Ethel Mae Batiste Morgan

Ethel Mae Batiste Morgan peacefully entered into her heavenly home to be with her Lord and Savior on June 17, 2018. She passed at home, succumbing to cancer. The Lord allowed her to see her 94th birthday on June 3, 2018. Born June 3, 1924, in Lacombe, LA , she was the eldest of twelve children of Nicholas Batiste and Orelia Cousin Batiste. She attended Martindale School in Lacombe and was a salutatorian graduate of St. Tammany High School in 1940. She moved to New Orleans, LA, following graduation to work and married Irvin W. Morgan, Sr. in February of 1946. The two founded Morgan’s Alterations Shop in 1949 where they provided quality alteration services and tuxedo rentals for over the next 65 years. An excellent seamstress, she also worked at Rubenstein Brothers for several years. Her early years were spent as a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Lacombe, LA, and she later joined Our Lady of Guadalupe— Int’l Shrine of St. Jude in New Orleans, LA. Ethel was a faithful, active member of The Oblates Society, The Rosary Group, The Consolation Group, and previously served with the St. Vincent de Paul Society and an Orleans Parish Election Commissioner for the 17th ward. Ethel was a prayer warrior. She knew the power of prayer and exercised it. Known for her delicious “Amazin Raisin” and carrot cakes, she made them each month to feed the homeless. Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, Nicholas and Orelia Cousin Batiste; eight of her siblings, Margaret, Nicholas Jr., Murphy (late June) Charles, Veronica ( late Roosevelt), Alfred, Jessie, and Victorine. She was also preceded in death by three of her children: Cynthia Marie Morgan Bason (late John), Dr. Sylvia Myra Morgan, and Oren Morgan and one grandson, LCpl Hugh A. Jackson. She will be truly missed by her very large and loving family. She is survived by her husband of 72+ years, Rev. Irvin W. Morgan, Sr. of New Orleans, LA; one son, Rev. Dr. Irvin W. Morgan Jr. of West Newton, MA; her daughter, Phyliss Morgan Spragin (Rev. Dr. Ore) of Trussville, AL; two brothers, Albert (Louise) and Bernard (Ann) both of Lacombe, LA; one sister, Mary Lucinda Ducre (Warren) of Haynesville, AL and one sister-in-law, Velma. She was a loving grandmother to Geneen, Jamal, Jennifer and Dominique; great-grandmother of Kaya, John, Kaleb, Joshua, Demetrius Jr, Dinah and Adrian and great-great-grandmother of Amaad. She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and church members. Relatives and friends of the family, also Priest and Parishioners of Shrine of St. Jude, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church and Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Lacombe, LA are invited to attend A Mass of Christian Burial at 12:30 PM on Saturday, June 30, 2018 at Shrine of St. Jude, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 411 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA 70112. Father Anthony “Tony” Rigoli, OMI, Pastor. Visitation will be from 11:00 AM until 12:30 PM. Recitation of the Rosary will begin at 11:15 AM. Interment: Williams II Cemetery. Arrangements by D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to share online condolences.