Elsie Mitchell Holstead

Elsie C. Mitchell HolsteadFuneral Services for Mrs. Elsie C. Mitchell Holstead, 88, of West Monroe, LA will be held 2:00 P.M., Friday, April 29, 2016 at Ridge Avenue Baptist Church in West Monroe with Dr. Jim Wolfe officiating. Interment will follow at Hasley Cemetery in West Monroe under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe. Elsie Holstead passed away on April 25, 2016 in Lake Charles, LA. Born on January 13, 1928, she was a life-long resident of West Monroe, LA, and graduated from Ouachita Parish High School. She was a life-long member of Ridge Avenue Baptist Church, where her father-in-law, Rev. A.T. Mitchell started the church in 1940. While she worked as Brother Mitchells secretary, she met and married Thomas Mitchell. Together they raised their two sons in her beloved church home. She later worked for Central Bank before returning to college in the early 1960’s to earn her undergraduate degree in elementary education at Northeast Louisiana University. After a short stint as an elementary teacher, she returned to school to earn her library certification along with a master’s degree and later 45 hours above the master’s degree, all at Northeast Louisiana University. She inspired both of her sons to obtain both undergraduate and graduate degrees and to serve as educators. She was the elementary and middle school librarian for Riser Elementary and Middle School for the bulk of her career with the Ouachita Parish School System. After three decades of service, she retired and in her retirement spent time traveling and visiting family and friends. She was a devoted Christian, a caring mother, grandmother, and friend, and a joyous but competitive bridge and canasta player. Mimi loved to travel and had the opportunity to see the world. She lovingly nurtured her family and many friendships throughout her life. She had a very competitive spirit playing bridge and dominoes as often as she could.She is preceded in death by her father, Madison Reagan Coon; her mother, Lillie Rainbolt Coon; her sister, Eva Dale Cohen (Alfred); her brother, Harold Ray Coon (Lillian); her first husband of 52 years, Thomas Warren Mitchell; her second husband of 7 years, Charles Holstead; and her grandson, John Thomas Mitchell. She is survived by her two sons, Dr. Thomas Reagan Mitchell (Linda Garcia) of Laredo, TX; Jimmy Mitchell (Becky Black) of Lake Charles; 6 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; special cousin, Sue Hardin; special niece, Diane Drago; along with other nieces and nephews.The Mitchell Family would like to express their appreciation to the Holstead Family for accepting our mother into your family.Pallbearers will be Jackson Mitchell, Windell Osbon, Doyle Holstead, Bobby Holstead, Fred Hall and Harold Davis. Honorary pallbearers will be Ellis Auttonberry and Velton Frost. Visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M., Thursday, April 28, 2016 at Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe, LA. Memorial donations may be made to Ridge Avenue Baptist Church or to St. Marys Residential Training School, P. O. Box 7768, Alexandria, LA 71306. Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com