Obituary of Virginia Smith Harper

Virginia Smith Harper, 78, died at home after a long illness. A life-long resident of Bastrop, Louisiana, she is a descendent of one of the early families of Morehouse Parish, the daughter of Vergie Sue Patterson and William Tazewill Smith. Virginia is survived by her husband O.L. Harper, and two daughters: Susan Sherard Harper of Washington D.C. and Laura Virginia Harper Hampton and husband Don of Conroe, Texas. Also surviving her are cousins Sally Patterson Todd of Houston, Texas, Jane Davidson White of Shreveport, Louisiana, Susan Smith Davis of Monroe, Louisiana, Helen Jean Smith of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, William F. Smith of Portland, Oregon, J.D. Carey of Oak Ridge, Louisiana and Kate Carey Freeman of Memphis, Tennessee. Mrs. Harper attended Ward-Belmont College in Nashville, Tennessee, and graduated from Louisiana Tech in 1950 where she was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. She spent her professional life teaching. She served on the vestry of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Mer Rouge and taught sunday school there. Father Whitfield Stodghill III will conduct the Holy Orders of Burial at Christ Episcopal Church in Bastrop at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 10, 2006, with interment to follow in Christ Church Cemetery under the direction of Golden Funeral Home. The family would like to express special thanks to all those who faithfully called on her during her long incapacitation from a stroke, their presence adding immensely to the quality of her life. The family invites all of Virginia's relatives and friends after the interment to join them at the Snyder Museum at 12 O'clock. Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served. Pallbearers will be Stewart Todd, Jamie Todd, Robert Todd, Dr. Don Quinn and Stephen Katz. Honorary pallbearers are C.L. Givens, Duke Shackleford and Dr. Carter Cox. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Methodist Children's Home in Ruston, or a favorite charity.