Nancy Wolford (left) and Rhea Babin (right) receiving the Honored Women Award. (Marion McCauley not present)
Rhea C. Babin of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Houma, was brought up in the Catholic faith, but when she married an Episcopalian, Calvin Babin, she joined the church and has been a faithful parishioner since 1948. As Hospitality Chairperson for thirteen years she organized food for the shut-ins, baptisms, St. Matthew’s Day Celebrations, Easter Brunches, burials, bishop’s visitations and all other activities that occurred each year. Although she was a good cook and hospitality chair, she depended on her husband, Calvin, for transportation; she never drove. For sixteen years she coordinated and operated a rummage sale for ECW. She and friend, Flavia Redmond, would go through all donated items and wash all of the dirty clothes to make them ready for sale. They did this in the summer heat, upstairs in Tucker Hall with no air conditioning. Rhea’s beautiful voice was heard every Sunday in church as she enjoyed singing in the choir. She participated in many activities until her husband’s health began to fail and she gave up doing the things she loved. However, somehow she is still providing her wonderful cakes, pies, candy, roasts and other treats to St. Matthew’s. Rhea has long served with dedication in support of various ministries at her church. Rhea is a faithful Christian woman who stays true to her word and therefore, is being recognized as an honored woman of St. Matthew’s Church.
Marion McCauley arrived in the United States from Belize in 1958. She immediately began to search for a church home where she could serve our Lord. Shortly thereafter, she found St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in New Orleans and went right to work. Marion served diligently in St. Elizabeth Guild for many years and was past Treasurer of ECW. Marion attended ECW meetings both in town and out of town representing St. Luke’s very well. For years, too numerous to count, Marion has dutifully served on the Altar Guild, where she has always paid attention to details making sure that the altar is a direct representation of the splendor of our Lord. Every Sunday in the choir, you can see the sparkle in Marion’s eyes as she praises the Lord in joy with her singing. Rarely a Sunday goes by when you don’t see Marion at church doing things to serve in her quiet and gentle way. She has truly been an asset to the congregation as a whole at St. Luke’s Church. Marion’s commitment and service to the Lord, her church and others, will show favor in the Lord as she will hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Marion is deservingly honored as an Honored Woman.
Nancy Wolford has been a faithful servant of St. Francis Episcopal Church, Denham Springs, for more than 45 years. She has been elected president of ECW more times than can remembered. She has served as chair of the UTO campaign on many occasions as well as serving on the vestry numerous times. Nancy has been and remain an active participant in ECW’s Baton Rouge Deanery. She served on the planning committee that initiated the “ECW Get-a-way Retreat” and continues to serve on this committee to this day. In addition, Nancy started Hannah’s Hands, a non-denominational knitting/crocheting groups that meet at the church. This group has supplied caps, gloves and other clothing items for the Diocesan Seaman’s Institute. She is also active in knitting groups with the Broadmoor Methodist church in Baton Rouge and First United Methodist Church of Denham Springs donating their knitting projects to the needy in their community. Nancy currently serves in the music and hospitality ministries at St. Francis and is a faithful volunteer for Church’s Pumpkin Patch, where hundreds of children enjoy taking pictures, finding pumpkins to take home with them, playing in the prepared areas, listening to stories and drinking “that punch” as the children fondly call it. Nancy is truly a lovely faithful servant who has devoted her time and service to her church and others and is indeed an Honored Woman of St. Francis Episcopal Church and among us.