Rose Landry Long

Our precious joy, mom, and Mimi, Rose Long, 69, of Natchitoches died on April 30 at her home. Visitation will be at First Baptist Church in Natchitoches, LA on Wednesday, May 3, 2017, from 5:00 pm to 9:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Prather Coliseum at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 4, 2017. Rose Marie Landry Long was born in Gueydan, Louisiana, on September 16, 1947, the fourth of five children born to Andy and Leontine Landry. She was born into a French-speaking Cajun family, and English was her second language. Rose graduated from Gueydan High School in 1965 and became the first person in her family to attend college. In her freshman year at Northwestern State University, while studying to be a French teacher, Rose met a handsome senior from Winnfield who would become the love of her life. Rose and Gerald Long married in 1966, the beginning of a love affair and partnership that would last 50 years. Shortly after meeting Gerald, Rose met the other love of her life, Jesus Christ. Her relationship with him forever changed the course of her life and her eternity. Rose’s greatest treasures were family and friends. Her three children, nine grandsons, and one little granddaughter were the shining lights of her life, for whom she prayed every day. Rose touched countless lives through the years with her beauty, grace, wisdom and listening ear. Her desire for others to be changed by God’s love and power, as she had been, propelled her civic involvement. She led Bible studies in every town she lived in. She was a founding member of the Crisis Pregnancy Center in Rogers, Arkansas, a founding board member and first director of Life Choices in Ruston, Louisiana, and a board member and president of Women’s Resource Center in Natchitoches. Rose and Gerald mentored countless college students, area coaches, and high school and middle school students through Fellowship of Christian Athletes for over eighteen years. When Gerald ran for state Senate, Rose fully supported him as campaign manager and traveled with him nearly everywhere he went. As Gerald has served in Baton Rouge, Rose has always been by his side, becoming very involved in the Legislative community. Rose led Bible studies for Senate staff and also for Legislative spouses. She served as chairman of the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast Committee. She was a member of the Louisiana Baptist Moral and Social Concerns Committee. She also chaired the Louisiana Legends committee for Louisiana Public Broadcasting, and as a result of her service and fundraising efforts, she was recognized as the Public Broadcasting System’s Grassroots Advocacy National Volunteer of the Year. Prayer was such a vital role in Rose’s life, and it was demonstrated in how she treated others. She made everyone she came into contact with feel special and like a close friend because to Rose, they all were. Her bravery facing an 11-month battle with brain cancer was an inspiration to all. God gave her peace, joy, and strength, and she shared that with others whenever she could. She could often be found seeking out and praying with strangers in cancer treatment waiting rooms. Even in her sickness, Rose always lit up the room and her joy and strength exuded, even when all she could do was smile and say, “Thank you.” Rose was preceded in death by her parents, Andy and Leontine Landry, and a brother, Jim Landry, who were waiting to greet her in heaven. She is survived by her husband, Gerald, of Natchitoches; a daughter, Andrea Phillips, her husband, Gregg, of Ruston, and their sons, Josh, Sam, Jacob and Caleb; a daughter, Pam Jordan, her husband, Wes, of Shreveport, and their sons Drew, Will and John; and a son, Richard Long, his wife, Sheralyn of Baton Rouge, and their children, Nasby, Jude and Ruby. She is survived by her sisters Mary Bourque and Sherry Dugas and her brother Stanley Landry. She is also survived by countless nieces and nephews. Those honored to be pallbearers will be her grandsons, Josh Phillips, Sam Phillips, Jacob Phillips, Drew Jordan, Will Jordan, Caleb Phillips, John Jordan, and Nasby Long. The family wishes to thank the medical professionals at Willis Knighton Hospitals, Natchitoches Regional Hospital, and Legacy Hospice and especially three special women-Letreice Beasley, Deborah Kyle and Regina Monette, who faithfully loved and cared for Rose in her illness. Many thanks to the friends and family who have come alongside with meals, prayers, help and love- they are too many to mention. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given to the Rose Landry Long Louisiana Senate Scholarship. An account to receive those funds will be set up at Red River Bank. Proverbs 31:29 "Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all."