Obituary of Vera Lee Hedges

Vera Lee Hedges was born in Bastrop, Louisiana on November 12, 1926 and died peacefully on December 21, 2015 at the age of 89 in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was the youngest of five children born to Gertrude Pauline and Neal Glen Jenkins. She is survived by her sister Ida Mae Roper as well as her four children Jim Roper, Carol Ensminger, Lee Anna Hedges and James K. Hedges. Vera Lee was profoundly proud of her 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Vera Lee was preceded in death by her brother Raymond Jenkins, sisters Nova Helen Nelson and Myrtle Lue Kerico, first husband Jesse Roper, father of Carol and Jim, and her second husband James Arthur Hedges, Father of James K. and Lee Anna. Vera Lee earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Northeastern Louisiana State College and her graduate degree from George Peabody’s College for Teachers, a Master’s of Arts in School Administration. She taught at West Side Elementary School in Bastrop, La., Lincoln School in Highland, Ind., and Porter Elementary School in Hammond, Ind. Vera Lee had a strong spiritual foundation and felt a deep connection to the following church communities where she was a member over the years: First Bartholomew Church in Bastrop, First United Methodist Church of Bastrop, First Methodist Church of Monroe, Woodmar United Methodist Church in Hammond, First United Methodist Church of Escondido, First United Methodist Church of Fort Myers, and St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Indianapolis. Vera Lee always said she felt sad for anyone who was bored when there was so much to do in the world. She loved to sew, quilt, can blackberries and peaches, oil paint, needlepoint, collect and refinish antiques, and to read. She was a stellar band booster, voting precinct volunteer, traveled extensively, and doted over the crops at the family Christmas tree farm she dubbed, The Pinewood Plantation. Friends and family will gather to celebrate her life at The Forum, 8505 Woodfield Crossing Blvd., Indianapolis, Indiana from 2:00pm to 3:30pm on Saturday, December 26. Funeral services will be held at Golden Funeral Home in Bastrop, La. on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 at10:00 a.m. Interment to follow at Christ Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations to Neal Glen and Gertrude R. Jenkins Endowment would be greatly appreciated. Donations to this endowment should be sent to The United Methodists’ Foundation (Account # HED868) 8337 Jefferson Hwy., Baton Rouge, La. 70809