Wiliams, Atticus Wilson, Tung Vy, and Ella Coffey (Jacob), and 2 great-grandchildren - Adeline and Eamonn Coffey, sister Pat DeRosa, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, close friends, and colleagues.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Joe & Ruth Cook, parents-in-law, Merle & Helen Williams, and brothers-in-law, Marshall Williams, and Duane Williams.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at Walnut Church of Christ in Texarkana, Texas on Friday, May 24th @ 10am. The family invites attendees to join them for a visitation and lunch immediately following the service in the church family life center – all are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to:

Lone Star Chapter, DAR – Scholarship Fund
Contact: Tammie Duncan tammieduncandar@gmail.com
Texarkana Museums System – Ace of Clubs Restoration Project
Contact: Emily Tarr emilytarr@icloud.com
Salvation Army of Texarkana
Contact: Beth Pesek bpesek82@gmail.com
Walnut Church of Christ – Homeless Ministry
Contact: Angela Gideons office@walnutcoc.org

(copied from https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/texarkana-tx/betty-williams-11811105)

Obituary - Gloria Mae Robert Bundick (January 9, 1926 - April 2, 2019)

Funeral services for Gloria Robert Bundick will be Thursday, April 4, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Landry Baptist Church with Rev. Wayne Holston officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Theresa Catholic Church Cemetery under the direction of Melancon Funeral Home, Bunkie.

The family requests that visitation be observed at the St. Landry Baptist Church on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. and resume on Thursday at 8:00 a.m. until service time.

Mrs. Bundick, age 93, of St. Landry, passed away on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at her residence, surrounded by her loving family. She was a very active member of her church, St. Landry Baptist Church, until her health declined. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sewell Bundick; her parents, Lee and Keelie Robert and her son-in-law, Richard Milligan, Sr.

She is survived by her three daughters, Henrietta Marcotte and her husband, Donald, of Bunkie, Cheryl Milligan of Bunkie and Robbie Dru Franks and husband, Lawrence, of St. Landry; her two sons, Shannon Bundick and his wife, Kathie, of Prairieville and Robert Lee Bundick and wife, Debbie, of Swords, LA; sixteen grandchildren, thirty-eight great grandchildren and fifteen great, great grandchildren.

Obituary - Robert M. Hockenhull

Hockenhull, Robert Marvin, at the age of 75, Fri. Aug. 30, 2019, beloved husband of Rita C. Hockenhull (nee Thompson), dear father of Julie (Charles), Noelle (Clark), Tracy, Benjamin, Nicholas and Maria. Dear grandfather of Kyle, Abbey, Sam, Elise and Logan.

Visitation at KUTIS SOUTH COUNTY CHAPEL

5255 Lemay Ferry Rd. 

St. Louis, MO

Interment at J.B. National Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Siteman Cancer Center.

Rev. Pierre Robert Family Association 2021 Reunion

The 2021 Reunion is a go! We’ve abbreviated the usual reunion schedule so if folks can’t commit to the whole weekend, they can still join us for the meat of the reunion on Saturday, June 5, 2021. However, for those who plan to spend a night or two, we will have informal meals and chances to get to know each other better throughout the weekend.

 

We will be meeting at The Hotel Bentley (Claiborne Room), 200 Desoto Street, Alexandria, LA. (318) 442-2226. Website: https://www.visithotelbentley.com/

Our cousin Mary David Baker will present this year’s program -- an introduction to Mary Stone Grimball (1749 – 1807), mother of Anne Grimball. After the presentation, we’ve planned a hands-on activity. 

If you’ve recently attended one of the reunions or paid your dues, a blank 9-generation genealogy chart was mailed on 4/26/21 to the home address we have on file for you. Before you come to Alexandria, fill out your chart as best you can. When we gather, we will help each other fill in the blanks and learn how we all are connected. After that, we’ll have a closing service during which we will honor and remember those who have passed away since the last reunion in 2017.

We’re very excited about the activities we’ve planned and hope you are as ready to be out and about as much as we are.

 SCHEDULE

10:00 a.m. Signing in and mingling (nametags and goodie bags)

10:30 a.m. Introductions and business meeting (election of officers, discussion of 2023 Reunion)

11:30 a.m. Catered lunch. Please provide us with any dietary restrictions or preferences.

12:30 p.m. Program: “Our Mary Stone” with Q&A

1:30 p.m. Family genealogy activity. Additional blank charts will be available.

3:30 p.m. Memorial service

Please email marie_mcentire@hotmail.com for more information.

Obituary - Joe Bunch (January 19, 1924 - December 23, 2020)

 

Joe Henry Bunch, 96, passed away December 23rd, 2020 in Georgetown, Texas.  He was born January 19th, 1924 in Lockhart, Texas to Annie and Hewlitt Lowery Bunch, the third of six children.  He grew up in Lockhart and attended Lockhart public schools. 

Ineligible for military service during World War II for health reasons, he moved to Houston and worked for Southwestern Bell.

After the war he returned to Austin and graduated from Durham Business College.  During that time, he met and married Dorothy Richards of Smithville, Texas.  They had two daughters, Pam and Lanu.  The family was active in the Central Baptist Church which later became Great Hills Baptist Church.

Joe began a career with the Texas Railroad Commission which would span 34 years from 1953-1987.  When he retired, he started his own petroleum consulting business in 1988. 

He returned to Lockhart in 2004 and restored a home on San Antonio Street, furnishing it with his favorite antiques and paintings.  Joe also enjoyed checking on his farm south of town and had a great love of history and genealogy and was involved in numerous organizations.  He was a descendant of the Robert family of South Carolina and Louisiana.  He was President of the Fleur de Lis chapter of the Huguenot Society, honoring the Huguenots who emigrated to America in the 18th and 19th century in search of religious freedom.  He was also a member of Sons of the American Revolution and Sons of Confederate Veterans.  Joe was also fortunate to have the privilege of providing an endowed scholarship in nursing to the University Mary Hardin-Baylor from which six generations of his family graduated.  He was also an active member of First Lockhart Baptist Church, which he had attended as a boy.

Joe moved to assisted living in 2014, finally residing at The Reserve Memory Care Center in Georgetown.  The family wishes to express their appreciation to the staff at the Reserve for their compassionate care of Joe over these past two years and especially in his final days.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Annie Lee Means, his brother, Hewlett Lowry Bunch Jr., his sister Emma Vann, his sister Lynn Bunch, and his sister Gwynne Ray.

He is survived by his daughter, Pam Manly and her husband, Walt and Lanu Hogan and her husband, Roy.  He is also survived by five grandchildren, Marc Manly and his wife, Bonnie, Matt Manly, Hilary Hogan, Ryan Hogan, and Regan Hogan.  He has three great-grandchildren, Chelsea Hutton, Stephon Manly, and Jeremiah Manly along with numerous nieces and nephews and other extended family members who are his survivors.

A private family funeral service is planned.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to First Lockhart Baptist Church or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements with Eeds Funeral Home 408 S Main Lockhart TX 78644 512-398-2343.

Obituary - Wade Lee Callender

Wade Lee Callender

MAY 27, 1926 – APRIL 15, 2018

Wade Lee Callender, age 91, died on April 15, 2018 in Houston, TX.

He was born on May 27, 1926 to Laura Louise Stewart and Paul Revere Callender in North Kingsville, Ashtabula County, Ohio.

During World War II, Wade served in the U. S. Navy as an Electronic Technician's Mate Second Class. Following his service, he completed his B.A. in Chemistry from The College of Wooster and received his Ph.D. in physical chemistry in 1951 from the University of Rochester. He retired from Shell Oil Company in 1988 with over 36 years of service in research and development. Following his retirement, Wade pursued his hobbies of lapidary and metal-smithing, designing and creating unique jewelry and artwork. He was a volunteer in the Art Department at the University of Houston and at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. He was active in genealogical research and an avid birder; he also appreciated National Parks, college basketball and fine food and wine with friends.

Wade was predeceased by his parents, his brothers, West Winslow Callender and Robert Paul Callender, the mother of his children, Loma Rebecca Davis Callender, and his sisters-in-law, Joan Cheshire Callender, Florence Cerbin Callender and Marilyn Joanne Dull Callender.

Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Mary David Baker; five children, W. Lee Callender and wife Shirley, Lynn S. "Red" Callender and wife Susan J. Siegel, Patricia A. Raedy and husband William C., Ross D. Callender, and Linda C. Pannock and husband Jürgen; four grandchildren, Valerie Rebecca Raedy, William Callender Raedy, Daniel Callender Pannock, Markus Callender Pannock; one brother, Dean Lynn Callender and his wife Mary Ann Fendley, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

An inurnment with military honors will be held at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr, at 10:30 am on Friday, May 4, 2018.

An informal reception will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 pm on Saturday, May 5, 2018, at The Tuscany Ballroom & The Techniplex Conference Center, 4810 Techniplex Dr, Stafford, TX 77477.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Wade's honor may be made to The Medallion/Seven Acres, 6262 North Braeswood Boulevard, Houston, TX 77074 or a charity of your choice.

Funeral Home Services for Wade are being provided by The Settegast-Kopf Company@Sugar Creek of Sugar Land, TX.

Obituary - Rev. Dr. Robert Epting Howard Peeples

The Reverend Doctor Robert Epting Howard Peeples, 99, formerly of Estill, died August 2, 2017 at NHC HealthCare, Okatie, SC. Dr. Peeples was born January 13, 1918 in Estill, SC, son of the late Robert Rhodes Peeples and Margaret Folk Peeples. He graduated from Estill High School and received a B.S. Degree in Economics from the College of Charleston. He was employed by The Citizens and Southern National Bank prior to joining the Army during WWII where he served in the states and in India. Following the war, he attended the Virginia Theological Seminary and upon graduation was ordained as an Episcopal Priest and served the Georgia Diocese. He received his Doctorate of Divinity from American Ministerial Association. He was a member of the Georgia National Guard where he served as Chaplain for the 24th Division Artillery and later served as Chaplain for the Chatham Artillery. He was a resident of Hilton Head Island for over 60 years and was a member and former Vicar of The Anglican Church of the Redeemer. Dr. Peeples participated faithfully in local organizations and was instrumental in preserving many of the historical sites on Hilton Head Island. He was president of the Hilton Head Historical Society for 35 years and was a charter member of the Heritage Library and member of their Board of Advisors. He helped oversee the later merger of the Historical Society with the Heritage Library. He published many articles on island history, including Tales of Ante Bellum Hilton Head Island Families. These and other articles are preserved at the Heritage Library. He was a founding member and secretary of the Hilton Head Island Museum and a charter member of both the Hilton Head Art League and the Hilton Head Choral Society. Dr. Peeples did extensive research to preserve and share his family history and wrote A Miles Genealogy, A Family of South Carolina Planters which was published in the SC Historical Magazine. He was a member of the following organizations: The First Families of SC, where he served as president and Chaplain; The S.C. Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, where he served as State Chaplain and Chaplain of the Dr. George Mosse Chapter; The Huguenot Society of South Carolina; the Society of St. Thomas and St. Denis; The Hereditary Order of Descendants of Colonial Governors; The National Society of the Sons of the American Colonist; The Order of the Founders and Patriots of America; The Society of Descendants of the Colonial Clergy; and the Baronial Order of Magna Charta. He is predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Cora McKenzie Peeples, his brother, John Randolph Peeples, his sister, Ruth Peeples McNair, and his nephew, John Randolph Peeples, Jr. He is survived by nieces and nephews: David D. Peeples, Derbiana P. Bowers (Grover), Margaret "Marce" P. Warner (Robert), and Robert F. Peeples (Shannon). He is also survived by grand-nephews: Grover F. Bowers, IV, Hunter T. Bowers, Jacob P. Warner, Lawton P. Warner and Hamilton C. Warner and a grand-niece, Margaret E. Bowers. A graveside service will be held at Lawtonville Cemetery, Estill, SC, on Monday, August 7, 2017, at 2 PM directed by Peeples-Rhoden Funeral Home of Hampton. Friends may visit with the family immediately following the service.

published in The Island Packet on August 4, 2017

Lawton and Allied Families Reunion Information

Make Your Hotel Reservation Today!

Our 2017 Meeting will be April 21 and 22 in Charleston

Circular Congregational Church

150 Meeting Street,

Charleston SC 29401

We will meet on Friday evening and Saturday morning at the church. On Saturday afternoon we will go to McLeod plantation for a tour. Details will be announced in the registration mailing.


Charleston hotels fill up quickly in the springtime, and one can expect to pay a premium price for rooms wherever you stay in the area. We surveyed several hotel possibilities and local cousins actually visited some of them. The base price for a hotel room varies from about $140 to $ 200 per night depending on location and amenities. Check to see if you are eligible for a discount from AAA, AARP, etc. Some of these hotels offer free breakfast though we will be offering a brunch to begin the Saturday meeting. It’s important that you make your reservation now, because it’s “flower season” and all of the area hotels will fill up quickly.
.

Our Conference hotel is the Days Inn [Historic District - 155 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401]. It is located directly across from Circular Congregational Church and the most convenient. A room is about $200 (plus tax) per night, but one gets free parking with the room. The Days Inn will not reserve a block of rooms for us, but you can make an individual reservation on their website or call them at 844-204-1042


Parking: The church does not have a parking lot. If you stay in the conference hotel, parking is free. But if you select another hotel you will probably end up paying an additional $16 per day for parking in a garage near the church.


Options: Some hotels outside of the downtown area are slightly less expensive. These hotels are a 15-20 minute drive from the church and they give you some pricing options.

Comfort Suites 

2080 Savannah Hwy

Charleston / 29407

near West Ashley/Citadel Mall 

Phone 843-769-9850 

$200/night without taxes

Newer, larger rooms

Free Breakfast

Holiday Inn Riverview 

301 Savannah Highway 

Charleston / 29407

near Hospitals & West Ashley

Phone 843-556-7100

$189/night without taxes

Great View - on Ashley River

Breakfast Additional

Day's Inn Highway 17 North

261 Johnny Dodd Blvd

Mt. Pleasant / 29464

near Mt. Pleasant & Patriots Point

Phone 843-881-1800

$139/night without taxes

Comfortable but not plush

Free Breakfast

Check each hotel for AARP, etc. discounts. Room tax will probably be in the range of $ 15-25/night. Whichever you choose, book now!


After Hours: Last year some people suggested that cousins could enjoy an “adult beverage” Friday night to catch up and further discuss the family history. Russ Lawton suggests that this after-hours meeting be conducted at the Grand Bohemian Hotel at 55 Wentworth Street which is about 3 blocks from Circular Church. So I’m designating this location as our “official” after-hours meeting site.

Your cousin and friend,

Neale Hightower, President

The Lawton and Allied Families Association

135 Lamont Drive

Decatur, Georgia 30030

Obituary - Violet Blakewood Lux

Violet Julia Blakewood Lux
Violet was a "country girl" born in Lecompte, La., August 17, 1924, and raised in Avoyelles Parish at Kleinwood Plantation on Bayou des Glaises. She was a long time resident of Baton Rouge since her university years in the 1940's. She was 92 and recently moved to the St James Retirement Community where she loved her new apartment, renewing past acquaintances , going to physical therapy and the outings. Violet graduated from Bordelonville High School where she was active in sports, band (was their first Majorette), and 4-H. She was voted "Most Athletic". She attended Brenau College in Gainesville, GA on a Music scholarship and to gain some "polishing". She returned to begin Pre-Med studies at LSU and was part of the first class of women admitted in the LSU band . She met her sweetheart and future life partner, Turner Saunders Lux, Jr and when he was called to active duty during WWII in the Army, she joined the Navy Waves and was in their Singing Platoon in New York. After WWII ended they married on December 16, 1945 in Baton Rouge. The 1950's were consumed by raising three children and the start of care for Turner with his diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. But in 1958, Violet returned to LSU to complete her BS, then Masters in Education and 30+Specialist Masters in 1962. She worked as Admissions Counsellor at LSU prior to beginning a long teaching career. She taught Introductory Physical Science at Broadmoor Jr High and then entered the age of Computer Science being one of the first teachers in the state to teach the subject at Broadmoor High School. Violet was active socially through music and sorority and church clubs and activities. Highlights include : BR Music Auxiliary, Alpha Phi Fraternity Alum (serving in many positions, also chairing fundraiser "Lollipops Express" for the Heart Association), Camp Fire Girls Leader, PTA Pres. at Goodwood Elementary, the Red Hat Society, La. Teachers Assn. Violet was a devoted Baptist and participated fully in First Baptist Church ideals and activities. She loved to sing and was a long standing choir participant for over 60 years. Her mentorship roles have touched many young people through science education, music experiences, church activities and outdoor education, travel and canoeing. She is survived by daughter, Martha Lux Matthews and her husband, Jack Matthews, daughter, Laura Kelley P. Matthews, all of Queenstown, New Zealand; two sons, Turner Saunders "Sandy" Lux, III and his wife, Dana Todd Lux, and son, Turner Lux IV, Baton Rouge, and step sons, Caleb Todd and Lindsey of Brimmerton, WA, and Joshua Lesley, of Belle Chase; and her second son, James Bond Lux and wife, Nita Gregorie Lux, and daughter, Julia L. Lux, Baton Rouge, and their sons, James B. Lux, Jr, of Phoenix, AZ, Shelby G. Lux, of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Violet had one great grandchild, Scout Todd, of Brimmerton, WA. Violet was preceded in death by her dear husband, Turner S. Lux, Jr.; parents, Eldred Griffin Blakewood and Laura Lillian Bond Blakewood; brothers E.G. "Bubba" Blakewood, Louis J. Blakewood, and Laurie Blakewood; and sisters, Madgie B. Ducote, Lillian B.B. Jackson and Mary Eleanor B. Marshall. A visitation will be held Thursday, September 22, 2016 at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government Street, from 5:30 pm until 8:00 pm. Also Visitation Friday morning at First Baptist Church, 9:00-10:00am followed by Funeral services 10:00 am Friday, September 23, 2016, at First Baptist Church, 529 Convention Street, conducted by pastor, Rev. Oren Connor. A 1:00pm Burial will follow the services at Port Hudson National Cemetery. Special thanks to TNCC at OLOL, St. James Retirement Community and Friends, L.S.U. Speech and Language Department and to Dr. David Sledge, M.D. Memorial donations may be made to Cat Haven, Louisiana Baptist Children's Home, Multiple Sclerosis Foundation or The Heart Association.
Published in The Town Talk on Sept. 21, 2016

2017 Reunion Information

Greetings to all the descendants of Pierre Robert!

I hope this message finds our “dozens & dozens of cousins” all in good health and looking forward to cooler weather this fall. I’m excited to announce that plans are in the works for our next biennial reunion of the Pierre Robert Family Association in 2017.

For those of us who were together for the 2015 reunion, many cousins indicated that they would be happy to return to Alexandria, La., especially if the beautiful restoration of the Bentley Hotel would be complete. Owner Michael Jenkins and Jennifer (Robert descendant) have graciously offered to accommodate us at a reduced rate on guest rooms and to provide our meeting rooms at no charge! This historic hotel in downtown Alexandria, La. is situated on the banks of the Red River, so……….

Shall we gather at the river?

Rev. Pierre Robert Family Association

10th. Biennial Reunion

May 19, 20 & 21, 1017

Please mark your calendars with this “save the date” information; details of an exciting agenda will follow. Consider joining us for what promises to be a perfect “10” gathering! Your participation can make it happen. We welcome your suggestions, questions, input, etc. and any contact information on other descendants we may not be aware of.

Yours in family spirit,
Becky Descant
234 Lyles Road
Bunkie, LA 71322
rndd@att.net

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Claire Marie McEntire, granddaughter of Carmen Moncla Hiott and daughter of Marie Hiott McEntire, who was married on January 28, 2016 to Jeff Minneman of Atlanta, GA.

Reunion June 3 & 4

The Lawton and Allied Families Association Annual Reunion will be held at the First Baptist Church of Savannah, GA June 3 & 4, 2016. Activities begin at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and conclude on Saturday afternoon. For more information, please contact Association President Neale Hightower at nealeh1@bellsouth.net or visit the newly created Facebook page for Descendants of Captain William Lawton.

Obituary - Henry Spann Laffitte

Henry Spann Laffitte, 74, died Thursday, December 31, 2015, in Allendale, SC. A graveside service will be held in Lawtonville Cemetery in Estill, SC, on Saturday, January 2, 2016, at 2:00 p.m., to be followed by visitation at the family home in Allendale. He was born August 30, 1941, in Estill, SC, a son of the late Charles Atkins and Rosalie Spann Laffitte. A graduate of Allendale-Fairfax High School, he attended The Citadel and graduated from The University of South Carolina with a B.S. and a Master's of Business Administration. He served as president of the Carolina Commercial Bank in Allendale, SC. Upon its merger with Palmetto State Bank in 2007, he became executive vice chairman of Palmetto State Bank. He served as a board member of the Independent Banks of South Carolina and South Carolina Bankers Association. He was named Outstanding Young Banker, the highest honor presented in the South Carolina banking industry. He served as president of the Young Bankers Division of the South Carolina Bankers Association and as chairman of the South Carolina Bankers School. He was a graduate of the South Carolina Bankers School, the School of Banking of the South at LSU, and of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers. He served as a member of the American Bankers Association Community Bankers Group, and he was involved in acquiring funding and supplies for the ABA's Personal Economic Program. He took an active part in a wide variety of cultural and community organizations throughout South Carolina, some of which were Allendale County Council, Allendale County Alive, Allendale County Historical Society (president), Lebanon Association (president), the Huguenot Society of South Carolina (president), the General Society of Colonial Wars, the Society of First Families of South Carolina, the South Carolina Historical Society Board, St. Andrew's Society of Columbia (president), Governor's Mansion Foundation, the S.C. State Museum Board, and the S.C. Archives and History Museum Board. He was a man of extraordinary faith and was a member of the Allendale Presbyterian Church, where he had served as deacon and elder. He devoted his life in multiple endeavors designed to strengthen his community and his state and to serve others. His family, especially his grandchildren, gave him great joy. He was one of a kind and loved by all. While he will be greatly missed, he leaves behind a lasting legacy of a life well-lived. Surviving are his wife of almost 50 years, Elizabeth Peeples Laffitte; and their two children, Henry Spann Laffitte, Jr. and his wife, Elizabeth Fraser Laffitte, of Columbia, and Elizabeth Laffitte Hutton and her husband, George Sargeant Hutton, of Columbia; and his grandchildren, Alice Lowndes Laffitte, Lucille Morrison Laffitte, Elizabeth Anne Hutton, Henry Sargeant Hutton and George Stearns Hutton of Columbia. Also surviving are his two brothers, Charles Atkins Laffitte, Jr. (LaClaire) of Hampton, and Montague Tucker Laffitte (Ann) of Bluffton, and multitudes of other beloved family members. Memorials contributions may be made to: Allendale Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 554, Allendale, SC 29810, Lawtonville Cemetery Association, PO Box 200, Estill, SC 29918, Epworth Children's Home, 2900 Millwood Ave., Columbia, SC 29205, Lebanon Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 445, Estill, SC 29918. The family would welcome written remembrances. Keith Smith Funeral Service, 128 Water Street, Allendale, SC 29810. 

Published in The State January 2, 2016

Congratulations!

I am delighted to announce the birth of a new descendant of the Pierre Robert /Esther Susannah family line:  Adeline Rebecca Bleu Williams was born on June 19 in in Alexandria, LA.  She is welcomed by proud parents Megan & Jarred, big brother Sebastian Peter, and big sister Nora Ophelia! Her maternal great-grandmother is Doris Nell Blakewood Newton & maternal grandmother Rebecca (Becky) Newton Descant. Becky is the current president of the Rev. Pierre Robert Family Association.  Becky says that her granddaughter is "as precious & sweet as can be..... A gift from God & a joy to all." We rejoice in this good news.

2015 Reunion Report

What fun we had! 62 descendants, family, and friends met in Alexandria, LA for the Ninth Biennial Reunion of the Rev. Pierre Robert Family Association. The beautiful, historic Hotel Bentley served as our primary meeting place but also we ventured to Loyd Hall and Greenwood Plantation in Cheneyville, LA and to the Campbell home in Moncla, LA. We made new friends, elected new officers, and learned a bit more about our rich heritage. Thank you to all you attended and made it such a special time.

We hope to be able to distribute CDs of the association's business meeting and keynote address of Dr. Dana Robert. Please contact us if you are interested in purchasing one of the CDs. There will be a nominal fee to cover production and mailing.

If you have any news you want us to post on this site, please send us a message or post it yourself on our new Facebook page - Robert Family Association.

Invitation to 2015 Reunion

Dear Family and Friends,

We hope you are ready to confirm your plans to join us for the Rev. Pierre Robert Family Association 9^th biennial reunion on June 5-7, 2015 in Alexandria, LA because we’ve been working on the details and we’re ready to share them with you now. We think you’ll agree that it’s going to be a fabulous reunion!

Headquarters for the reunion will be the newly restored and renovated Hotel Bentley in historic downtown Alexandria.  The guest speaker for the Saturday morning program will be Dana L. Robert, Boston University School of Theology.  Dr. Robert is the Truman Collins Professor of World Christianity and History of Mission and the Director of the Center for Global Christianity and Mission.  She is a native of Louisiana and also a family member.  Her presentation will be “Rev. Joseph & Gen. Henry M. Robert – from Abolitionism to Parliamentary Procedure.” You’ll notice on the schedule that we will also be electing new Association officers on Saturday morning. PLEASE consider serving.

We’ve been invited to Loyd Hall Plantation for a tour and snacks on Saturday afternoon by owners, Michael and Jennifer Jenkins. Jennifer is a Robert descendent.

The Saturday evening program and dinner will be held at the Diamond Grill.  Speaker, Michael Jenkins, will provide us with some historical information regarding Central Louisiana.  Mr. Jenkins is the current owner of the Hotel Bentley and the Diamond Grill and is responsible for several revitalization efforts in downtown Alexandria.  Once a downtown jewelry store, the Diamond Grill is now a fine dining restaurant where we will enjoy “superb cuisine and exceptional service in a visually rich historical setting. The building features twenty-two foot ceilings, original chandeliers, ornate plaster, dramatic staircase, true wine vault and an elegant Mezzanine bar.” (from website)

We hope the reunion hotel (for sleeping) will be the Hotel Bentley too, but there is a chance that it will not be ready for overnight guests in June. So our back up hotel (for sleeping) will be the Best Western of Alexandria Inn & Suites & Conference Center, 2720 N. MacArthur Drive, Alexandria, LA 71303.  Please call the Best Western at (318) 445-5530 to make your room reservation. A block of rooms will be held until May 22 at the rate of $89 per room per night for our group. They only have rooms with king beds available. You will be able to cancel your reservation at the Best Western until noon the day before check-in without penalty. If I get word that the Bentley is available, I’ll contact everyone who has registered for the reunion and let them know so they can decide if they want to switch hotels.

We do hope you will be able to join us for the reunion. If you would like a full schedule of the weekend’s events and a registration form, please contact me at marie_mcentire@hotmail.com. 

Best wishes,

Marie Hiott McEntire

Obituary - Adrian Sinclair Balch

June 01, 1945 - February 02, 2015

Adrian Sinclair Balch passed away Monday, February 2, 2015 after a long struggle with brain cancer. She is survived by her loving husband of 35 years, Raymond; their son, Senior Chief Petty Officer Christopher Bartlett, daughter-in-law, Amanda; granddaughter, Elizabeth Nicole and grandson, Saxon Avery of Crestview, FL. Adrian is also survived by her sister, Margaret and husband Philip Laney of Riverside, CA.; brother, William Sinclair of Torrence, CA; nephew, Bill Carter of Oswego, New York; and her six cats. She was preceded in death by her nephew, Matthew Carter of Phoenix, AZ.
Adrian, the daughter of William Stanley and Mary Kate Sinclair, was born on June 1, 1945 at Fort Benning, Georgia where her father was stationed at the close of World War II. The family returned to Houston when she was 6 months old. She attended River Oaks elementary, Lanier Junior High and graduated from Lamar High School class of 1963. She and Raymond both attended Lanier where she was in 5th period orchestra and he 6th period band. It is most likely that they passed each other every school day going in and out of the band hall without ever knowing each other (they would meet on a blind date on super bowl Sunday 1979).
Adrian attended Trinity University in San Antonio where she majored in music. After leaving Trinity her first job was as a secretary for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. She later worked at Texaco before taking a position as secretary to Dr. Lauro Halstead at The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research. When Dr. Halstead left for Washington, D.C. he asker her to go with him but she declined choosing to stay in Houston near her family. She eventually moved to Baylor College of Medicine where she was executive secretary to Dr. Gail Demmler in infectious disease-a position she held until her retirement in 2003.
After a short "retirement", she took a part time position in the Advancement Office of Episcopal High School which she held until health issues forced her to retire again in 2013. This last position allowed her the opportunity to work with her husband who teaches Government and History at Episcopal High School.
Adrian loved music-especially Renaissance and Baroque music. Adrian also loved to sing. She was an alto in the St. James Episcopal Choir. She and her husband were also members of a choral group-Chorus Angelorum-for almost ten years. Besides performing an evensong service each month first at St. Thomas Episcopal and later Our Lady Of Walsingham Catholic Church, the choral group also traveled to England to be the choir in residence for a week at various cathedrals. The first such residency that Adrian and Ray participated in was at the Cathedral in Lincoln. In 2006 it was the Cathedral in Durham. The third and last trip in which Adrian and Ray were involved was at the Cathedral in Canterbury, England.
While in England on the last two trips, Adrian and Ray were able to visit Scotland traveling to the northern city of Wick to visit the Sinclair castle. (Wick is a six hour train ride from Inverness and there are only two trains in and out each day. It is small and remote but quiet beautiful.)
It was one of the most depressing moments of her life when after the surgery to remove the brain tumor in 2009, her vocal chords were damaged and she was unable to continue singing. (I am sure that she has joined that heavenly choir and is singing her heart out.)
Adrian also loved animals as evidenced by the fact that at one time, she and Ray had eight cats and a beagle (In fact, when she met Ray, she told him that for the relationship to go anywhere he would have to get her cat Sybil's approval) Five of the eight cats were strays that she and Ray took in.
She was also accomplished at needlepoint as well as knitting. For many years she knit beautiful items for family and friends. Two of her husband's most prized possessions are two needlepoint creations that adorn the walls of their home.
Adrian was also very interested in genealogy. She spent endless hours doing her genealogical research with the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research almost becoming her home away from home. One of her first successes was helping Ray to reconnect with a 92 year old aunt that he had last seen when he was 9 years old.
Adrian also shared her fascination with genealogy with others on line and developed friendships across the nation with like-minded individuals from Hood, Oregon to Boston, Mass. A few years ago, she was able to meet one of her on-line friends, Karen Rich, when she and Ray visited Boston. Adrian was also ready, willing and able to help other genealogists in their searches. She and Ray spent many weekends visiting cemeteries in and around the greater Houston area searching for the answers to the many questions posed to her by other like-minded individuals.
Adrian was a loving, compassionate woman. One of her employers described her as "smart, witty and real". With Adrian, you always knew where you stood. She had a wonderfully dry sense of humor. She was someone with whom you felt comfortable almost immediately after meeting her.
I often told her that besides being born, she was the best thing that had ever happened to me. In the words of the Bette Midler song, she was very much "the wind beneath my wings".

Funeral Information

Visitation will be held Monday, February 9, 2015 in the Miller Funeral Chapel, 7723 Beechnut, Houston, TX 77074 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at St. James Episcopal Church, 3129 Southmore Blvd., Houston, TX 77004. Following cremation, interment will take place Wednesday 4:00 p.m. at Glenwood Cemetery, 2525 Washington Avenue, Houston, TX.

Donations Information

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in her memory to the American Cancer Society, The American Brain Tumor Association or the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research.

(posted on Miller Funeral and Cremation Services website, Houston, TX)

Obituary - Cora McKenzie Peeples

Cora McKenzie Peeples, 95, wife of Reverend Doctor Robert E. H. Peeples, passed away 27 December 2014 at Life Care Health Center, Hilton Head Island, SC. She was born 6 December 1919 near Charleston, Arkansas. She was the daughter of Alexander Francis and Ola Frances Shelby McKenzie, who preceded her in death. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Dr. Peeples, and two sisters, Pauline McKenzie Payan (Virgil) and Frances McKenzie Weissman (James), and nieces and nephews. She was a Registered Nurse, graduating from the Sansun Clinic in Santa Barbara, California and a Registered Midwife, graduating from the American College of Midwifery in New York. She moved to Hilton Head Island in 1953. She was a member of the Anglican Church of the Redeemer; a member of the Huguenot Society of SC; a life member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Captain William Hilton Chapter; a charter member of the HHI Choral Society, the HHI Art League, and the Heritage Library; and longtime Secretary of the HHI Historical Society. She was also the author of What One Lawyer Did, a biography of John Rutledge. Graveside Services will be held at 2pm December 31, 2014 at Lawtonville Cemetery, Estill, SC . A memorial service will be held by The Anglican Church of the Redeemer at Indigo Pines Retirement Center, 110 Gardner Drive, HHI, on January 3, 2015 at 2pm in the third floor Chapel. 

Obituary - John B. Hiott

John Blanton Hiott, the fifth of six children in the family of Gary Lander Hiott and Eunice Biggerstaff Hiott, was born February 25, 1928 in Pickens, SC and died December 3, 2014 in Raleigh, NC. He was a man enlivened by discoveries and new understandings and steadied by his sense of family and faith.

He enlisted in the US Army during his last year of high school and after graduation was assigned to post-war Japan where he served as a "clerk, non-typist," processing the correspondence course paperwork for other soldiers. It is unlikely he or anyone else realized at the time how this work defined what his life would become - one dedicated to helping others cultivate a life of learning.

He spent the years after his military service earning his A.A. from Gardner-Webb College, his B.A. from Baylor University, and his Th.M. from New Orleans Baptist Seminary. While at seminary in New Orleans, he attended Coliseum Place Baptist Church and met Mary Carmen Moncla. They married on August 21, 1953. 

After graduation from seminary, John and Carmen went to New York to start the first Southern Baptist church in the state, but even the summers in Niagara Falls were too cold for the two southerners and they moved back to the south. John served as pastor of three churches in three states and in college administration at Gardner-Webb College (now University) and St. Andrews Presbyterian College (now University). The second half of his life was spent primarily as educator and minister as he found a home along the line formed by Hillsborough Street in Raleigh that extended from the Cameron Park neighborhood west to Meredith College and east to First Baptist Church.

During his 25 years at Meredith, John worked as registrar and assistant to the academic dean, director of planned giving, and director of scholarships and financial assistance. He joined First Baptist Church and soon became the teacher of a Sunday School class for young couples that still meets today. He worked in the church's clothes closet program and served as a deacon and on many committees. John also became a scoutmaster so his two oldest sons would have a way to be in the outdoors they learned to love when he was pastor at Spring Hill Baptist Church in Wagram. He was an active member of the Raleigh Civitan Club.

He was predeceased by his parents; his brothers, Gary Jr. and Robert; and his sisters, Eulalia and Eunice. He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Carmen Moncla Hiott; sons, John Jr. (Joannie), Gray, and Blake (Amy); daughters, Marie McEntire (Mark) and Ann Barham (Charlie); beloved grandchildren, Atticus McEntire, Claire McEntire, Lily Hiott, Eli Hiott, and Emma Hiott; brother, David (Sue) of Pickens, SC; sister-in-law, Eloise of Pickens, SC; sisters-in law, Gloria Revere of Southern Pines, NC and Carol Campbell (Max) of Moncla, LA; brother-in-law, Alfred Moncla, Jr. (Kay) of Elizabeth City, NC; and by many nieces and nephews.

The family thanks the members of First Baptist Church for their unfailing compassion and generosity and the staff at Sunrise of Raleigh for their professional care. A memorial service will be held at First Baptist, 99 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2014. Visitation will follow in the church fellowship hall. His ashes will be entombed at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens, SC and scattered at the family home in Moncla, LA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts to the Meredith College Annual Fund, the First Baptist Church Third Century Fund, or the Tammy Lynn Center for Developmental Disabilities.

Published in The News & Observer on Dec. 7, 201

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newsobserver/obituary.aspx?n=john-hiott&pid=173392210&fhid=5774#sthash.fivFJ0YA.dpuf

Read more here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newsobserver/obituary.aspx?n=john-hiott&pid=173392210&fhid=5774#storylink=cpyJohn Blanton Hiott, the fifth of six children in the family of Gary Lander Hiott and Eunice Biggerstaff Hiott, was born February 25, 1928 in Pickens, SC and died December 3, 2014 in Raleigh, NC. He was a man enlivened by discoveries and new understandings and steadied by his sense of family and faith.

He enlisted in the US Army during his last year of high school and after graduation was assigned to post-war Japan where he served as a "clerk, non-typist," processing the correspondence course paperwork for other soldiers. It is unlikely he or anyone else realized at the time how this work defined what his life would become - one dedicated to helping others cultivate a life of learning.

He spent the years after his military service earning his A.A. from Gardner-Webb College, his B.A. from Baylor University, and his Th.M. from New Orleans Baptist Seminary. While at seminary in New Orleans, he attended Coliseum Place Baptist Church and met Mary Carmen Moncla. They married on August 21, 1953. 

After graduation from seminary, John and Carmen went to New York to start the first Southern Baptist church in the state, but even the summers in Niagara Falls were too cold for the two southerners and they moved back to the south. John served as pastor of three churches in three states and in college administration at Gardner-Webb College (now University) and St. Andrews Presbyterian College (now University). The second half of his life was spent primarily as educator and minister as he found a home along the line formed by Hillsborough Street in Raleigh that extended from the Cameron Park neighborhood west to Meredith College and east to First Baptist Church.

During his 25 years at Meredith, John worked as registrar and assistant to the academic dean, director of planned giving, and director of scholarships and financial assistance. He joined First Baptist Church and soon became the teacher of a Sunday School class for young couples that still meets today. He worked in the church's clothes closet program and served as a deacon and on many committees. John also became a scoutmaster so his two oldest sons would have a way to be in the outdoors they learned to love when he was pastor at Spring Hill Baptist Church in Wagram. He was an active member of the Raleigh Civitan Club.

He was predeceased by his parents; his brothers, Gary Jr. and Robert; and his sisters, Eulalia and Eunice. He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Carmen Moncla Hiott; sons, John Jr. (Joannie), Gray, and Blake (Amy); daughters, Marie McEntire (Mark) and Ann Barham (Charlie); beloved grandchildren, Atticus McEntire, Claire McEntire, Lily Hiott, Eli Hiott, and Emma Hiott; brother, David (Sue) of Pickens, SC; sister-in-law, Eloise of Pickens, SC; sisters-in law, Gloria Revere of Southern Pines, NC and Carol Campbell (Max) of Moncla, LA; brother-in-law, Alfred Moncla, Jr. (Kay) of Elizabeth City, NC; and by many nieces and nephews.

The family thanks the members of First Baptist Church for their unfailing compassion and generosity and the staff at Sunrise of Raleigh for their professional care. A memorial service will be held at First Baptist, 99 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2014. Visitation will follow in the church fellowship hall. His ashes will be entombed at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens, SC and scattered at the family home in Moncla, LA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts to the Meredith College Annual Fund, the First Baptist Church Third Century Fund, or the Tammy Lynn Center for Developmental Disabilities.

Published in The News & Observer on Dec. 7, 201

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newsobserver/obituary.aspx?n=john-hiott&pid=173392210&fhid=5774#sthash.fivFJ0YA.dpuf

Read more here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newsobserver/obituary.aspx?n=john-hiott&pid=173392210&fhid=5774#storylink=cpyJohn Blanton Hiott, the fifth of six children in the family of Gary Lander Hiott and Eunice Biggerstaff Hiott, was born February 25, 1928 in Pickens, SC and died December 3, 2014 in Raleigh, NC. He was a man enlivened by discoveries and new understandings and steadied by his sense of family and faith.

He enlisted in the US Army during his last year of high school and after graduation was assigned to post-war Japan where he served as a "clerk, non-typist," processing the correspondence course paperwork for other soldiers. It is unlikely he or anyone else realized at the time how this work defined what his life would become - one dedicated to helping others cultivate a life of learning.

He spent the years after his military service earning his A.A. from Gardner-Webb College, his B.A. from Baylor University, and his Th.M. from New Orleans Baptist Seminary. While at seminary in New Orleans, he attended Coliseum Place Baptist Church and met Mary Carmen Moncla. They married on August 21, 1953. 

After graduation from seminary, John and Carmen went to New York to start the first Southern Baptist church in the state, but even the summers in Niagara Falls were too cold for the two southerners and they moved back to the south. John served as pastor of three churches in three states and in college administration at Gardner-Webb College (now University) and St. Andrews Presbyterian College (now University). The second half of his life was spent primarily as educator and minister as he found a home along the line formed by Hillsborough Street in Raleigh that extended from the Cameron Park neighborhood west to Meredith College and east to First Baptist Church.

During his 25 years at Meredith, John worked as registrar and assistant to the academic dean, director of planned giving, and director of scholarships and financial assistance. He joined First Baptist Church and soon became the teacher of a Sunday School class for young couples that still meets today. He worked in the church's clothes closet program and served as a deacon and on many committees. John also became a scoutmaster so his two oldest sons would have a way to be in the outdoors they learned to love when he was pastor at Spring Hill Baptist Church in Wagram. He was an active member of the Raleigh Civitan Club.

He was predeceased by his parents; his brothers, Gary Jr. and Robert; and his sisters, Eulalia and Eunice. He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Carmen Moncla Hiott; sons, John Jr. (Joannie), Gray, and Blake (Amy); daughters, Marie McEntire (Mark) and Ann Barham (Charlie); beloved grandchildren, Atticus McEntire, Claire McEntire, Lily Hiott, Eli Hiott, and Emma Hiott; brother, David (Sue) of Pickens, SC; sister-in-law, Eloise of Pickens, SC; sisters-in law, Gloria Revere of Southern Pines, NC and Carol Campbell (Max) of Moncla, LA; brother-in-law, Alfred Moncla, Jr. (Kay) of Elizabeth City, NC; and by many nieces and nephews.

The family thanks the members of First Baptist Church for their unfailing compassion and generosity and the staff at Sunrise of Raleigh for their professional care. A memorial service will be held at First Baptist, 99 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2014. Visitation will follow in the church fellowship hall. His ashes will be entombed at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens, SC and scattered at the family home in Moncla, LA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts to the Meredith College Annual Fund, the First Baptist Church Third Century Fund, or the Tammy Lynn Center for Developmental Disabilities.

Published in The News & Observer on Dec. 7, 201

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newsobserver/obituary.aspx?n=john-hiott&pid=173392210&fhid=5774#sthash.fivFJ0YA.dpuf

Read more here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newsobserver/obituary.aspx?n=john-hiott&pid=173392210&fhid=5774#storylink=cpyJohn Blanton Hiott, the fifth of six children in the family of Gary Lander Hiott and Eunice Biggerstaff Hiott, was born February 25, 1928 in Pickens, SC and died December 3, 2014 in Raleigh, NC. He was a man enlivened by discoveries and new understandings and steadied by his sense of family and faith.

John Blanton Hiott, the fifth of six children in the family of Gary Lander Hiott and Eunice Biggerstaff Hiott, was born February 25, 1928 in Pickens, SC and died December 3, 2014 in Raleigh, NC. He was a man enlivened by discoveries and new understandings and steadied by his sense of family and faith.

He enlisted in the US Army during his last year of high school and after graduation was assigned to post-war Japan where he served as a "clerk, non-typist," processing the correspondence course paperwork for other soldiers. It is unlikely he or anyone else realized at the time how this work defined what his life would become - one dedicated to helping others cultivate a life of learning.
He spent the years after his military service earning his A.A. from Gardner-Webb College, his B.A. from Baylor University, and his Th.M. from New Orleans Baptist Seminary. While at seminary in New Orleans, he attended Coliseum Place Baptist Church and met Mary Carmen Moncla. They married on August 21, 1953. 
After graduation from seminary, John and Carmen went to New York to start the first Southern Baptist church in the state, but even the summers in Niagara Falls were too cold for the two southerners and they moved back to the south. John served as pastor of three churches in three states and in college administration at Gardner-Webb College (now University) and St. Andrews Presbyterian College (now University). The second half of his life was spent primarily as educator and minister as he found a home along the line formed by Hillsborough Street in Raleigh that extended from the Cameron Park neighborhood west to Meredith College and east to First Baptist Church.
During his 25 years at Meredith, John worked as registrar and assistant to the academic dean, director of planned giving, and director of scholarships and financial assistance. He joined First Baptist Church and soon became the teacher of a Sunday School class for young couples that still meets today. He worked in the church's clothes closet program and served as a deacon and on many committees. John also became a scoutmaster so his two oldest sons would have a way to be in the outdoors they learned to love when he was pastor at Spring Hill Baptist Church in Wagram. He was an active member of the Raleigh Civitan Club.
He was predeceased by his parents; his brothers, Gary Jr. and Robert; and his sisters, Eulalia and Eunice. He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Carmen Moncla Hiott; sons, John Jr. (Joannie), Gray, and Blake (Amy); daughters, Marie McEntire (Mark) and Ann Barham (Charlie); beloved grandchildren, Atticus McEntire, Claire McEntire, Lily Hiott, Eli Hiott, and Emma Hiott; brother, David (Sue) of Pickens, SC; sister-in-law, Eloise of Pickens, SC; sisters-in law, Gloria Revere of Southern Pines, NC and Carol Campbell (Max) of Moncla, LA; brother-in-law, Alfred Moncla, Jr. (Kay) of Elizabeth City, NC; and by many nieces and nephews.
The family thanks the members of First Baptist Church for their unfailing compassion and generosity and the staff at Sunrise of Raleigh for their professional care. A memorial service will be held at First Baptist, 99 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2014. Visitation will follow in the church fellowship hall. His ashes will be entombed at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens, SC and scattered at the family home in Moncla, LA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts to the Meredith College Annual Fund, the First Baptist Church Third Century Fund, or the Tammy Lynn Center for Developmental Disabilities.

(published in Raleigh's News and Observer on December 7, 2014)