Julia Chambers Hildebrand

Julia Chambers Hildebrand, 91, made her home in Heaven on September 23, 2024, just eight weeks after her loving husband, Tynes Hildebrand passed away. A service celebrating her life will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at 2:00 pm at the Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home at 848 Keyser Avenue in Natchitoches, Louisiana. A visitation with the family will be held at 1:00 pm prior to the service at the Funeral Home. 

She was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. Her family was her passion. She treasured her family and talked about the great years she and Tynes had together. They were married 73 years. They loved to cruise, travel to various countries, numerous U.S. states, and athletics events which included children and grandchildren.

Julia was born December 20, 1932 in Fisher, Louisiana and lived there with her parents, John and Elnora Chambers along with her brother and sisters, graduating from nearby Many High School. 

She enrolled in Northwestern State University in 1950 and later wed Tynes. They completed their studies and continued to live and work in Natchitoches (except for two years of Tynes’ military service in Washington State) until they moved to Shreveport in 2016. They moved to Flower Mound, Texas in 2022.

She began her education career after her sons started to school. Having earned a Bachelor Degree, Masters Degree and Education Specialist Degree from Northwestern State University, she began her teaching career as a kindergarten teacher at First Baptist Church, and later with the Natchitoches Parish School System. She served as a third grade teacher, a helping teacher in reading, elementary supervisor and retired in 1994 as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction. 

After retiring from the Natchitoches Parish School System, she was asked to serve on the Natchitoches Parish School Board and did so for 12 years serving as President for several years. She also worked for the Louisiana Department of Education for eight years as an Evaluator of Section 8g Programs. In addition, she worked for Northwestern State University as an evaluator in the Student Teacher program. She loved working with young children and teaching them to read. She started the Terrific Kids Program in Natchitoches Parish which recognized outstanding, deserving students. She served as President of the Louisiana School Supervisors Association. In 2014, she was named as a Northwestern State University Distinguished Educator.

She was a long time member of First Baptist Church of Natchitoches having served on many committees including Pastor Search and Personnel. She taught Sunday School to elementary aged students and sang in the Choir. Tynes and Julia joined the Broadmoor Baptist Church when they moved to Shreveport and were active in the senior adult Sunday School class.

She was a Fifty-Year Member of P.E.O. Sisterhood and in 1995 was President of the Louisiana State Board having served seven years on the Board. She cherished her friends from P.E.O.

Julia and Tynes were active in the Natchitoches community. In 1982, they co-chaired the Natchitoches Christmas Festival. She was also active in Arts and Craft Festival, Fall Tour of Homes and Caretaker for the Lemee House.

She is survived by her sons, Tynes Jr. and wife Trish, and Bruce and wife, Nancy, and grandchildren, John and his wife, Alice, Jackson and his wife, Curri, Joseph and his wife, Emily, Brent and his wife, Allison, and Cara Grace Gray and her husband, Andrew. Also, great grandchildren, Hannah, Hayden, Hudson, Ellie, Hazel, Charlotte, Hattie, Adelyn and Sam. She is also survived by her sister, Susan Slay of Many.

Special thanks to Dr. Paul (Corky) Davis who took tremendous care of both Tynes and Julia and was such an outstanding family friend.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Julia Hildebrand Education Scholarship Fund at Northwestern State University, NSU Foundation, 535 University Parkway, Natchitoches, Louisiana, 71497.