Virgie Annie Mccall Lebleu

Virgie Annie McCall LeBleu died on July 18, 2016, at her home in Lake Charles, Louisiana.  She was born November 12, 1918, the day after World War I ended, the eldest daughter of Thomas W. McCall and Marie Portal McCall, in Grand Chenier, Louisiana.  Mrs. LeBleu was a direct descendant of Dr. Milledge McCall, who was the patriarch of the first family to settle the Grand Chenier Ridge in Cameron Parish following the Native Americans.

After graduating from Louisiana State University, where she was an active member of the Delta Zeta sorority and member of several intramural sports teams, Mrs. LeBleu began her career as an educator, following in the footsteps of her parents.  Her mother was a teacher in the Cameron Parish schools during the days of the one-room schoolhouse, and her beloved father served as Superintendent of Cameron Parish Schools for over 40 years.  “Miss Virgie” taught home economics at McNeese State College and at Creole High School in Cameron Parish.  She also served as “visiting teacher” for the Cameron Parish school system, and ended her career teaching fourth grade at Cameron Elementary, where she also served for many years as the 4-H sponsor.  She was a teacher of many.

In 1950, she married Glenn Conway LeBleu and became his life partner and campaign manager throughout his 25 year career in the Louisiana Legislature.  She and Conway survived Hurricane Audrey in 1957 by taking shelter in a large oak tree near their home.  Both worked hard in the coming years in the rebuilding of Cameron Parish. Mrs. LeBleu was instrumental in the opening of the Cameron Parish Library, built by donations from across the country.  Both she and Mr. LeBleu received the honor of being named Cameron Parish Citizen of the Year.

Until Hurricane Rita, Mrs. LeBleu was a faithful member of the Wakefield Memorial Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School for many years.  She was well known to be an amazing cook, with a chicken and dumplings to die for, and fed many a hungry cowboy in her day.  No one ever came to her home without an offer of refreshment.

In 2005, she and Conway lost their home in Cameron for a second time, this time to Hurricane Rita.  With great regret, they left Cameron Parish and relocated to Lake Charles, in the Spring Crossing neighborhood, along with several other Cameron families.  She adjusted, just as she did her entire life, and remained a care giver for her husband and sister.  She attended University Methodist Church and kept up with family and friends, until her husband and sister passed and she had no one left to care for.  Yet she never complained, and would frequently say that “she didn’t have an ache or a pain.”  There was no family tragedy or hardship that Aunt Virgie could not handle.  She was our rock, a smart, strong woman who led a productive, meaningful life and along the way helped many, many people.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, all her siblings Lt. Robert L. McCall, Lynn P. McCall, Sybil McCall and Fae McCall Jones, sisters-in-law Inez McCall and Rose Ferguson McCall, brother and sister-in-law Mr. and Mrs. John Henry LeBleu, her niece Bobbie Lynn McCall and nephews Joe Lynn McCall, Jeff Robert McCall and Conway Charles LeBleu, great-nephew Christopher Hebert, and special first cousin Thomas “Sonny” McCall.

She is survived by her nephews Thomas F. McCall and wife Sandra of Magnolia, Texas, John Henry “Scooter” LeBleu II, Loree LeBleu and wife Beverly and Armant LeBleu, all of Lake Charles, nieces Marsha L. Delaney and husband John of Big Lake, Sheryl L. Swift of Lake Charles, Sallie J. Sanders of Baton Rouge, Jennifer A. Jones and Margaret M. Jones of Cameron, Jamie McCall and husband Niles of Los Lunas, New Mexico, Jean Ellen McCall of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Ruby McCall of Ashville, North Carolina, her sister-in-law Betty Collins McCall of Magnolia, Texas, several great-nephews and nieces and great-great nephews and nieces.

The family wishes to express their thanks to Aunt Virgie’s care givers, “Shuney” Breaux and “Sissy” Nunez, and to her special neighbors, Deann and Madeleine Colligan and Mary Richard.

Mrs. LeBleu’s arrangements will be conducted under the supervision of the Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles.  Pallbearers are Thomas McCall, Patrick Hebert, Michael Bercier, Scooter, Loree and Armant LeBleu.  Visitation will be open to the public beginning at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, July 20.  A Rosary will be recited by the Catholic Daughters of Court St. Katharine Drexel (Our Lady Star of the Sea and Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Churches) at 6:00 PM at the funeral home.  Visitation will continue beginning at 9:00 AM on Thursday, July 21 and the funeral will be at the Johnson Funeral Home at 10:00 AM on Thursday.  Rev. Katie Simpson of the University Methodist Church will officiate.  Mrs. LeBleu will be brought home for burial at the McCall Cemetery in Grand Chenier and laid to eternal rest with those she loved best.