Marie Pardee Wilkerson

Funeral service for Marie Mavis Pardee Wilkerson will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, February 17, 2012 at Blanchard - St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, LA with Rev. James Whitehead officiating. Interment will follow at St. Maurice Cemetery in St. Maurice, LA. The family will receive friends from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm on February 16, 2012 at Blanchard - St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, LA. Marie Wilkerson, 81 years of age, passed away peacefully, February 12, 2012 at her home with her son Joe and friend Eric Foster at her side after waging a valiant war with cancer. Marie was born July 10, 1930 to the late Hipolite "Polite" Pardee and Lena Pardee in Natchitoches, LA. She was a life-long resident of Natchitoches Parish. She attended Natchitoches schools and worked as a waitress at earlier, well known restaraunts, The Circle Cafe, Le Rendevous Cafe, and The Fountain Blue. Her later years were spent as a homemaker and serving as the primary caregiver for her husband J.C. Wilkerson and her mother and father. She was a member of Fountain of Life United Pentecostal Church in Natchitoches for over 50 years. She was never ashamed of her faith and would give thanks over all of her meals and pray publicly, regardless of onlookers. She was well known for her constant visits to private residences, hospitals, and nursing facilities, where she would visit and pray with the sick and elderly. She loved people. During her frequent doctor and hospital visits, it was not uncommon for people to approach her and recall how many times they had witnessed her visits. She is survived by two sons, James W. Fletcher of Atlanta, TX and her caregiver Marvin Joseph Vercher of the home; one sister, Avis Pardee Fletcher and husband Ray; brothers-in-law, Vester Wilkerson and wife Dot, Olan Wilkerson and wife Myrtle, and Arlie Wilkerson and wife Pat; two grandchildren, Tammy Fletcher Davenport and family and Brian Fletcher, all of Atlanta, TX; four great grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins; the latter being a result of her father coming from a family of twenty-one children. She is also survived by Peaches, her daughter Pauline's beloved poodle, and a special family friend, Eric Foster of Oklahoma City, who is the guardian of Peaches. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. Hipolite "Polite" Pardee and Mrs. Lena Pardee; her husband, Mr. John C. "J.C." Wilkerson; her only daughter, Pauline Marie Wilkerson, two bothers, James W. Pardee and Daniel Pardee; and two sisters, Pauline Pardee and Rosaline Pardee. Those honored to serve as pallbearers will be Shelby Borders, Mark Wilkerson, Eric Foster, Barney Cooper, Phillip Wilkerson, and Brad Raynes. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Fountain of Life United Pentecostal Church in Natchitoches.