Louise Griffith Callender, known lovingly as "Mama Louise" departed this life peacefully in her sleep at 90 years old on May 2, 2024.
Louise was born on September 13, 1933, to Willard Griffith, a farmer, and Nannie Smith Griffith in Monticello, Mississippi.
Louise was the youngest of 7 brothers, Maxie, Smith, Wayne, Kenneth, Lavonne, and Gene, and 2 sisters Ernest McGrew, and Ruth Petre, all of whom predeceased her.
She was a loving wife of Fred "Freddy" Thomas Callender, Sr., who was warmly referred to by all who loved him as "Papa Daddy", and who departed this life on March 20, 2011. They wed in Brookhaven, Mississippi on Freddy’s birthday, March 17th, 1956, which Papa Daddy always referred to as “the best birthday present he ever got”. Witnessing Papa Daddy flirt with Mama Louise every morning in the kitchen was the most wholesome, adorable spectacle, just as it was to watch Mama Louise try to play it off like it annoyed her, but her slight smile betrayed her ploy every time. A genuine, loving couple who was able to celebrate their 50th anniversary together just a few days before Papa Daddy passed away.
She was an adoring mother of Linda Sue Verzwyvelt, lovingly known as "Mama Sue', who departed this life on July 16, 2015, and of Fred Thomas "Tommy" Callender, Jr., who departed this life on March 15, 1997.
Mama Louise is survived by six grandchildren who will miss her eternally: Rhonda Bozeman, David Burghardt, Danielle Hymel, Fred Thomas Callender, III, Chris Verzwyvelt, and Brandi Callender. She is also survived by 9 precious great grandchildren.
Mama Louise was known for her wonderful cooking, her famous red velvet cake and banana pudding, her amazing sewing skills that eventually helped her earn her spot as the first female Vice President of the bank branch in Kenner, Louisiana, eventually purchased and merged with Hancock Bank, and for being a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She was also mother to many dogs throughout the years, most recently Fancy Callender, who was by her side as she peacefully passed. Louise remained unafraid and optimistic, even making jokes and teasing family before the end, when asked, “How are you feeling, Mama” she replied, “I feel good, just being lazy laying here.”
Louise’s strength of character was amazing. She was a true matriarch. Every morning before Papa Daddy retired, she would sit with him and go through blueprints to help him, a contractor, carpenter and woodworking specialist, who could hand-build spiral staircases out of straight boards into beautiful, sound works of art, and they would plan out his approach and price each job together. It was her strength in character which helped her to survive his loss for 13 years, always with optimism, hope and faith that she would again join him, Tommy and Sue.
Honoring her wishes, Louise has been laid to rest, eternally to join again with her beloved Freddy, and there are no services being held at this time. Her kindness, strength, and legacy will live on through her family and friends, and she will remain greatly loved, admired, respected, and deeply missed.
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